Morgan James has a voice that needs to be heard; even when she was just a fifth grader belting out standards on a karaoke machine. After her grandmother heard her sing, the matriarch footed the bill for James’ voice lessons, positive that her granddaughter had the mysterious “it factor”. And, despite the sometimes treacherous terrain of the music industry, James has never tired in her quest. Whether it’s tussling with label executives, covering and owning songs by the likes of The Beatles or Prince, or creating her own brand of original soul music, James has carved out an enviable and diverse career, always on her own terms.

James has a particular taste for inserting herself into men’s spaces, twisting hyper-masculine songs to her will and changing their meanings in the process. That feminist lens is brought to the forefront in her most recent project, Soul Remains the Same, which reinterprets heavy tracks from the likes of AC/DC, the Stone Temple Pilots, and Pearl Jam. “Something I've always loved, and I've done throughout my career, is sing songs that are not just written by men, but especially made for men,” she says. “And make them my own.”

Soul Remains the Same, her sixth studio album, transforms the testosterone-soaked ‘80s and ‘90s radio classics of her youth into poignant, soulful, and deeply personal covers. As if Aretha Franklin went into the studio with AC/DC; it’s heavy rock songs through a feminine, soul lens. 

James’ journey from karaoke kid to prolific singer-songwriter didn’t follow an easy path. Raised on both musical theater and Laurel Canyon bards, she applied to The Juilliard School at 18, and was waitlisted before finally getting in. After studying opera and getting her BM in voice, James set her sights on Broadway, landing a part in The Addams Family on Broadway in 2010 with Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth. While treading the boards—eventually performing in five original Broadway companies— James started performing solo at New York City venues and developing her own sound. While appearing in Motown: The Musical in 2013, the legendary producer Berry Gordy Jr. became her mentor. “I was a star in his eyes,” James says. “Mr. Gordy is the one that encouraged me to write music, to go deeper to find my sound, and to stay true to my sound, no matter what anybody else thought or anybody else said.” Gordy then facilitated a record deal with Epic Records, where she released her first two albums: Morgan James Live: A Celebration of Nina Simone, and Hunter.