Alternative R&B crooner Ro James is steamrolling into the summer with the release of his debut album, El Dorado. The 13-track full length includes previously released singles such as “Permission” and “Burn Slow,” as well as a host of sounds to round out the singer’s eclectic sound. James recently sat with BET Soul to discuss the plethora of influences on El Dorado, and using them to connect with his audience.
“Sometimes people don’t understand what I’m bringing,” he said. “Soul, R&B, but at the same time, I’m also rock and country, and hip-hop. And a little bit of gospel. So I’m influenced by all different types of genres of music.”

James’s RCA debut follows his 2013 trilogy, Coke, Jack and Cadillacs, which included highlights like "A.D.I.D.A.S." and “Lisa,” featuring Asher Roth. The singer is focused on bringing a classic feel to his aesthetic as well as his sound. He also spoke with BET Soul about his use of black-and-white visuals, a decision he attributes to an early lesson from his grandfather.
“My grandfather told me that black-and-white photos make you pay attention to the emotion in the photo versus what is being worn, and I remembered that. So when it came time for me to start rolling out how I wanted people to see me, I wanted people to see me as classic, I wanted people to see me as timeless, and I wanted people to pay attention to the emotion in my music as much as my visuals.”
Watch Ro James chop it up with BET Soul above, and peep his latest video, “Burn Slow” below: