Susan James

On 2024’s "Time Is Now", Susan James cements her place as one of the more fascinating idiosyncratic singer/songwriter/producer/guitarists. Inspirations rooted in the ‘60s & '70s pop of her native California are qualities that led to tour support slots for artists as varied as Richard Thompson, Rufus Wainwright, & Stereolab. Her debut LP, the folk-minded Life Between Two Worlds, was released in 1990. Followed by 1995's Shocking Pink Banana Seat, featuring X's D.J. Bonebrake on drums. Support on radio led to opening shows for Rufus Wainwright, Daniel Lanois, Lindsay Buckingham, and Grateful Dead's Bob Weir, who later included James on tours with his projects RatDog and Weir/Wasserman. Her 1998 double album Fantastic Voyage, (half songs/half instrumentals) included Replacements’ Tommy Stinson on bass. She returned in 2010 with Americana-tinged Highways, Ghosts, Hearts & Home. Punch Brothers’ Gabe Witcher, Social Distortion’s Danny McGough, and Strawberry Alarm Clock bassist Paul Marshall contributed. In 2013 with longtime Tom Petty producer/engineer Ryan Ulyate she released Driving Toward the Sun which included Neal Casal, Eric Heywood, and Don Heffington. Leaning away from her sophisticated takes on folk/rock/country and more into psychedelic/Baroque textures, 2015's Sea Glass was produced by The High Llamas' Sean O'Hagan. A vinyl release followed on Sunstone Records in 2019. James opened for Stereolab and a solo Laetitia Sadier prior to 7th album, Time Is Now.