Up and coming R&B act JAMESDAVIS hosted a private penthouse event this past Thursday to count down and celebrate the release of their latest EP, MASTERPEACE.
The mood of the room was laid back, the initial awkwardness of many strangers packed into one room smoothed over with Ciroc VS Brandy and Southwestern-style hors dโ oeuvres. The vibe matched JAMESDAVIS’s sound. Like their past EPs, MASTERPEACE delivers a distinct blend of hypnotic R&B, soul, and indie. But they also feel more cohesive and widely-appealing. The sibling trio that makes up JAMESDAVIS are each solidifying their unique strengths to create something rich and mesmerizing.
At the event, partygoers lounged on couches and mingled by the bar while bandmembers flitted in and out greeting friends and strangers alike. A little over an hour in, JAMESDAVIS convened the crowd around them before the room’s large windows overlooking Manhattan’s 23rd Street.
AusTon sat back on a couch, arms spread on either side, an easy confidence emanating from behind his dark circular sunglasses. Jess and Rey, fraternal twins, stood in front of him swaying gently to an acoustic guitar. The trio sang through two singles from MASTERPEACE, and one track from last yearโs Lamplighter Vol. 1: โYou Light My Fire,โ โSomething to Talk About,โ and โEvergreen.โ
The raw acoustic versions of these songs spotlight the complementary moods, aesthetics, and vocal abilities of each member. Reyโs dulcet lead vocals are quiet and captivating. Jess filled in the space around Rey with harmonies and runs bursting straight from the heart. AusTonโs versatile voice, whether a low drawl or an impassioned soul baritone, mediated his older sistersโ. Itโs unclear if each sibling wrote out their vocal parts or planned the exact structure of each song. But it doesnโt matter. JAMESDAVIS is in tune with itself, each member perfectly calibrated to the others. Every vocal flourish felt intentional, and every layered harmony elevated the performance beyond its acoustic simplicity.
MASTERPEACE is out now. Listen on YouTube or check out the latest at JAMESDAVIS’s website here!
