Our writer of many tastes, Casey, sat down (proverbially) with the songwriter Shayfer James to discuss his new album. James is known for combining many genres from classical and cabaret to rock and pop; we’re sure this would make for a compelling live gig. Casey has a knack for uncovering hidden gems in unexpected places; we hope you enjoy this interview!

CASEY GALLENBERGER OF TUNED UP: Thanks so much for taking time to talk with me about your upcoming album, Summoning. It’s surreal to think that Shipwreck was two years ago, but it’s not that you’ve simply been silent during all this time. You finalized a musical, released a couple more singles, and have continued to tour pretty steadily. What have been some of your favorite moments in the past two years?

SHAYFER JAMES: My pleasure! And yes, it’s been a really productive and exciting time for me since Shipwreck came out. It also feels surreal that I wrote most of Summoning just a little bit over a year ago in January 2024. I’d say several of my favorite moments are definitely from my time spent writing it. I isolated myself in an ocean-front cottage in New Brunswick, Canada and really tapped into what felt like the creative ether. At one point there was some very haunted knocking happening too. Other than that, I’ve had some really lovely conversations with fans while on tour about how my music has impacted their lives. Hearing that never gets old and always feels like a gift. 

Even though there’s a core dark, theatrical sound at play on all your releases, it’s interesting to see how this manifests from one album to the next. It feels like production has really stepped up on the past couple releases, rounding out the songs with fresh instrumentation and influences. If you were to describe the sound of Summoning in three words, what would they be? Are there any particular artists you were listening to that you hoped to capture the spirit of on this record, no pun intended?

I don’t listen to any music during or leading up to a writing phase actually! I try to be truly present and listen to my creative gut really carefully. My state of mind and the physical space I am in have the biggest impact on instrumentation and arrangement I think. There’s definitely a bit of the maritimes and some benevolent ghosts in Summoning.  Going back to the three words I think I’d say Dark, Cinematic and Hopeful.

It seems in vogue for modern artists to release their albums in small chunks of singles or entire EPs. You’ve been releasing double-singles as unique “Elements” thus far. This is a pretty unique choice, and I’m curious how you landed on this approach and the specific song pairings.

I don’t like to do things “just because.” I get that it’s smart to waterfall an album because of all these mysterious algorithms, but it felt really inauthentic for me to just put out random singles for that reason. I wanted it to feel special and unique. There were a bunch of options on the table, but this one felt really right to me. I spent several hours listening and meditating on which songs felt most aligned with which elements and went from there. It was actually a really fun exercise that I could ramble on for an hour about.

Even though there are dark moments to your music, there’s also a fair bit of levity, and your videos are definitely pretty quirky. Would it be fair to assume you’re not a “dark” person? Are fans ever surprised by what you’re like in face to face? How do you think that humor and tragedy complement each other?

I’m definitely not a “dark” person. I think that’s mainly because I do most of my shadow work through songwriting, even if it’s not apparent to me at the time. I am a person who laughs A LOT. I’m basically a walking hug with a twisted sense of humor who gets grumpy when I forget to eat or have to stand in line for too long. I have definitely received compliments from fans to the effect of “I didn’t think you’d be so nice.” haha. I’ll take that!

You’ve toured with Will Wood and even collaborated together. To me, this friendship seems like a no-brainer, but I’m curious how you two first got connected. Is there anyone you’d like to tour or collaborate with (or even have things in the works with)?

I actually reached out to Will because I kept getting mentioned in social posts with him and checked out his music. We met up and immediately hit it off. A few weeks later I floated the idea of collaborating on Ferryman, and that went really well so he asked that I join him on tour. That was in 2022, and since then we’ve built a really lovely friendship. Scratch that I mean, we hate each other and we are not friends.

This fall, you’re doing a European tour. That’s definitely something few artists achieve, so I firstly want to congratulate you for the opportunity and hope it’s a great tour. Is this your first tour overseas? What kind of engagement have you seen thus far from your international fanbase?

Thank you! It feels pretty amazing to even be able to sell a couple hundred tickets in random US cities, let alone the EU. I played a few shows in the UK and EU after Shipwreck came out, but already ticket sales are showing there are a lot more fans there than there used to be.  I’m really looking forward to seeing how it all pans out. 

What song off Summoning are you most excited to play live?

I love playing all of them, but opening with the first track on the album, “Imagine That” on the U.S. tour felt amazing every night. Can’t wait for that one to come out on June 13. 

It’s no secret that your music is very relational – from the desolate loneliness present in “700 Days” to the alcohol-driven conflict resolution of “Crack a Bottle, Run a Bath.” It’s clear that things aren’t all healthy and pristine this time around, either. “Hell of a Dream” seems like a prime example, where you note, “Echo chamber got everything you need, scrolling on your feed-ing on your head like the living dead.” It sounds like you’re wrestling with the ways modern technology and distractions strip people of their connections to each other. Are there any particular themes, or maybe even frustrations, you wanted to convey across this new set of songs?  

Nothing purposeful. I generally don’t know what the songs are about until they are done. But I think that song definitely reflects my dissatisfaction with the way technology distracts us from what’s important. I just didn’t set out to write about it, if that makes any sense.

Maybe it’s a bit of a trick question, but on the flipside of pain and struggle, do you think it’s possible for us to escape our vices and circumstances? I definitely recognize threads of hope on tracks like “Learning to be Lost” or “Reverie,” and I’m definitely curious about the “light side” of your songwriting.

There’s no dark without light that’s for sure, but I think I’ve always been more focused on growth and resilience than hope. I think we are all capable of both growth and resilience. I suppose that is pretty hopeful.

Is there anything else you’d like to share about the album, tour, or what’s next?

Five years ago I didn’t even know I had fans that cared this much. I’m just so grateful for them and to be doing what I love all of the time. What’s next?  I’ll just keep doing this until my heart stops or the earth explodes or something hopeful and positive like that.

Thanks again for taking time to chat!

Thank YOU!!

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Follow Shayfer James on Instagram.