For nearly two decades, Leela James has had a career many major mainstream artists wish they had, let alone those occupying indie spaces. The Los Angeles native has grown an incredibly loyal fanbase, is highly respected by her R&B/Soul peers, tours regularly, and has the creative freedom to go in whatever artistic direction she wants to go when it’s time to drop an album. 

“I came into the game with a big nappy afro and was comfortable in my skin,” James told BET.com. “I was not trying to be defined by the industry or anybody else. Maybe that didn’t at the time set too well with whomever and it might’ve come off more rebellious but, that’s fine because I think that I would rather have been at that time myself than someone painting me out to be what they wanted me to be.” 

Being her authentic self from day one is something she’s considered the biggest blessing of which James has been proud. This year has also saw her share the stage with Ms. Pattie Labelle, which led to a heartfelt social media moment that went viral. Outside of her headlining tour, James will also join Robert Glasper, Ledisi, and more on Maxwell’s Urban Hang Suite cruise next February. She enjoys engaging with her fans, as it allows them to know her more intimately as an artist. 

James feels that this deeper connection fosters a greater appreciation for her music. Additionally, the excitement of sharing the platform with her peers adds a fun element to her experience. Though the singer/songwriter has slowly been hitting the road since 2022, she recently announced a tour supporting her middle-of-the-pandemic album See Me and her newest album, Thought U Knew, which dropped in late October. 

Thought U Knew features lead single “Right Back In It,” which also saw a remix with fellow indie R&B artist Kevin Ross. For James, it’s wonderful to see artists in the space flourish the way they have been, as she’s also a fan of vocal stylings such as Fridayy and KingFish. She loves rich, bluesy vocals because that’s what she connects to the most. 

 “A lot of us have been here, been around and sometimes just being overlooked and unheard or unseen but that doesn’t mean we haven’t been here,” James explained. “I think it's exciting that there's a little more light being shined on certain areas of the game because music is here, soul music is here, and R&B is definitely alive and been here.”

The album has James collaborating with her long-term mentor and producer, Rex Rideout. Initially hesitant to return to the studio after the pandemic, she found encouragement from Rideout. Once back in the studio, recording the first tracks set the tone for the entire project. James focused on achieving the specific feel and sound she envisioned, ultimately exceeding her expectations and feeling proud of the finished product. 

That personal drive to constantly outdo her previous albums, ranging from her sole 2005 major label debut, A Change Is Gonna Come through Warner Records, all the way to indie projects, Thought U Knew, is something she’s always emphasized. We’re not even talking about incredible collaborative projects like Are You Ready alongside The Truth Band Tracks, including  “Whatcha Done Now” and “Faded,” which provide classic feeling R&B/Soul love songs. 

James believes that love has never truly disappeared. Still, the focus in the genre has shifted to more superficial aspects, with social media significantly influencing how people perceive music, themselves, and even the concept of love.  “I think when you think about love, sometimes the picture of love is not painted in a beautiful light as much as other things are now in society so it’s not the popular thing to sing or talk about,” James explained. 

Most importantly,  James’ distinctive lower register alto has grown even richer. 

“I’m always just trying to outdo myself and compete with the last version of my Gemini self,” James explained. “I would like to think that I’m better than I was some 10 years or 15,20 years ago. I think the heart, soul and gift is always going to be there, but you always want to keep honing in on your gift and try to perfect it as best as possible.” 

Outside of music, James started a speaking tour series this year called “Girl Talk,” which involves her traveling to various Historically Black Colleges and Universities(HBCUs) where she engages with young women and men. She expressed pride in something that’s seen her speak at universities, including Clark Atlanta, Morris Brown College, and Prairie View. 

“I think it lends to the idea that you are not in this game of the college experience by yourself,” James said. “There’s support there for you. There’s someone else that is walking in shoes that are similar to yours and I’m there to try to be an inspiration and they are inspiring me in the process. I look forward to the next stops.” 

Reflecting on her career, James acknowledged the journey filled with highs and lows over the past decades. Now, she finds greater liberation and freedom in her independence with no regrets. 

“I don’t regret anything,” said James. “I just know that all things happen for a reason. I think that transition between major and indie was meant to be because I wouldn’t be where I am now had I not gone through the things that I went through. It just made me that much stronger and better.”