Early James Drops Dan Auerbach-Produced 7-Inch Featuring “Tumbleweed” And “Mama Can Be My Valentine”

August 6, 2021 – Nashville, TN – “Don’t got no tattoos cause Grandma knew it’d keep you out of heaven,” sings the prolific, eclectic, and flat-out entertaining singer and songwriter Early James in the opening line of his newly released tune, “Tumbleweed.” Further cementing the Americana amalgamation of styles and sounds he’s becoming known for, “Tumbleweed” finds James delivering quick, gravelly verses over a jovial fingerstyle guitar part, exploring an idea he describes as “patting yourself on the back while getting pickpocketed.” Finding a song under a previously unturned stone or in the quickness of a passing thought is—his unique vocal delivery notwithstanding—James’s calling card, and “Tumbleweed” is very much on brand.

“‘Tumbleweed’ is about how you’re always kind of in this limbo of thinking you’re smarter than your older self while falling for someone’s new bullshit at the same time,” says James in his profoundly simple way. “Tumbleweed” and its b-side, “Mama Can Be My Valentine” are holdover tunes from James’s 2020 debut, Singing For My Supper, produced by Dan Auerbach and released via his Easy Eye Sound label. After a full year of touring was canceled, the tracks were shelved, but are now available digitally at this link and in 7-inch vinyl format on September 3rd through independent record stores, the Easy Eye Sound online store, and at all Early James tour stops. A full list of tour dates can be found below.

“Mama Can Be My Valentine,” which fills up side two of this new release on Easy Eye Sound, leans a hair more Bakersfield country, grooving and swirling forward as James lists off his ideal “type” of a yet-unattainable lover. The refrain—“Until then, Mama can be my valentine”—came about out of hilarious necessity. “I didn’t have any songs about Mother’s Day or Valentine’s Day so I killed two birds with one stone,” James recalls. On the whole, the one-two punch of “Tumbleweed” and “Mama Can Be My Valentine” are a natural extension of the songs from Singing For My Supper, both different examples of just how well James can weave together a story and deliver it with his commanding, earnest voice. “Some people are good singers,” says The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach, who decided he needed to produce the singer’s debut album at his Easy Eye Sound studio after watching just two seconds of a video of him performing. “And some people are better than good singers, they just have this great form of expression.” That expression which James possesses is on full display with his new 7-inch release and will officially be getting the live treatment on a healthy run of tour dates with The Lone Bellow this fall.

Catch Early James On Tour:

Aug 9 – Bell’s Eccentric Cafe – Kalamazoo, MI *

Aug 10 – The Vogue – Indianapolis, IN *

Aug 11 – Headliners Music Hall – Louisville, KY *

Aug 12 – Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN *

Aug 13 – Saturn – Birmingham, AL *

Aug 14 – Variety Playhouse – Atlanta, GA *

Sep 1 – Printers Row Wine Bar and Shop – Chicago, IL

Sep 4 – Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival – Tennessee City, TN

Sep 11 & 12 – Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion – Bristol, TN

Oct 10 – Wildwood Revival – Arnoldsville, GA

Oct 14 – Proud Larry’s – Oxford, MS #

Oct 16 – Standard Deluxe Fall Boogie – Waverly, AL

Nov 4 – Varsity Theater – Minneapolis, MN *

Nov 5 – Majestic Theatre – Madison, WI *

Nov 6 – Shank Hall – Milwaukee, WI *

Nov 7 – Thalia Hall – Chicago, IL *

Nov 8 – The Ark – Ann Arbor, MI *

Nov 10 – Taft Theatre – Cincinnati, OH *

Nov 11 – Asbury Hall Babeville – Buffalo, NY *

Nov 12 – Center for the Arts of Homer – Homer, NY *

Nov 13 – Gateway City Arts – Holyoke, MA *

Nov 14 – Paradise Rock Club – Boston, MA *

Nov 16 – Webster Hall – New York, NY *

Nov 17 – Union Transfer – Philadelphia, PA *

Nov 18 – Troy Savings Bank Music Hall – Troy, NY *

Nov 19 – Vogel Theatre – Red Bank, NJ *

Nov 20 – 9:30 Club – Washington, DC *

Nov 21 – Haw River Ballroom – Saxapahaw, NC *

* – with The Lone Bellow

# – with Seratones

More About Early James: ​​Early James, an Alabama native, released his debut album, Singing For My Supper, via Easy Eye Sound and Nonesuch Records on March 13, 2020. The album spans hard-charging blues, wistful folk, and ages-old pop crooning, anchored by the singer’s voice that oscillates from gravel-gruff shout to a honey-smooth whisper. James’ inspirations run from Fiona Apple and Tom Waits to the Southern gothic poets, as heard in the album’s darker themes and in the wry humor with which he writes about them.