Leela James

Neo Soul

Leela James

About Leela James

Leela James carries on the tradition of classic soul while putting a contemporary spin on the idiom with her combination of rich, gritty vocals and highly personal songwriting. Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, and Tina Turner were among the vocalists to whom the Los Angeles native was likened early in her career, which was established with A Change Is Gonna Come (2005), her assured full-length debut. James has since set herself apart with a succession of unpredictable albums. After the Stax-issued My Soul (2010) and Shanachie recording Loving You More...In the Spirit of Etta James (2012), James went independent with her own label. Among her self-issued recordings are Fall for You (2014), See Me (2021), and Thought U Knew (2023), albums that have seen James reference numerous eras of R&B with modern finesse. Born Alechia Janeice Campbell in Los Angeles, Leela James first appeared on a handful of '90s rap recordings as a background vocalist. Under the name Alechia James, she placed songs on a pair of soundtracks released in 2000. First was "Holding Back the Years," a Simply Red cover for Whatever It Takes, followed by James' own composition, "Work," which paired her with the Roots and appeared on the soundtrack for Bait. After she was showcased on an uplifting track off Pete Rock's Soul Survivor II, "No Tears," she made her proper debut on Warner Bros. in 2005 with A Change Is Gonna Come. Featuring a cover of Sam Cooke's song of the same title, as well as one of No Doubt's "Don't Speak," the throwback-oriented set involved assistance from major figures including Kanye West, Raphael Saadiq, James Poyser, and Chucky Thompson. It entered the Billboard 200 at number 148 and was followed with an appearance on Ray Charles' posthumous Genius & Friends, as well as nominations for Soul Train Music and NAACP Image awards. After splitting from Warner Bros., the singer landed on the roster of Shanachie and recorded one of the label's more inspired all-covers sets, Let's Do It Again, released in 2009. The same year, she contributed to "Walk with Me," a highlight on Moby's Wait for Me album. The singer switched to the storied Stax label for My Soul, a 2010 release that featured some of her own songwriting and peaked in Billboard's R&B/hip-hop Top Ten. A return to Shanachie yielded 2012's Loving You More...In the Spirit of Etta James, a release more adventurous than the title indicated. James launched her BMG-distributed Shesangz label for her fifth album, 2014's Fall for You, home to her three highest-charting Hot Adult R&B tracks, such as the Anthony Hamilton duet "Say That." Around the same time, James began a two-season stint on the reality television series R&B Divas: Los Angeles. Did It for Love, James' sixth album, offered her most refined mix of vintage and contemporary sounds to that point. Its first single, "Don't Want You Back," became a number one hit on the adult R&B chart in 2017. See Me, produced by James and Rex Rideout, was released four years later and returned the singer to the top of that chart with "Complicated." James was back in 2023 with Thought U Knew, heralded with a title song deeply rooted in mid-'70s funk. ~ Andy Kellman, Rovi

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About Leela James

Leela James carries on the tradition of classic soul while putting a contemporary spin on the idiom with her combination of rich, gritty vocals and highly personal songwriting. Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, and Tina Turner were among the vocalists to whom the Los Angeles native was likened early in her career, which was established with A Change Is Gonna Come (2005), her assured full-length debut. James has since set herself apart with a succession of unpredictable albums. After the Stax-issued My Soul (2010) and Shanachie recording Loving You More...In the Spirit of Etta James (2012), James went independent with her own label. Among her self-issued recordings are Fall for You (2014), See Me (2021), and Thought U Knew (2023), albums that have seen James reference numerous eras of R&B with modern finesse. Born Alechia Janeice Campbell in Los Angeles, Leela James first appeared on a handful of '90s rap recordings as a background vocalist. Under the name Alechia James, she placed songs on a pair of soundtracks released in 2000. First was "Holding Back the Years," a Simply Red cover for Whatever It Takes, followed by James' own composition, "Work," which paired her with the Roots and appeared on the soundtrack for Bait. After she was showcased on an uplifting track off Pete Rock's Soul Survivor II, "No Tears," she made her proper debut on Warner Bros. in 2005 with A Change Is Gonna Come. Featuring a cover of Sam Cooke's song of the same title, as well as one of No Doubt's "Don't Speak," the throwback-oriented set involved assistance from major figures including Kanye West, Raphael Saadiq, James Poyser, and Chucky Thompson. It entered the Billboard 200 at number 148 and was followed with an appearance on Ray Charles' posthumous Genius & Friends, as well as nominations for Soul Train Music and NAACP Image awards. After splitting from Warner Bros., the singer landed on the roster of Shanachie and recorded one of the label's more inspired all-covers sets, Let's Do It Again, released in 2009. The same year, she contributed to "Walk with Me," a highlight on Moby's Wait for Me album. The singer switched to the storied Stax label for My Soul, a 2010 release that featured some of her own songwriting and peaked in Billboard's R&B/hip-hop Top Ten. A return to Shanachie yielded 2012's Loving You More...In the Spirit of Etta James, a release more adventurous than the title indicated. James launched her BMG-distributed Shesangz label for her fifth album, 2014's Fall for You, home to her three highest-charting Hot Adult R&B tracks, such as the Anthony Hamilton duet "Say That." Around the same time, James began a two-season stint on the reality television series R&B Divas: Los Angeles. Did It for Love, James' sixth album, offered her most refined mix of vintage and contemporary sounds to that point. Its first single, "Don't Want You Back," became a number one hit on the adult R&B chart in 2017. See Me, produced by James and Rex Rideout, was released four years later and returned the singer to the top of that chart with "Complicated." James was back in 2023 with Thought U Knew, heralded with a title song deeply rooted in mid-'70s funk. ~ Andy Kellman, Rovi

Leela James's Concerts & Tour Dates

Date Event name Venue
03 Jul 2025 Night in N'awlins Featuring Leela James, Eric Roberson, Jon B, and Shae Universe Tipitina's, New Orleans, LA, United States
28 Jul 2025 Leela James in New York Sony Hall, New York
29 Jul 2025 Leela James in Boston City Winery Boston, Boston
31 Jul 2025 Maxwell, Maxwell, Leela James in Milwaukee Miller High Life Theatre, Milwaukee, WI, United States
01 Aug 2025 Leela James in Portland Colwood Golf Center, Vancouver, WA, United States
01 Aug 2025 Leela James in Portland Colwood Golf Center, Portland
31 Aug 2025 Fresh Ideas Presents 7th Annual River City Jazz & Music Fest Cannon Center for the Performing Arts, Memphis, TN, United States
12 Sep 2025 Leela James The Hall, Little Rock, AR, United States
13 Sep 2025 Leela James in St. Louis Grand Center Inn, St. Louis
14 Sep 2025 Leela James in Indianapolis Old National Centre, Indianapolis

Leela James's Popular songs

  • Fall for You
  • Music
  • I'd Rather Go Blind

Frequently Asked Questions

Some of Leela James's most popular songs include Fall for You, Music, I'd Rather Go Blind. These tracks have impressed fans and helped cement their place in the music industry.

You can listen to Leela James's music on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube. Their most popular songs include Fall for You, Music, I'd Rather Go Blind, and more.

Leela James is known for their distinctive sound in the neo soul genre, often blending elements of r&b, making them a unique voice in the music world.

You can find the ticket details about Leela James concert from AllEvents.