Troubadour, pianist, and family man Brendan James has returned with his sixth LP of original music, Chasing Light, out today on January 17, 2025. Produced sparsely with focus on vocals, piano, drums, strings, guitar, and “lyrical storytelling” throughout, the new LP finds the songwriter exploring themes of “mental health, long term relationships, and love and appreciation for generations spanning from his grandfather, father-in-law, and his children.”
The touring artist will play select dates this winter including an album release show at Firefly Distillery in his current hometown of Charleston, SC. Joining Brendan James on percussion for the series of shows, will be longtime collaborator/producer Craig Meyer.
James will continue to perform intimate, private house concerts, and in music venues across the world for Chasing Light. Chasing Light is the follow up to his 2020 release, Leap Taken.
Chasing Light’s title track begins with the lyrical declaration, “gotta keep chasing light,” which serves as the album’s thesis statement.
Exploring his own struggles with mental health, James says:
…since the events of 2020 I’ve had to fight hard to come back to a state of confidence, creativity, and productivity. The heaviness and turmoil of it all really took me on a strange journey. And to add it, my wife underwent heart surgery in the fall of 2023. As I ventured back into touring and creating, I tried to write an honest song about my struggles, and about the optimist in me that still wants to prevail somehow, someway.
Brendan James on Tour This Winter:
January 17th Firefly Distillery North Charleston, SC*
February 14th The Evening Muse Charlotte, NC
February 15th City Wintery Nashville Nashville, TN
February 16th Eddie’s Attic Decatur, GA
February 22nd Rumba Cafe Columbus, OH
February 23rd Celebration Cinema Park Grand Rapids, MI
February 25th 20 Front Street Lake Orion, MI
February 26th SPACE Evanston, IL
*Album Release Show
