James (EP)

James
James
EP by Phoebe Ryan
Released	October 27, 2017
Recorded	2016–2017
Genre	Pop; synth-pop; electropop; R&B;
Length	17:26
Label	Columbia
Producer	Valley Girl; Antti Hynninen; Big Taste;
Phoebe Ryan chronology
Singles from James
	"Forgetting All About You"; Released: August 4, 2017; "Be Real"; Released: September 8, 2017; "James Has Changed"; Released: October 6, 2017;

James is the second extended play by American singer-songwriter Phoebe Ryan, released on October 27, 2017 by Columbia Records. It serves as the follow-up to her 2015 extended play, Mine (2015).^[1] The EP was preceded by the release of three singles, and was promoted by a tour span from late October to mid-November 2017.

Background and composition

James is a pop EP that bases its musical composition in 1980s-inspired synth-pop, modern electropop, and contemporary R&B. The album lyrically chronicles a relationship from beginning to end.^[2]

Promotion

Singles

"Forgetting All About You" featuring American R&B singer, blackbear was released on August 4, 2017 as the lead single from the EP. It was supported by both a music video and a performance at the Billboard Hot 100 Festival.^[3]
"Be Real" was released as the second single on September 8, 2017.^[4] A remix EP was released the same month.^[5]
"James Has Changed" was released as the third and final single on October 6, 2017.^[6]

Tour

In addition to the three singles being promoted, Ryan also embarked on a tour in support of the extended play. The tour began on October 31, 2017 and concluded on November 14, 2017.^[7]

Critical reception

Mike Wass of Idolator gave the album a positive review; he praised Ryan for "[examining] matters of the heart with rare honesty and a razor-sharp wit. Each song leads effortlessly into the next, which is no easy feat considering that they explore wildly different sounds."^[8]

Track listing

Digital download^[9]
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer	Length
1.	"Should I"	Phoebe Ryan Kyle Shearer Nate Campany	Valley Girl	3:05
2.	"Be Real"	Ryan Shearer Campany	Valley Girl	3:42
3.	"Aspirin"	Ryan Lucas Nordqvist Antti Hynninen Jurek Reunamäki	Antti Hynninen	3:57
4.	"James Has Changed"	Ryan Joonas Laaksoharju Leroy Clampitt Axel Ehnström	Big Taste	3:22
5.	"Forgetting All About You" (featuring blackbear)	Ryan Matthew Musto Clampitt Joseph Kirkland Jason Dean	Big Taste	3:20
Total length:				17:26

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.^[10]

Phoebe Ryan – lead vocals, songwriting
Kyle Shearer – songwriting (tracks 1–2), record engineering (tracks 1–2)
Nathaniel Campany – songwriting (tracks 1–2)
Valley Girl – production (tracks 1–2)
Joe Zook – mix engineering (track 1)
Paul Hammond – engineer assistance (track 1)
Mitch McCarthy – mix engineering (track 2)
Justin Shturtz – master engineering
Jordan "DJ Swivel" Young – mix engineering (tracks 3–5)

Lucas Nordqvist – songwriting (track 3)
Jurek Reunamäki – songwriting (track 3)
Frans Mernick – record engineering (track 3)
Antti Hynninen – songwriting, production, record engineering (track 3)
Joonas Laaksoharju – songwriting (track 4)
Axel Ehnström – songwriting (track 4)
Big Taste – songwriting, production (tracks 4–5)
Blackbear – featured artist, songwriting (track 5)
Joseph Kirkland – songwriting (track 5)
Jason Dean – songwriting (track 5)

References

^ "Phoebe Ryan designs fall tour". AXS. Retrieved 2017-10-09.
^ "The Drop: Your Guide To New Music Friday Featuring LAUV & Nicole Millar". idolator. 2017-10-06. Retrieved 2017-10-09.
^ Hudelson, Molly (2017-08-22). "PHOTOS: Phoebe Ryan gets things started at Billboard Hot 100 Festival". Substream Magazine. Retrieved 2017-10-09.
^ "Phoebe Ryan Makes An Honest Plea On The Super Sparkling "Be Real"". The FADER. Retrieved 2017-10-09.
^ "Phoebe Ryan's "Be Real" Gets A Massive NOTD Remix". idolator. 2017-09-21. Retrieved 2017-10-09.
^ James Has Changed - Single by Phoebe Ryan, 2017-10-06, retrieved 2018-05-18
^ "Phoebe Holiday Ryan on Instagram: "Tour starts so soon. 💚 Philly 10.31 The Filmore NYC 11.1 Music Hall of Williamsburg DC 11.2 U Street Music Hall Boston 11.3 Brighton Music..."". Instagram. Retrieved 2018-05-18.
^ "Phoebe Ryan On Her 'James' EP, Birdwatching & Britney Spears: Interview". idolator. 2017-11-03. Retrieved 2017-11-15.
^ "James - EP by Phoebe Ryan on Apple Music". itunes.apple.com. 27 October 2017. Retrieved 2017-10-27.
^ "Try the TIDAL Web Player". listen.tidal.com. Retrieved 2017-10-27.

[1] "Phoebe Ryan designs fall tour". AXS. Retrieved 2017-10-09.

[2] "The Drop: Your Guide To New Music Friday Featuring LAUV & Nicole Millar". idolator. 2017-10-06. Retrieved 2017-10-09.

[3] Hudelson, Molly (2017-08-22). "PHOTOS: Phoebe Ryan gets things started at Billboard Hot 100 Festival". Substream Magazine. Retrieved 2017-10-09.

[4] "Phoebe Ryan Makes An Honest Plea On The Super Sparkling "Be Real"". The FADER. Retrieved 2017-10-09.

[5] "Phoebe Ryan's "Be Real" Gets A Massive NOTD Remix". idolator. 2017-09-21. Retrieved 2017-10-09.

[6] James Has Changed - Single by Phoebe Ryan, 2017-10-06, retrieved 2018-05-18

[7] "Phoebe Holiday Ryan on Instagram: "Tour starts so soon. 💚 Philly 10.31 The Filmore NYC 11.1 Music Hall of Williamsburg DC 11.2 U Street Music Hall Boston 11.3 Brighton Music..."". Instagram. Retrieved 2018-05-18.

[8] "Phoebe Ryan On Her 'James' EP, Birdwatching & Britney Spears: Interview". idolator. 2017-11-03. Retrieved 2017-11-15.

[9] "James - EP by Phoebe Ryan on Apple Music". itunes.apple.com. 27 October 2017. Retrieved 2017-10-27.

[10] "Try the TIDAL Web Player". listen.tidal.com. Retrieved 2017-10-27.

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