Darrin James touches on Robbie Robertson’s gruff soulfulness, Tom Waits’s vaudevillian menace and Paul Westerberg’s ramshackle charm ... James has a knack for perceptive lyrics and memorable tunes; his crack band supplies the laid-back grooves." Time Out NY
Darrin James is a multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter, composer and producer known for his distinctive gravelly voice, thoughtful lyrics, soulful musicianship, and his eclectic production style, which combines the electric and gritty sounds of blues and rock with acoustic, rootsy elements of Americana.
James has released three critically praised albums of original songs: Thrones of Gold (2006), The Lovely Ugly Truth (2009) and Strange Storm (2016), and he recently released his fourth full length record, See Right Through, in January 2024. His music has found its way into TV and film such as Discovery Channel's Deadliest Catch and the 2019 film, Peel, starring Emile Hirsch. In 2018 James provided the soundtrack to the documentary film, Meet Me at the Lindell, The Story of America's First Sports Bar, which premiered at Detroit's Freep Film Festival and aired on PBS.
In 2018 James released the first album of his instrumental jazz-funk project, Disaster Relief, which he intended to provide an escape from all the negativity and seriousness of the political climate of the time. In 2021, James collaborated with Detroit's "Queen of the Blues," Thornetta Davis, writing and producing a two song release, How I Feel by Disaster Relief & Thornetta Davis, which bridges Disaster Relief's funk with Thornetta's bluesy soul swagger and a fair dose of social commentary. The release was nominated for two Detroit Music Awards, In 2021, James released a second Disaster Relief album, titled Back into It.
In 2023 James released two new singles, "Born for One Love," written for his wife of 20 years and"When You're With Me," a country-tinged love song that is both sad and sweet. James newest album, "See Right Through" is a return to a roots-rock oriented production with some new textures added like synthesizers and horns, but the themes of the record are his most personal yet, dealing with love and loss in strange times.
Darrin James was born in Kentucky, raised in Metro Detroit, and attended University of Michigan , where he studied literature. He spent the first decade of the 2000s cutting his teeth in New York City where he released his first two albums and established himself in the Brooklyn music scene, performing at venues like Galapagos, Jalopy Theater, Southpaw, Pete's Candy Store, and more. In 2010 James returned to Ann Arbor, Michigan and has been active in the Ann Arbor and Detroit scenes, performing regularly at places like the Blind Pig, Old Town Tavern and the Ark. In 2014 James started Ravine Records with a focus on recording, producing, and releasing new musical collaborations. James and Ravine Records have many new releases on the horizon for 2024 and beyond! To check out all of James's other projects, go to www.ravinerecords.com