Shayfer James is a singer-songwriter and composer known for his haunting theatricality. James often composes baroque ballads driven by narrative and noiresque elements that set a dramatic tone for his productions -- everything from stage plays to concerts and films.

Finding comfort behind the piano, Shayfer James is usually seen under the murky glow of lanterns, like a southern gothic vaudevillian. James often projects his voice through haunting organs, titillating taborines, rolling drums, and wailing violins.

Since 2012, Shayfer James has independently written, recorded and released five LPs and three EPs, including 2023's Shipwreck. He performs his original music at festivals and venues across the U.S. and worldwide, having performed on stages in places like New Orleans, New York City, Austin, Miami, and Hong Kong.

James also collaborates on theatrical works performed everywhere from London to Iceland, while scoring award-winning film projects for directors such as Jenn Wexler and Mickey Keating.

Shayfer James Live in Concert

Since recording his inaugural album, 2008's Red Room Vol. 1, Shayfer James has developed a modern sound that reverberates with America's musical past -- vaudeville, jazz and old-fashioned swing. His velvety, melodic vocals and upbeat drum tracks provide a fresh twist on the classics, paying homage to influences like Nat King Cole and Stephen Sondheim.

Tailored to the theatrical traditions of the baroque and cabaret, James' music can color the backdrop to a dramatic production or become the centerpiece of his own live performances. His southern gothic style and dark pageantry produces live experiences that are filled with engrossing drama and eccentricity. Previously, James has collaborated on musical theater projects with Kate Douglas for the O'Neill Theater and the Johnny Mercer Writers Colony , including the widely acclaimed rock opera, The Ninth Hour.