Colin James "I’m just finding my voice"
Judging by his eyes and the way he connects, Colin James is searching from something…and that something is creation.

Photo credit: salima@miiken.com

Colin James has spent two and a half decades in the music business, but you wouldn’t know it with his look, which consists of dark jeans, a black tank and coiffed hair. To use a Paris Hilton-ism … that’s hot. As a veteran with six Junos and over one million records sold, Colin James’ is "in it for the long hall". For James, that means that he is constantly challenged to reinvent himself.

Colin James made his introduction to the big band and blues scene as a 16-year-old prodigy on the guitar. When he became an icon in that genre, he looked to other styles, such as swing. Back then, he focused on perfecting his technical ability. However, over time he began to crave other forms of musicianship, "big band is about covers, and these days, I want to write." And poof! Colin’s musical style changed once again. His new music, featured on his upcoming album, Traveler, has a contemporary and personal sound. Writing has pushed him to focus inwards and use his own voice. According to Colin, for a long time he lived in fear of such a step and only now is he tapping into finding his own voice to produce "something brand new". But if Colin is anything, he’s a quick and thorough study, and his hunger for creation and talent are yielding some great results. "It’s taken me years to get here, but I’m here now".

Colin has a long history of collaboration, although, not always of his own accord. "For years, I worked with artists that I didn’t necessarily want to write with. But I was young and the record label was spending a lot of money on me, so I didn’t think I had the right to complain. And, I learned a lot from it." Now, when he collaborates, it’s with people that he chooses to work with, take for example, Sheryl Crow or Stevie Ray Vaughan. To James, the process itself can impede creation. "Writing a song in a day or two is a challenge. It’s really a crap shoot. But half the battle is finding people that you get along with. That makes all the difference."

Soul-searching aside, when Colin James takes the stage, everyone notices. His presence is undeniably charismatic and his music has a way of warming up your insides and making you move. There is a mesmeric feel to his performance, and the vast audience at the Mississauga Waterfront Festival on Sunday, June 19, 2005 was sucked in immediately.

Traveler is set to come out in September and Colin James will be performing at Massey Hall in February. Go experience him. His hunger for creativity is fueling a passionate and rocking performance.