From the very first track on her 2005 debut album Leela James has captured the gritty, emotion-drenched essence of artists like Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Mavis Staples, Marvin Gaye and has made it her mission to bring it all back — pushing the music forward with a fresh, contemporary perspective that remains faithful to the music’s deep and powerful roots.
My Soul, set for release on May 25, 2010, marks Leela James’ debut on Stax Records, a division of Concord Music Group. The move to Stax — the legendary home of some of the greatest soul and R&B artists of the past half-century — is a fitting destination for a vocalist who has committed herself to preserving the soul tradition.
Download: “So Cold” MP3: