In Conversation: Morgan James

The singer stops by to talk about her new album, the inspiration behind it, and what being pulled onstage to sing with a soul legend was like.

Photo: Lila Wolfe

Good morning!

We’re in for a treat today; soul singer Morgan James stops by to chat!

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If you’re taking on AC/DC, Stone Temple Pilots, and Metallica, you need your A-game. With Soul Remains the Same, Morgan James delivers, backed by the quiet defiance that’s fueled her career for over a decade.

This record is way more than just a covers album; it’s a declarative statement.

James reshapes the tracks on Soul Remains the Same by standing her ground, not distancing herself or making rote copies. These versions are “faithful” only in that they respect the bones; after that, all bets are off.

Honestly, I had some questions, but it’s a good thing. She knows what these songs mean to all of us (she’s a fan too), and what they mean now, in her hands.

Vocally, James sounds assured. This is someone who spontaneously swapped verses with Chaka Khan, after all. There’s no trace of studio polish (or autotune) papering anything over. She’s giving 110% here; the result is full-range soul, restraint when needed, power when it’s called for. Her background in theater and classical music explains the discipline, but emotion rules this release. There is a fine line between putting one’s stamp on something and staining it. Morgan is aware of this and keeps it in mind. She doesn’t copy anything here; instead, she completely reinterprets everything. Nor is she trying to out-sing the originals-she doesn’t have to. She’s giving them new life while honoring where they came from.

“I don't try to change something to be clever. I don't want to change something that's already great…But sometimes I’ll hear a song and think to myself, This would be amazing with horns, or what would this sound like with a choir or a B3?”

James has built her career off the beaten path—first at Juilliard, then Broadway, and now releasing records independently. Some artists release cover albums as placeholders or as a cash grab. This isn’t one of those times. James takes a bigger gamble here: she puts herself into every verse. These aren’t tribute tracks or glorified karaoke—they’re testimonials.

As I listened, I’d think, “This sounds familiar,” only to remember that it was a song I’d heard countless times before. That’s perhaps the best thing I can say about Soul Remains the Same; James’ take is so novel that you forget you’re listening to her perform one of your favorites. Instead of comparing versions, you’re too caught up in how good these are.

“In making this album, I fell in love with these songs all over again,” said James. “Even iconic songs you’ve known your whole life take on a completely new meaning when seen and heard through the eyes and voice of a woman. This may not be a musical space people would envision me entering into—but I hope fans will listen with fresh ears and find new meaning and power in this music, just as I have.”

I know this is starting to read like a presser, so I’ll stop here. But consider me sold. Soul Remains the Same is a fantastic record well worth your time.

I recently had a chance to speak with James via email. We covered everything from the song that “had” to be on the record to licensing tracks. Our conversation has been lightly edited for clarity and flow.

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Congrats on the new record! Can you quickly walk us through your backstory for those who might not know?

Thank you so much!! So my new album is called Soul Remains The Same, and I like to describe it as: It’s as though Aretha Franklin went into the studio with AC/DC. It’s heavy, masculine tunes from the ‘80s and ‘90s, iconic rock songs through a soul lens. But it’s all the classic soul sounds that I am known for and that I love so much—the songwriting is just from a different era.

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You've previously recreated entire single albums, such as Jeff Buckley's Grace. Why take things in a more collective direction this time?

Between my original music albums and my periods of writing songs, I like to exercise my creativity in other ways. And what better than to draw inspiration from the great artists and songwriters around me. The reason I covered complete albums in the past, such as Grace, the White Album, or Joni Mitchell’s Blue, is because I wanted to step inside a whole body of work. And I think that really teaches you so much about the mind of an artist and the process of making an album, from start to finish.

For this album, I really wanted to focus on a period of time that was united by certain themes and a very specific sound, and it was a period of tunes written by and for men— where sometimes the soaring melodies are slightly obscured by the (really cool!) but heavy production style. I wondered what would happen if you stripped some of that away and replaced it with horns, a Wurlitzer, or layers of feminine vocal choirs. I hoped that it would really bring these songs into a light.

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Of the tracks on Soul Remains the Same, do you have a particular favorite, or one that just "had" to be on the record?

I have fallen in love with every single one—even more than I already did, listening to them as a teen!

I KNEW I had to have 'The Day I Tried to Live' by Soundgarden. I think Chris Cornell is one of the greatest singers of all time, and his songs are so virtuosic and dramatic—I wanted to pay tribute to him, for sure. I also knew I wanted to rep Living Colour, as well, with 'Cult of Personality.' And that song has never been more relevant.

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How have the original artists reacted to your work? Have you received any feedback?

I haven’t heard feedback from them yet! I hope I do.

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On a more technical note, how much of a hassle was the licensing process? Was securing the rights for any songs, particularly easy or hard?

Securing compulsory licenses is not difficult—you don’t need ‘permission’ to record a song that was already previously released. Unless it’s by Prince (IYKYK) 😉

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Getting pulled onstage to sing with Chaka Khan had to be the thrill of a lifetime! What was going through your mind as you belted out "Sweet Thing" together?

I am still not over it! It was one of those true magical New York moments, completely unplanned. But like they say: stay ready so you don’t have to get ready! But I definitely blacked out hahaha.

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If you could pick one track to play for someone who's never heard your work, which would it be and why?

One track from this new album? That might be… 'Better Man,' because it has all the elements of what I love in a song and in one of MY arrangements. It has the instrumentation and background vocal arranging, and the dynamic range really takes you on a journey. If I were to choose a song of mine that I wrote, I would choose 'Say The Words.'

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Last one, just for fun; I bump into you as you walk out of the record store. What records are you carrying?

I am carrying the Duke Ellington Nutcracker, Aretha Franklin Unforgettable: a tribute to Dinah Washington, and Stevie Nicks Wild Heart.

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Click the record to listen on the platform of your choice.

Soul Remains the Same is out today (8/8). You can grab your copy here.

Click here to learn more about Morgan, grab copies of her records, and find her tour dates.

To connect with her on social media, you can go here: YouTube | Instagram | Facebook

Thank you to Morgan James for her time, and thank you for being here.

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