[On Da Record] Luke James

The burning question on the internet for the last few months has been ‘Who Is Luke James’? Can he simply be defined as a singer or songwriter? More than likely not, but his fans are slowly learning more to the puzzle by the day! RoJay spoke with Luke about his projects, his past and definite plans for the future!

RoJay: What it do Luke?

Luke James: RoJay!

RoJay: So I guess the first question comes from your twitter name, your website and whatnot… Who is Luke James?

Luke James: Who is Luke James? Man, I’m still trying to find that out. Right now, Luke James is adventurous. This is a beautiful journey that I am on right now pursuing my dreams. I like to think of myself as lovable. Very caring and compassionate and passionate. I don’t know… sometimes confused, but aren’t we all. There is more to come when it comes to explaining Luke James.

RoJay: Well I am sure that will work for now. A lot of us are familiar with you, especially in the world of R&B, from a few years back when you were doing the duo thing with Luke & Q. How is the journey you were on with Luke & Q different from this solo journey you are on now?

Luke James: More control. I would say more control. I’m older now. I have a little more experience as far as what I want to say and what I want to talk about. I’ve learned a lot about music since then and it’s just a better feeling as far as the business and creative side of it.

RoJay: And you never quite completely went underground. You surfaced some years ago in the Destiny’s Child ‘Soldier’ video and then recently in Beyonce’s video for ‘Girls’ and Melanie Fiona’s ’4 AM’. So with these major looks and these viral videos you have been serving the fans with, what is your approach and has it made things easier for you coming back with this angle?

Luke James: Well as far as the videos with Melanie’s ’4 AM’ and Beyonce’s ‘Run The World’…Beyonce’s video was basically through one of my managers Frank Gatson. He works side by side with her and he just basically plugged that in just as he did for me and Q for the ‘Soldier’ video. Of course there is a relationship between us and Beyonce so the look worked out. And I’ve been knowing Melanie for a minute now and one day she just so happen to call me and asked me if I wanted to be in her video as the lead guy and that’s how that happened. You know everything has worked out. God is working and he is doing his thing. The timing of everything is happening right.

RoJay: I can feel that.

Luke James: As far as the viral videos, that’s basically an idea I had to not only showcase my talents but to start doing as a viral unplugged. Right now it’s just me, but I actually wanna get friends of mine and people I admire to do it as well. It’s kind of a moment of letting your soul go and just sing. It’s really impromptu, at night and in the middle of nowhere around people. People don’t really know what’s going on and you just start singing. That idea just kind of worked out and letting people know who I am as an artist and singing. That’s what I am a singer-slash-songwriter… so I wanted to get that out the way.

RoJay: You gave us the pre-album at the end of December to bring us on into 2012. How will the pre-album differ from the actual LP?

Luke James: Well it doesn’t really differ at all. I don’t know if that’s the right word. It’s a good introduction because people think that I’m just a soul singer. I’m a soul singer because I sing with soul… because I have feeling, but I don’t consider myself a Soul/R&B Singer. I consider myself a vocalist and I am very passionate when I decide to talk about what I decide to sing so that is where the soul comes from as far as my vocals. But it’s a good introduction because I didn’t want people to think from ‘I Want You’, and I can see how that could be taken as a soul record, but I don’t wanna shock anybody. The worst thing is thinking an artist is one way and you spend your hard earned money for this album and it’s not how you thought it was gonna be. So I didn’t want to fool anybody. So with the pre-album, basically this is who I am. I am very theatrical. I’m dramatic. I love dramatic music. I love music that makes you feel however you’re supposed to feel… cry, sexy, being loved, make you smile. I love music that way and whatever. I just tweeted an hour ago that ‘I’m into music like I’m into women. I don’t have a particular genre or a type. I just go with what or who feels good.’ Know what I mean? So if it’s Country Music that I wanted to do or a Country sound or Folk sound, I’m going to do it because it feels good to me and I hope it feels good to the person who is listening.

RoJay: Now was there any real hesitation on your end when it comes to displaying full emotions on a record? Are there any subjects you may not go full on?

Luke James: Sometimes because I am a songwriter. I’m sometimes hesitant because I’m thinking too much. I’m thinking about radio or I’m thinking whether it would translate to people or not. But the times that I don’t think and I just go with how I feel, it always turns out right. Hence, ‘I Want You’. When I’m honest and truthful about how I feel it always comes out right. I try not to be hesitant. I try not to hold back. Music helps me to be vulnerable when I can’t really be vulnerable in my everyday life.

RoJay: I completely understand. A great song can speak what your mouth can’t.

Luke James: It’s like therapy right?

RoJay: Already. Do you think it’s easier or harder out here for a male R&B artist then it is for a female R&B artist?

Luke James: Ahhh. You know it’s different. Male artists… it may be a bit easier. It’s hard for girls because you got to have that in between. If you’re attractive… well if you’re attractive or not, as long as your music is solid, it’s going to work hopefully. As long as you have the good backing it should work one way or the other. With girls, depending on the type of music… the style of music… in this era where music is going and how artists should be its difficult. It’s kind of like you can’t be too pretty, but you gotta be pretty. You know what I mean?

RoJay: I get it.

Luke James: It’s because guys don’t really buy girls albums. Girls are singing about guys and they don’t normally go out and spend their 99 cents on iTunes to listen to every day all day because these are for girls. At the same time you have to be relatable and it’s difficult being relatable and not being average. It’s weird. Women are strange. In this business you have to have that happy medium.

RoJay: I definitely feel you on that. So what’s next for Luke James?

Luke James: Man, I’m still in the studio. Still creating. Still dreaming. Still coming up with ideas. still experiencing life and trying to jot down these moments as they happen so that I can have more to talk about. That’s one and touring. I just want to get in front of people and sing my ass off and tell these stories and hopefully I touch someone… at least four people at each venue. Slowly building my fan base or more… my believers.

RoJay: Well it’s definitely been a long time and we are riding this journey with you over at MiddleChild Promotions. It’s all paying off for you Luke.

Luke James: Man, thank you. Thank you so much. I am so grateful. If there is anything you need, I got you. If I can do it, I will do it.

RoJay: No doubt.

Luke James: I got a question…

RoJay: What’s that?

Luke James: The name MiddleChild… where did that come from?

RoJay: I’m the second son… stuck in the middle.

Luke James: Oh! Okay. I wanted to assume that, but you know… that’s dope! Simple. That’s easy. See that’s how I think. People be thinking it’s something more than what it is. It really is just what it is.

RoJay: Indeed! Thanks for the interview Luke.

Luke James: Thank you.

RoJay: Have a good one.

Luke James: You too, Brother.