Born in New Hampshire, Brendan James cut his artistic eyeteeth in New York and is now based in Los Angeles. His piano-based songwriting style is influenced by artists of the 1970s (with more than a bit of Stevie Wonder) and by more recent artists such as Ryan Adams. Brendan released his debut full-length album, "The Day Is Brave," on the Decca label in 2008 and a follow-up, "Brendan James," two years later. He has been a headliner on the MTV Soundtracker tour and, with Jason Reeves and Amber Rubarth, on a tour sponsored by Vespa motor scooters on which he traveled along the West Coast on a Vespa to promote environmental awareness. In 2011 and 2012 Brendan went on artistic hiatus, "but," he says, "it led to my most creative year." Brendan James returns to The Ark an as-yet-untitled new release.