Please list all of your band members and their roles in the band. For starters, what bands were you guys a part of prior to The Shapeshifters? 

SJ: There’s 2 facets to what we do musically. Besides the heavier blues rock band we have, I also play as a one man band focusing on a Blues/Folk/Soul style.

Shawn James & The Shapeshifters are:

Shawn James - Vocals & Rhythm Guitar
Jedidiah Brandon - Leader Guitar & Banjo
Jeff Bodine - Bass
Kirby Westmoreland - Drums

Jedidiah Brandon was the drummer in a tech/progressive rock/metal band called Friday, Maybe Saturday. Jeff Bodine was the bass player in a Metal band called Cowards. Kirby Westmoreland was the drummer in a Hardcore/Power Violence band call Jungle Juice

How long has the band been around?

SJ: The band has been around since the end of 2013. I’ve been releasing music as a solo artist since 2012

What’s the origin of that name and have you changed the band’s name before?

SJ: The origin of the name is 3 sided. 

1. I’ve been obsessed with Mythology & folklore since I was very young and the term Shapeshifter is a native american character in many myths.

2. We don’t restrict ourselves to one genre or style of music although right now we are focusing on a heavier rock sound. So we Shapeshift musically.

3. From previous experiences in bands, I’ve found that sometimes members don’t always stick around due to a variety of different reasons. Life being the main one haha. so the 3rd aspect of the name encompasses that fact that some of our members have “Shapeshifted” and might do so again in the future, but I’ll always be here writing the music and pushing it forward.

Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs and do you think these topics will change over time?

SJ: I write all the songs except for one that my old banjo player Baker wrote called Eating Like Kings. The band then takes the bones I bring and makes them bigger than they could be on their own.

The topics range from love to war to abuse and many other topics. I don’t have one set thing that find itself repeating. Yes the themes do change over time depending on how I feel at the moment, what’s going on in the world or what I might want to talk about.

What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?

SJ: For the next band record we’re making, we’re heavily inspired by bands like Red Fang, Witchcraft, Graveyard, Earth and many more similar to them.

Was there a particular band/artist or concert that inspired you to start a band?

SJ: A lot of the old blues artists like Son House, Robert Johnson & Blind willie Johnson inspire my blues solo stuff and those bands  I mentioned up earlier definitely inspire the band.

What do you do to prepare for a show? Any flexing, exercises, eat …

SJ: Well, the band tends to have a couple drinks and smoke a bit before to get our minds right before hitting the stage. You never know what weird calisthenics or exercises you’ll see either though…We’re a silly bunch of guys.

What has been the biggest highlight of the band’s career so far?

SJ: That’s a tough one but I’d say getting to tour the whole world and the entire US is massive for us. We’ve toured the us around 3 times and Europe 3 times as well. It’s always incredible to get to know other cultures than our own.

If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?

SJ: For my solo stuff, I’d say current would be Ray Lamontagne. I’ve always admired his soul, performances and songwriting. 

Past: Son House, He was just a powerhouse but in a very simple way that I don’t see enough of these days. 

For the Shapeshifters:
Past: Led Zeppelin, I mean cmon. I don’t think I have to explain this one ;)
Present: Gotta be a tie between Red Fang, Witchcraft and Graveyard. They’re huge inspirations for my writing style with the band. 

Is there anything else you would like to add?

SJ: We’re currently halfway done with writing the next Shapeshifter album and are very much looking forward to getting to play these new songs out on the road for everyone this year. Remember! If you see that it’s Shawn James & The Shapeshifters tour, expect a heavier, rowdy, loud rock show. If you see Shawn James (solo) tour then it’s going to be a more intimate haunting folk, powerful soul & dark blues sound.

shawnjamesmusic.com
facebook.com/ShawnJamesSoul
twitter.com/ShawnJamesMusic
youtube.com/ShawnJamesSoul
ShawnJamesSoul.bandcamp.com
http://www.shawnjamesmusic.com/tour