Interview with Eva James–Struggle and Triumph

Music often finds its truest power in moments of vulnerability, and for rising singer-songwriter Eva James, that vulnerability has been transformed into strength, resilience, and art that heals. From writing her first songs at the age of 12 as a way to navigate loneliness, to shaping her upcoming album with raw honesty, she has always turned to music as both a refuge and a lifeline. Her sound carries the weight of personal battles, but also the spark of hope—crafted with the intent to connect deeply with listeners who may find comfort in her words just as she once found comfort in the music of others.

Her new album is not just a collection of songs, but a testament to survival, perseverance, and the power of authentic storytelling. Guided and inspired by collaborations with legendary producer Paula Cole, she has created an emotionally charged body of work that reflects her journey through health challenges, self-discovery, and renewal. With songs like Invincible at its core, the record serves as both a diary and a beacon—inviting audiences to witness her transformation and to embrace their own.

Let’s hear more about her journey from her:

1. What shaped your early artistic instincts? Would you like to share a formative memory with us?

Music was my lifeline as a kid, listening to it, & eventually writing it as a way to process emotions and experiences that were too intense to process any other way. For as long as I can remember, I knew I wanted to make music & create something bigger than myself that could potentially help other people in the way that music has helped me.   

2) How did writing songs come to you? Do you remember your first writing and what was the inspiration behind it?

I started writing songs when I was around 12 years old. My childhood & adolescence were a turbulent time for me; I spent many of those years feeling deeply alone and misunderstood. Music was the one constant for me, my most consistent and fiercest ally. Writing songs became a sanctuary for me, a therapeutic escape from the uncertainty of the world around me. 

3) What do you mean when you say songwriting is ‘a dialogue with the subconscious’ for you?

This is something that I once heard Paula say — that songwriting is a dialogue with the subconscious — and I related so heavily to it that it really stuck with me as a way to accurately describe what songwriting provides for me as well. It’s such a necessary method of communication between myself and the world, other humans.. But first & foremost, it is the truest way for me to communicate with myself, to understand things about myself that I wouldn’t otherwise. It’s crucial for my own survival.

4) How fulfilling it is to bring your personal experience into your songs—is it like feeling a release and freedom, and maybe transformative?

Completely! Release, freedom, transformative — all very accurate words to describe how it feels to channel my personal experiences into music.  It’s extremely cathartic. When I finish a song that I really needed to write in order to process something I’m going through, it’s almost a full body experience, I’ll even get physical symptoms — almost like a high. There’s nothing quite like it. 

5) Performance art challenges an artist’s vulnerability but you seem to be proud of showing that in your creations? How empowered do you feel with this process?

I believe there’s so much strength in vulnerability — this is something I really learned the past couple years especially, when I began discussing my health journey publicly in connection to my music — and releasing this album feels like such a victory, very empowering. This music, and making this album, saved my life. 

6. How enriching was it to work with Paula Cole?

Working with Paula has been such a valuable experience — she’s an immensely talented producer & songwriter that I’ve learned so much from, but she’s also someone that always pushes me to be my most authentic self — as an artist & a woman. I feel very lucky to have that in my life and in my career. 

7. In your upcoming album, which would be the favourite song with the audience?

Hmm, such a tough question to answer, but I think if I had to pick one song that encapsulates the theme and story of this album, it would be “Invincible.”

8. What’s the main message of your album?

For me, this album really symbolizes the strength and determination it took to overcome the struggles I faced in the past couple of years with my health (and in my personal life). I recorded the majority of this album a few months before my health drastically declined in 2023, and finishing this album truly saved my life. Everything I did to fight for my health was for this music. Now, two years later, I’m physically stronger than I’ve ever been, and I hope my story and this journey I’m on can be a source of hope for anyone else in the same position I was in. 

9. What are the future plans?

Anywhere music leads, that’s where I’ll be. I look forward to what comes next!