Preston James was the second person I ever interviewed for my Music Spotlight column. I saw him open for the iconic Tim Akers and The Smoking Section when he was just 15 years old at 3rd and Lindsley. I interviewed him when he was 16 years old and then featured him again when Preston James' Band opened for Brian Seltzer in December of 2017.
My writing "hobby" has become a job, and I have interviewed over 500 artists. James is 24 years old, and I had no idea it had been seven years since I had followed up with him. We had to catch up before I could talk about his music.
One thing that I recalled was what a gifted guitarist James was. He replied, "I personally disagree. I've seen a lot of those studio musicians, and they played on my record for a reason: because they're a lot better than me."
James considers himself primarily a songwriter. After being offered his first publishing deal at 18, James carved out his place on the Row, signing with publishers King Pen Music and Warner Chappell Music and inking a booking deal with the Neal Agency, whose artist roster includes hitmakers Morgan Wallen, HARDY, Chase Rice and Riley Green, among others.
He stated, "I write songs for a living, and I travel around the country playing anywhere that will have me. I've been on the road with Nate Smith a good amount this year, and I have good buddies and it's been awesome. I have loved just road-dogging it and being on the road as much as I can."
While he has nothing against writing songs for others, he writes mainly for himself.
"When I am writing a song, I have to be able to see myself in it. I have to be able to see that I can relate to it and sing it. Otherwise, I am not the best writer for the song," the singer said.
Even though James has traveled extensively in the past, he has done a lot of covers. After nearly 10 years in the business, he released his first EP, White Trash From Way Back, which is the perfect title for a young man from Cheatham Country, Tennessee, who relishes the southern, outlaw side of country music.
The first song James released off his debut EP was the single "Deal with the Devil," written by Jason Saenz and Alex Kline. First and foremost, the song is a rock song, and he laments, "I've still got to deal with the devil."
He explained, "If you listen to the lyrics, I wrote a country song to a rock track. All I try to do is put all my influences under one roof and let them hang out together."
James was a writer or co-writer on all but one track on White Trash EP. He included the high octane outside cut, "Heartbreak's on You" (Go on, break my heart; tear it up like a letter/Put the pieces on the burn pile; it'll hurt, but I'll feel better) featuring the song's writers, Jaren Johnston and John Osborne. And while the lyrics often fuel country music, I was reminded to take in the rocking rifts on the song because they are at the next level.
In addition to "Heartbreak," he has released "Fences" (written with Steve Moakler and EP producer Logan Wall), an autobiographical love letter detailing James's relationship with his fiancée and fellow Season 11 Voice alum Charity Bowden.
He said, "Fences is a love song that I wrote, and it's very true to our story and how it took a lot of obstacles for us to get together."
James added, "We were shooting for that Tom Petty vibe with fences. How can we get it in that universe and keep it country with the lyrics? And that's what that song is. It's me trying to channel my '70s rock, Tom Petty vibes."
The most solemn song on the EP is the bittersweet, acoustic guitar-driven "Take Me Back." Everyone has had a relationship they wish might have worked out, but it's more than that. It's about going back to a simpler time and place and reflecting on what was or could have been.
The title track, "White Trash From Way Back," is the most unique song on the EP. It has an old-timey mountain sound and was very much inspired by James growing up in Cheatham County.
He shared, "I wrote that song just sitting on a friend of mine's porch in about 25 minutes, and I was like, 'There is something about this song. I wrote it by myself.'"
It's an honest song that could only be written alone. The simplicity of production supports uncluttered lyrics: Where the creek is high and so are the people/ It's where I'll die when I'm old, and I'm feeble/ I'm getting by fine with my white lightning still/ 'Cause I'm white trash from way back in these Tennessee hills.
"White Trash from Way Back sums up me," James says, "where I'm from and the music I love, in about 18 minutes. I hope y'all have as much fun listening as we did making it!"
Kelly King, president of King Pen Music, agreed, saying, "As soon as I met Preston, I knew there was something special about him. His old soul way intrigued me, and his work ethic blew me away right off the bat. Once I saw him play live, I knew he was going to introduce a new edge to country music. I am so excited to see how country music embraces him the way he has embraced it all his life."
Producer Logan Wall added, "When it comes to White Trash from Way Back, Preston's voice is loud and clear, and his story is undeniable."
Such an eclectic group of songs can rarely live together on the lap of one artist. But James is one of the most versatile, talented singers/songwriters/guitarists I know. I knew it when he was 15, and I know it now more than ever. At just 24 years of age, his star is just beginning to rise.