Lazlo's Picks



Shayfer James - "the owl & the elephant"


Shayfer James can be described pointedly as a myth in wolf's clothing. Referred to by his rapidly growing group of followers as The Villain King of New Jersey’s underground noirpop music scene, Mr. James is devilishly captivating and deliciously unusual. From the worn bottom of his ripped black boots, to the wrinkled top of his black pinstriped hat, Shayfer James is the portrait of vagabond royalty. A man of bewitching grace, grisly humor, profound story telling, and whiskey-flavored wit. The self defined “spawn of the elephant and the empress”, Mr. James attributes his musical and lyrical abilities to his early exposure to pipe smoke, demons, and jesters” and his oddly chivalrous nature to his life-long apprenticeship to L.V.S.” (his mother's father). When Shayfer James approaches the piano, there is a certain power and mischievous charm that surrounds him. A bewitching sense of foreboding builds as his fingers touch the piano, and as he begins to sing, we are immersed in his darkly lyrical and evocative stories. His wry poetry is stitched seamlessly to peculiar arrangements that are simultaneously unsettling and familiar. Mr. James lures us into a devious world where the gods tear wings from angels and every man has a siren waiting to devour him.

Mr. James' gift for songwriting is singular. The songs on his first full-length album, The Owl & The Elephant range from beautifully sad to frightening and furious, and his performances are tailored to match. His style is theatrical, but never contrived. Performances leave audiences mesmerized by his uncanny ability to access and magnify every corner of his being in a live setting. At times, it seems he might be waging some sort of bizarre internal war with himself, but moments later he is unpredictably personable. Mr. James' raw and ethereal voice floats and staggers across four octaves, and his famously scarred hands traverse black and white keys in a style that is truly his own. Sardonic lyrics and carnivalesque orchestrations define his prolific writing, while recognizably structured and short songs woo the masses with memorable melodies and bone shaking rhythms. The release of The Owl & The Elephant marks the beginning of what will no doubt be a monumental career for an artist worthy of company such as Leonard Cohen, Jeff Buckley, Tom Waits, Shakespeare’s Puck, and Carroll’s Cheshire Cat.