An eccentric troubadour who pulls from every strand of Americana, Early James blends country storytelling with blues changes, soulful grooves, and rock flourishes. This familiar yet fresh hybrid could be heard on Singing for My Supper, his 2020 debut album produced by Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys and released on his Easy Eye Sound imprint. Early James retained Auerbach for Strange Time to Be Alive, the 2022 album that found him refining his signature sound while expanding his cinematic palette.

Alabama singer/songwriter Frederick James Mullis, Jr. started performing under the name Early James when he was playing in Birmingham in the early 2010s. Dan Auerbach caught one of these gigs and, impressed with what he heard, signed the singer/songwriter to a deal with his Easy Eye Sound in 2019. Auerbach produced the deeply Southern and luminous Singing for My Supper album; featuring the backing of a full band, the record was released in March 2020. James' touring plans were scrapped due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so he started working on a second album, returning to the road with the Lone Bellow in 2021. He worked with Auerbach again on Strange Time to Be Alive, a record released in August 2022. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine & James Christopher Monger