Shayfer James
Press Reviews

About the Artist

Shayfer James’ live performances unfold like a gothic cabaret drenched in candlelight and piano keys, where theatricality meets raw emotional grit. With his haunting baritone and baroque-pop arrangements, James blends vaudeville drama with noir storytelling, turning each set into a cinematic experience—dark, romantic, and just a little dangerous. Known for songs like Ferryman, which feels like a waltz with the underworld, James often leans into themes of mortality, temptation, and redemption, filtered through a lens equal parts Poe and Bowie. Fans still talk about the night his mic cut out during a performance in a dimly lit speakeasy—but instead of pausing, he climbed on the piano and finished the set entirely acoustic, commanding the silent room like a preacher at a funeral for lost souls. Raised in New Jersey with a background in classical piano and a childhood fascination with Edgar Allan Poe, James has always gravitated toward the beautiful and the macabre. His shows aren’t just concerts—they’re rituals, where charm masks danger, and every flourish hides a sharp edge.