Exclusive Interview: Leah James Chats About the Release of Her First Holiday EP, December

Leah James is an alternative artist whose music has connected with listeners around the world and left a lasting impact. With hit singles like “Wildfire” and “That Fateful Day,” Leah has solidified her place as one of her generation’s most exciting new voices. Today, she releases her highly-anticipated holiday EP entitled December, which is a gorgeous collection of classics with a cinematic twist. Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Leah about December.

PC: You come from a musical background. Have you always known this was the career path that you wanted to pursue? Was there a defining moment when you realized this was what you wanted to do with your life?
Leah: Yes, everyone in my family is musical. Getting into music wasn’t really a conscious choice—it was more of a way of being. I knew at a very young age that I had found what I loved to do most.

PC: You’ve had a lot of success throughout your career. When you look back, is there a moment that stands out?
Leah: I wouldn’t say there’s a moment that stands out, but as my platform grows so does my awareness of my personal responsibility to hold a standard for what I produce. And by that, I mean asking myself with each creation “Is this helping society or hurting society?”

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Leah: Some of my biggest musical influences are the iconic voices of the 20th century: Nat King Cole, Ray Charles, Etta James, Elvis Presley, and Roy Orbison.

PC: Of all the music that you’ve released, if you have to pick one that best encompasses who you are as an artist, which would it be and why?
Leah: I would say that “Blue Christmas” on the new EP is the song that resonates with me the most these days. I really like how it has so many different aspects of emotion behind it all, and there’s an element of intensity that feels compelling to me.

PC: Tell us about December and what listeners can expect from your first holiday EP.
Leah: This small collection of songs is dripping in string arrangements. They have a very ethereal sound but are grounded with a very present vocal.

PC: What was the process like deciding what songs you would reinvent on this EP?
Leah: It was, in fact, quite a challenge to choose which songs to record because there are so many beautiful holiday songs in existence. But I’m very happy with our choices. It was extremely fun to put a nice little spin on these holiday classics.

PC: There’s a cinematic aspect to each of these songs. How early on did you know that this was the direction that you wanted to head in with this EP?
Leah: It was the very first inspiration: I knew that I wanted it to sound almost like a David Lynch film.

PC: As we look ahead to 2023, what can fans expect from you?
Leah: I have two projects in the works that I’ll be launching in 2023—one is a full-length album, and the other is a secret project that I can’t talk about yet. Stay tuned!

To keep up with Leah, follow her on Instagram, Spotify, and Apple Music. Pick up or stream December today.