(January 18, 2022) For a man with this much talent, Luke James should be more of a household name. The New Orleans native has been on the edge of stardom for a decade and a half. He’s been nominated for a Grammy Award as an artist, and has written for Chris Brown, Justin Bieber and more, but maybe is best known to SoulTrackers for his wonderful portrayal of Johnny Gill in the TV biopic The New Edition Story.
For his latest project, James teams with the Nu Deco Ensemble for a stunning live album that again displays his talent. James calls the project “A raw orchestral expression inspired by the verb: love.” On our new First Listen, we highlight “Shine On,” a dramatic ballad on which James and NYT-based vocalist Samoht sing like their lives depend on it. It is one of the most inspirational performances we’ve heard in awhile, and we think you’ll love it too.
Check out “Shine On” below, and enjoy the work of Luke James.
By Chris Rizik
Luke James x Nu Deco Ensemble
ft. Samoht & Sensei Bueno
“Shine On”
