Shayfer James

Shayfer James weaves surprisingly genuine musical landscapes that evoke the gauzy, sweaty sexuality of gulf-coast barrooms and the fantastical, narcotic mysticism of a Lewis Carroll-inspired three-ring circus. Mr. James' noir-infused, piano driven music swaggers from dark danceable anthems to harrowing ballads with jazz lilted satire and whiskey-dirt grit. Raised with one foot in the theater and the other in a dingy night club, Shayfer finds inspiration as frequently in Cole Porter and Stephen Sondheim as he does in The Rolling Stones, Elvis Costello, The Pogues, and The White Stripes. He has toured the U.S., and has performed at festivals and events like CMJ NYC, Art Basel, Miami, Foburg Festival, New Orleans, CBGBs Festival, NYC, and Hope & Glory, Hong Kong. His songs have been featured by WNYC.org and Filter Magazine online, and his second album, “Counterfeit Arcade”, was dubbed 'New and Noteworthy' by iTunes. Shayfer has independently released two LPs and 2 EPs since 2010, with his third EP "Haunted Things", available on 9/22/15.