Luke James

“There are lots of reasons people come to Beyonce shows. There's the music, her dancing; all in all a bedazzling show. She's a great performer and singer.”

“Marvin Gaye, I'm super influenced by him. D'Angelo, Donny Hathaway. All the old school cats. New people, I like M83. I like Coldplay. I love Frank Ocean. Miguel. I get inspired by all these cats. People don't know that me and Frank Ocean went to high school together.”

“You have to stand on your beliefs.”

“I consider myself an honest soul.”

“I like to think of myself as a true artist.”

“I think love is important.”

“If you really want change, no one else is going to make that for you. It's all mental at first. Once you overcome that mental part, your body can do anything.”

“The first album is the prelude to the full story of Luke James. It establishes me as an artist you can look forward to.”

“I love to be loved. Whether it is by a significant other or an acquaintance, I get it.”

“I've always had a love for music, and it developed as I learned jazz, blues, and gospel. And I performed with jazz singers in New Orleans.”

“Doubts may happen. But if you surround yourself with like-minded people who believe in you and who you believe in, and you have faith, all will be well.”

“I'm from New Orleans, but I lived in L.A. for a very long time.”

“It's very tough to be away from someone you love or you're used to seeing all the time. But if you're truly in love, it will work. But it is difficult.”

“There's a plethora of genres that I've been introduced to, but that's only because of the foundation that was laid growing up in New Orleans. I know it's a cliche thing to say, but it's very gumbo-like. You get that here. You can mix well with all different walks of life. That's what New Orleans is. It's like no other place.”

“I want people to be inspired by my music.”

“Just be true all the way through, and people can't do anything but respect you for it.”

“Mostly everything I've ever sung comes from a personal place.”

“When somebody notices me in the slightest, I can feel the eyes - boom-boom - as soon as they pass.”

“I originally started playing saxophone. I started singing a little bit when I got into middle school, when I realized girls didn't really date the dude with the saxophone.”

“I was raised on Marvin Gaye. Before I knew Babyface or anyone else, I knew Marvin Gaye. My mother played Marvin Gaye.”