By Danny Coleman
originally published: 03/25/2021
Emily James began what is a very promising career by writing her first music at the tender age of just 10 years old. Claiming influences ranging from classic rockers like Bob Dylan and Fleetwood Mac to recent pop such as Adele; James is that rare combination of driven and passionate yet possesses a softness that makes her the real deal; genuinely likeable with innocence that draws one to her like moths to a flame.
Moving in pursuit of her career from New York to Nashville and currently residing in Los Angeles, James has worked with Grammy Award winning producers Ian Fitchuk (Kacey Musgraves) and Jacquire King (Kings of Leon) and more recently Ryan Hadlock (The Lumineers, Vance Joy).
With EPs and full length CDs to her credit, along with a well-rounded support system; James has released another EP titled "Wanted You to Know, Pt.1" which debuted in February of this year. She elaborated on the new music, the troubling times and how they are both connected; not only to each other but to all of those who listen to the disc as well.
James delved into her inner-self with this particular effort and along with some co-writes has produced something she is very enthusiastic about; in part because she has also stepped out of her norm with one particular track.
"I'm really excited to have this out," she said excitedly. "The EP is kind of a collection of songs that I had created individually but I wanted to put them together because I felt like the common thread between them was me looking back reflecting on the past, meditating on the present and looking towards the future and that's why it's called, "Wanted You to Know, Pt. 1;" it's all just kind of some of the things that I wanted to say. So, yeah, "don't fall on me" was one of the collaborations; half of the songs were solo writes and half were collaborations and that one has a bit more of a rock sound than the others and it was kind of different than what I've done in the past; I thought I'd try something new."
When asked how she crafts her material, she says that she uses an open-minded approach; especially with "don't fall on me."
"I think it's mainly about; I never really go into a song whether it is writing it or producing it with an intention; I want to frame the songs in the way they're it is supposed to be and treat each individually so that I can honor each song's unique personality. So, for that song I just wanted to make sure, because the content of the lyrics is kind of a battle between the dreamy blissfulness of falling in love but also the fear of not being able to get there with somebody or not being able to give them enough. So, I wanted the production to kind of reflect the angst and the fight between those two feelings."
"There is always a piece of myself in everything that I write," she continued, "It differs how much of that is in there for each song but again, I want the song to have its own life and for people to attach their experiences to it because once I release a song it's not mine anymore; it's the listeners and they are going to have their own life with it; I like to think of it that way. I just hope that my songs can kind of provide something for somebody; see me as a friend that they can talk to or one who is listening because sometimes we have feelings inside that are hard to express or find a way to relate to something and I think that music is so powerful; it's always there for us no matter what we are going through to help us through it. Whether it is a celebration or a heartbreak or feeling lonely; I would just hope that my music will provide that for someone to turn to."
During these COVID times recording artists have been forced to adapt to a seemingly ever-changing landscape. James was no different as she went about putting this EP together.
"It was a combination of recording it in my room and wherever the space was that I wrote the songs with my collaborators. There are six total tracks and I've released four of the songs as singles and then the other two came out when the EP was released on February 26."
So, now that the EP is out and as the world begins to return to pre-virus normalcy; what are her plans as she looks to the future?
"I want to create more and hopefully when it is safe to do so; I'd love to get back to performing live and travel to different places to perform. I'm just looking forward to trying out new things with my writing and production and keep creating and once things are safe again just get back to living. I hadn't made any plans to go out on the road yet but I'm hoping to in the near future and I feel very fortunate that even with the pandemic that I was still able to work and create and put out music. I think the hardest part is that I wasn't able to see family and friends that I wasn't living with but if that was my biggest issue I feel very fortunate."
To discover more about Emily James, please visit www.emilyjames.net.
That's it for this week! Please continue to support live and original music and until next week....ROCK ON!
This week's event listings
Broken Goblet Brewing 2500 State Road Bensalem, PA
(267) 812-5653
Thurs. 7 p.m. Mike Estabrook
Fri. 8:30 p.m. Oliver Dagum
Wed. 8 p.m. Open Mic w/ Cara Cartney
All Shows 21+
Championship Bar 931 Chambers street Trenton
(609) 396-5457
Tuesday 8 p.m. "Jam Night" Hosted by Nikki & Caleb
Ages 21+
COARadio.com 125 South Main Street Hightstown
(609) 241-7103
Sun. 7 p.m. "Rock On Radio" feat. Nick Ryan & Bella Liberati w/ Stacy Widelitz, Emilee Swartz
Cooper's Riverview 50 Riverview Plaza Trenton
(609) 393-7300
Thurs. 7 p.m. Time Peace
Fri. 7 p.m. Kickbax
Sat. 7 p.m. Led Zeppelin Tribute w/ "The Flying Circus"
Sun. 11 a.m. "Sunday Latin Brunch"
Mon. 7 p.m. "Sunny Monday Blues Jam" and Country Music Night
Tues. 7 p.m. Karaoke w/ Karen and Mark
All Events Ages 21+
Dog & Bull Brew House 810 Bristol Pike (Rte. 13) Croydon, PA.
(215) 788-2855
Fri. 4 p.m. Skylar Love
Sat. 6 p.m. Tyler Kingsley
Sun. 4 p.m. Eddie
Eddington House Bensalem2813 Hulmeville Road, Bensalem, PA
(215) 639-1220
Fri. 8 p.m. Fight Back Home Acoustic Duo
Sat. 8 p.m. Rachel & Ty
Greenhouse 90 South Main Street New Hope, PA
(215) 693-1657
Thurs. 8 p.m. "Musicians Night Out" Hosted by Lovelight
Tues. 8 p.m. Open Mic Hosted by Sam Ryan
Wed. 8 p.m. Trivia Hosted by Dwayne Dunlevy
Hopewell Valley Vineyards 46 Yard Avenue Pennington
(609) 737-4465
Fri. 4 p.m. "Music & Merlot" feat. DJ Darius The 1st
Sat. 4 p.m. "Music & Merlot" feat. The Strange Brew Crew
Sun. 1 p.m. "Jazzy Sundays" feat. Gian Galiano
Killarney's Publick House 1644 Whitehorse-Mercerville Road Hamilton
(609) 586-1166
Thurs. 5 p.m. "Girls Night Out" w/ Radio Fiction
Laurita Winery 85 Archertown Road New Egypt
(609) 752-0200
Fri. (6 p.m.) Pasta Night "All You Can Eat." $29 (7:30 p.m.) "Yeast Coast Comedy Night at Laurita" feat. Helene Angley / Tom Mongelli. Doors open at 7 p.m., $25 (Reservations for tables of 2-6 people required)
Sat. 11:30 a.m. "Wine and Friends Weekend" $11
Sun. 12 p.m. "Wine and Friends Weekend" $11
McGuinn's Place 1781 Brunswick Avenue Lawrence
(609) 392-0599
Tues. 9 p.m. Karaoke
Ages 21+
New Egypt Flea Market Village933 Monmouth County Road Cream Ridge
(609) 758-2082
Sun. 8 a.m. "Chocolate Walk"
Mon. 5 p.m. "Full Moon Market" (Worm Moon)
New Hope Winery 6123 Lower York Road New Hope, PA
(215) 794-2331
Sun. 1 p.m. Stranger Things
Newtown Brewing Company103 Penns Trail Newtown, PA
(215) 944-8609
Fri. 7 p.m. Ryan Shubert
Sun. 11 a.m. Local Artist Fair
Pasquale's Sports Bar9078 Mill Creek Road Levittown, PA
(267) 202-6268
Fri. 5 p.m. Happy Hour feat. (TBA)
Sat. 7 p.m. DJ or Live Band Entertainment
Tues. 7:30 p.m. Quizzo
Wed. 7 p.m. Open Mic
Patriots Crossing 1339 River Road Titusville
(609) 737-2780
Thurs. 8 p.m. Open Mic Night
Wed. 7 p.m. "Quizzo"
Ralphie's2295 2nd Street Pike Newtown, PA
(267) 491-5408
Fri. 7 p.m. Shameless
Recklesstown Farm Distillery2800 Route 206 North Columbus
(609) 784-8046
Thurs. 6:30 p.m. Trivia
Revere Restaurant802 River Road Ewing
(609) 882-6365
Wed. 7 p.m. David Boyd
Rosedale Mills101 Route 31 North Pennington
(609) 737-2008
Sat. 1 p.m. Outdoor Line Dancing. $10 (Rain date Sundays 12 p.m.)
Sav'Aged Designs110 South Main Street New Hope, PA
(609) 937-6104
Sat. 10 a.m. "Grand Opening" feat. The Art of Adriana Groza
Temperance House 5 South State Street Newtown, PA
(215) 944-8050
Thurs. 7p.m. "Blues Night" w/ Steve Guyger
Tues. 8 p.m. Trivia w/ Righteous Jolly
Wed. 7 p.m. Open Mic Night w/ Cara Cartney
TGI Fridays3535 U.S. Route 1 North #275 Princeton
(609) 520-0378
Fri. 5 p.m. Kim Yarson w/ Joey Yarson
The Buck Hotel1200 Buck Road Feasterville, PA
(215) 396-2002
Fri. 7 p.m. Love Junk
The Cool Cricket 216 Burlington Street Fieldsboro
(609) 291-9110
Fri. 9 p.m. Karaoke
Sat. 8 p.m. Kindred Spirit
The Irish Horne Bar & Restaurant882 2nd Street Pike Richboro, PA
(215) 942-4000
Sat. 8 p.m. Stage Left
Triumph Brewing Company (New Hope, Pa. Location)
400 Union Square New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-8300
Thurs. 8 p.m. Trivia
Sun. 7 p.m. Open Stage
All shows 21+
Working Dog Winery 610 Windsor Perrineville Road Hightstown
(609) 371-6000
Sat. 1 p.m. Acoustic Road
Sun. 1 p.m. Bud and Maggs
WWFM 89.1 FM HD2 RadioMCCC Old Trenton Road West Windsor
Jazzon2.org
Mon. 7 p.m. "Danny Coleman's Got The Blues"
Danny Coleman is a veteran musician and writer from central New Jersey. He hosts a weekly radio program entitled 'Rock On Radio' airing Sunday evenings at 7:00pm EST on ThePenguinRocks.com where he features indie/original bands and solo artists.
EVENT PREVIEWS
Lily Vakili to Celebrate Release of "Live Wire" EP on Wednesday
(NEW YORK, NY) -- Lily Vakili will celebrate the release of her Live Wire EP on Wednesday, May 6, 2026 at The Francis Kite Club. Doors are at 8:00pm; Showtime is 8:30pm.
RVCC Student Jazz Ensemble to Perform May 7th
(BRANCHBURG, NJ) -- Raritan Valley Community College's (RVCC) Student Jazz Ensemble will perform in concert Thursday, May 7, 2026 at 7:30pm. The concert will be held in the Welpe Theatre at the College's Branchburg campus. The group is directed by RVCC faculty member Jeremy Sweet.
The Lovin' Spoonful to Perform in Newton
(NEWTON, NJ) -- The Lovin' Spoonful will perform at The Newton Theatre on Friday, May 8, 2026 at 8:00pm. They were America's answer to the Beatles! The band, led by John Sebastian, Steve Boone, Joe Butler and Zal Yanovsky, exploded onto the charts sending their first 7 singles soaring onto Billboard's top-10 charts virtually overnight.
Barrymore Film Center presents Ann Talman: Elizabeth Taylor and the Shadow of Her Smile
(FORT LEE, NJ) -- Ann Talman brings her award-winning show Ann Talman: Elizabeth Taylor and The Shadow of Her Smile to the Barrymore Film Center on Friday, May 8, 2026 at 7:30pm. Ann joined Actors' Equity with co-star Elizabeth Taylor in 1981 when she landed the plum role in The Little Foxes playing Miss Taylor's daughter on Broadway. The Little Foxes traveled the world for eighteen months including six months in London and their loving friendship lasted for the rest of Miss Taylor's life.
Carteret Performing Arts & Events Center presents Eaglemania on May 8th
(CARTERET, NJ) -- Carteret Performing Arts & Events Center presents Eaglemania on Friday, May 8, 2026 at 8:00pm. EagleMania has been dazzling audiences for over a decade by spectacularly reproducing the music of the Eagles.
The Lizzie Rose Music Room presents singer-songwriter Richard Shindell on May 8th
(TUCKERTON, NJ) -- The Lizzie Rose Music Room presents singer-songwriter Richard Shindell on Friday, May 8, 2026. Doors are at 7:00pm; showtime is 7:30pm.
Princeton Symphony Orchestra presents Music That Tells a Story: Opera 101
(PRINCETON JUNCTION, NJ) -- On Friday, May 8, 2026 at 4:00pm, the Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) presents Music That Tells a Story, a free event for anyone who has ever dreamed of being an opera star. The presentation will take place at Westrick Music Academy (231 Clarksville Road, Suite 8) in Princeton Junction.
Wellmont Theater presents The Wallflowers on May 9th
(MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- The Wellmont Theater presents The Wallflowers on Saturday, May 9, 2026 at 8:00pm. The band is touring in support of the 30th anniversary of their landmark album, Bringing Down the Horse. The band will perform their classic album in its entirety, in sequence.
The Newton Theatre presents Lita Ford on May 9th
(NEWTON, NJ) -- The Newton Theatre presents Lita Ford in concert on Saturday, May 9, 2026 at 8:00pm. With a legacy that spans nearly five decades, Lita Ford continues to inspire generations of musicians— solidifying even more, her place as an icon, pioneer, and true Queen of Rock.
Monmouth County Park System presents 2026 Creative Arts Festival on May 9th
(LINCROFT, NJ) -- The Monmouth County Park System is hosting its annual Creative Arts Festival on Saturday, May 9, 2026 from 10:00am-4:00pm at Thompson Park. This celebration of the arts features more than 50 specially selected artists in a variety of mediums such as pottery, painting, jewelry, and more. This family-friendly festival also includes live music, engaging art demonstrations, and children’s art-based activities.
