One For The Weekend: Oliver James

Check out the swingin' new Oliver James northern soul-style floorfiller "1-2-3" coming soon on a Colemine 45.  

Oliver James - "1-2-3" b/w "Nothing Is Forever"

out via Colemine Records on June 12th

Tennessee's Oliver James, a time-capsule of classic R&B sound. 

Raised in a family of musicians and a man who has been performing live since he was a child, Oliver comes to his love of soul music in a most honest and authentic way. Growing up listening to gospel, blues, and R&B from the classic early Stax era, his influences as a musician, songwriter, and producer are clear. After a stint working as a songwriter for Rick Hall, Mr. James is now set to start his own career.

The A-side of Oliver's new single features his first new recording since "One and Only" b/w "But For The Love" was released by Colemine back in 2022. '1-2-3' is an upbeat northern soul swinger. Nick DeVan and guitarist Vincent John (Eraserhood Sound) co-wrote the track; they finalized the instrumentals but were stumped on the lyrics. That's when James was called in, and he used his time working at a church to shape the lyrics that eventually became this number.  

The B-side was a collaborative effort with Nashville's gritty-funk ensemble The Gripsweats. It's an earnest song with lyrics inspired by James & DeVan's commiseration. "I'm no stranger to love that I used to know'," laments James; his favourite line of the song. Cushioned by lush string arrangements written by Oliver and Andrew Muller, 'Nothing Is Forever' is a melancholy and heartfelt foil to the A. 

Oliver Jones' new single "1-2-3" b/w "Nothing Is Forever" with The Gripsweats (out June 12) is now available for pre-order via Bandcamp right here or right here: https://colemine.lnk.to/clmn239. Check out "1-2-3" below. 

Grab some Gripsweats' 45s directly from Colemine Records right here. Look out for Andrew Muller's DJ nights in Nashville!