Inspired by Rutger Bregman’s book Humankind and his assertion that homo sapiens have survived through the ages (as opposed to other proto-humans) because of our instinct to band together, love each other, and solve problems collectively, James Combs’ new single ‘Here To Love’ is a deeply felt plea for us to remember who we are and why we are here
James says “When I read Humankind its central idea struck me as deeply true. There are forces trying to tear us apart - from social media to political interests and the bad rich men who control them - but everyone I know goes through their lives trying to help each other and others, doing what they can to make the world a better place. I agree with Mr. Bregman that our basic instinct is to love each other. That is our nature and where we start. Yes, there’s tribalism but when you put human beings face to face - when we travel, share music, food, stories - our common humanity is what we find. I’ve seen it everywhere I’ve been in this country and beyond. People of every stripe have generous hearts if we’re open to them.”
"So the goal of my song is to be another voice reminding us to stay in touch with that side of ourselves - the human, loving, generous side. I truly think that is our fundamental nature when you get past all the BS and soul damage and down to the nitty gritty.”
Praise for James Combs
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“Love James Combs. He's one of those singer/songwriter/musicians who should have spent his entire career at the top of the charts.” Penelope Spheeris (Film Director :The Decline of Western Civilization, Wayne’s World) “An incredible addition to any Americana library.” No Depression “James Combs makes Americana music for people who think they don’t like Americana Music…a fertile mix of folk, pop, twang, and psychedelia.” Americana-UK “James Combs is a musical force of nature who injects every song with genuine joy.” Paul Zollo, editor, American Songwriter |
The recording of ‘Here To Love’ happened in the California horse country home studio of Susan James - a stunning artist and producer in her own right (check out her amazing albums Time Is Now and Sea Glass.) As an enthusiast for Susan’s writing, production and orchestration skills. James was fanning out on the phone with her one day telling her how much he loved her work when she said “If you’d ever like me to produce something for you, I’d be happy to…” In the blink of an eye James was sitting before Susan in her studio laying down the basic tracks for ‘Here To Love’.
“I am always kind of a control freak about my recordings,” he says, “but I purposefully just held back and let Susan grab onto the song and do everything she heard. She heard an angelic chorus of vocal harmonies, she heard mandolin, she heard a haunted organ, she heard her husband Fulton Dingley playing perfect bass, she heard Tony Horkins’ sparse and powerful drum part, she heard Ben Peeler playing electric guitar stabs and lap steel washes… so we did all of those things. Basically I just kept my mouth shut as she did her magic and I am so glad I did. I think if you’re collaborating with a visionary, you should just let that visionary do their thing without interference. So ‘Here to Love’ is very much a collaborative recording and I’m grateful to Susan for applying her gifts to my song.”
James Combs’ Americana/folk single ‘Here To Love’, produced and orchestrated by Susan James is the first in a series of singles from James that will add up to a full album release in 2026. The album cover art is by another visionary - Matia Wagabaza. And look for an album running on a simultaneous track from Great Willow - James’ harmony duo with cellist and vocalist and long-time music partner Erin Hawkins.
Website: www.jamescombs.com, www.greatwillowmusic.com
► A lyric video will also be released to coincide with the single.
ABOUT JAMES COMBS
A prolific songwriter with a poetic flair, James has been called "one of folk-pop's best kept secrets" by the LA Weekly and "the missing link between Low and John Lennon" by UK's Guardian newspaper. James grew up in an Indiana river town obsessed with AM radio and his older sisters’ classic rock and folk record collection. That obsession morphed into a passion for writing songs that found its first real expression in his college band Arson Garden, who released albums recorded at Prince’s Paisley Park Studios and Pachyderm (Nirvana’s In Utero) and led them to tour 36 states and five European countries, have albums in the CMJ charts, videos on MTV, a Lollapalooza performance and a fanbase all over the US and Europe. One such fan was the legendary BBC DJ John Peel, who invited the band to play a live Peel Session at the BBC in London. The Chicago Reader called Arson Garden “the only art rock band in America that matters.”
After the band’s demise and a move to California, James continued making critically acclaimed solo albums, earning a West Coast audience and rave reviews (including the aforementioned profile in the Guardian). He co-wrote and played on an end title for HBO’s True Blood sung by Iggy Pop and Best Coast’s Bethany Cosentino that was called one of Iggy’s all-time best collaborations by Rolling Stone, NME and others, released five albums (including one on the super cool Ubiquity record label), and played live from Paris to New York to San Francisco to The Laurel Canyon Country Store.
James has shared stages with artists as diverse as Jackson Browne, Van Dyke Parks, Tom Verlaine, Sarah Bareilles, Tenacious D, Yo La Tengo, Marianne Faithfull, Inara George, They Might Be Giants, and actor John C. Reilly.. In 2019, James’ band Great Willow played Laurel Canyon's prestigious Love Street Festival, the only current LA band invited to share the main stage with surviving members of 60s legends The Doors, The Monkees, The Mamas and The Papas, and Love.
James also just might be the only songwriter you know who has had a song he wrote featured in a question by Alex Tribek on Jeopardy! His songs have been featured in some of the coolest shows on TV, including Six Feet Under, True Blood and Shameless and many more. His most recent solo album Falling Under Spells was released to rave reviews, extensive airplay in Europe and LA.
James is one half of the close harmony duo Great Willow with Erin Hawkins (www.greatwillowmusic.com), is the co-founder and Director of Sync Licensing at Laurel Canon Music, an original co-founder of Bloomington, Indiana’s Lotus World Music and Arts Festival, a board member at FAR-West (the annual west coast music conference) and co-curator for FAR-West’s monthly concert series, FAR-West Presents.
For further information Geraint or Deb Jones at G Promo PR
• Email: gpromo@btinternet.com • Web: www.gpromopr.com
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