James Pants
Peanut Butter Wolf, Jamie Lidell, Chromeo
The sounds of multi-instrumentalist and DJ James Pants are all over the place. From throwback 80's R&B and Hip Hop, to dark synth pop and vintage soul, the oft analog creations that Pants compels from his vast record collection and keys transcend genres and keep audiences guessing around the world. Keeping an impossibly cool demeanor amid trippy tunes and retro grooves, the performer has a charismatic comic sense behind his beats that makes him all the more alluring.
Originally from the sleepy streets of Spokane, WA, James Pants got his first big break when he walked right up to DJ and Stones Throw Label founder Peanut Butter Wolf and introduced himself. It was a bold move, but one made with Pants' soon-to-be-trademarked graciousness that instantly bonded the two. That friendship led to a partnership years later and a spot on the Stones Throw roster. It was a huge boost to Pants, whose one man dance party was still in mixtape mode, and a huge show of support from PB Wolf. It wasn't long before that decision paid off, when Pants released his 2008 debut album, Welcome. Commanding a "fresh" style picked from the hey days of 80's and new wave, Pants did not simply rehash or collage his collection together, but wrote and played the entire album solo. Welcome was an instant hit with both critics and fans, and achieved an appropriately vintage sound courtesy of analog gear, a garage studio, and the artist's enduring love for old school beats.
Pants' left of center approach to music was never more evident than on his 2009 follow up LP, Seven Seals. Significantly darker and more ominous than the debut, the album embraced an industrial tone and even contained references to the Book of Revelations. Reportedly written alone in a cabin, the end result was a stunningly cerebral record. Yet, Pants didn't have to surrender any beats, merely adjust them with equal parts reverb and psychedelic imagery. All in all, it marked a matured and dedicated performer serious about his craft and broad in his vision. Not long after Seven Seals was released, Pants got the offer of a lifetime; to join the Red Bull Music Academy, move to Germany and travel the world sharing his innovative perspective. And that's just what he did. Now living in Cologne, Germany with his family, Pants is set to unveil his self-titled third studio album later this year. Reaching further back than ever before, the new record was inspired by the innocence of American culture in the 50's and the very specific Rockwellian attitudes that we today still hold about the time. Infused with his psychedelic licks and soul grooves, Pants again transcends the usual musical rephrasing and creates an altogether new and unique sound all his own and unheard of till now.
Iv’e been listening to James Pants for years. Great Feature! Shout out to Stones Throw Records!