Four-time Grammy nominee and multi-platinum selling sax-man Boney James continues his artistic evolution on May 4 with the upcoming album, futuresoul. Fusing his love for vintage soul music with his mastery of modern production, Boney has created another genre-bending work following on the heels of his 2014 GRAMMY-nominated album The Beat.
“The forms I’m working with are rooted in my early influences,” says James, dropping names like King Curtis, the Stylistics and Earth, Wind & Fire. “But recently I’ve been listening to contemporary artists like Tinashé, Sam Smith and Ellie Goulding, and I’m inspired by the sound of their recordings. The production is so cool and evocative. As I started the new record, I was in my backyard studio messing around with this “gearhead” stuff I’ve collected. Ideas started flowing and it sounded like modern soul music to me. I thought to myself, ‘What is this?’… And then it hit me: ‘futuresoul.’”
futuresoul features a long time SoulTracks favorite, Mint Condition frontman Stokley on the smooth ballad “Either Way.” It’s a new look for Stokely, and he does it up right, teaming beautifully with the saxophone star. It’s our newest SoulTracks First Listen. Check it out below and tell us what you think. And get ready for futuresoul!
Boney James feat. Stokely – “Either Way”