By Phil Lacombe
The Coachella Valley has long been a breeding ground for artists who aren’t afraid to pour their heart into their music, and James Dorris is a perfect example of that spirit. Known to many desert music fans as the driving force behind Reborn by the Sunshine, Dorris has continued evolving as a songwriter and performer, recently unveiling a new chapter with his latest release, Perfectly Imperfect.
The album showcases a more personal and reflective side of Dorris, blending raw emotion with his signature storytelling and melodic instincts. Whether he’s performing with a full band or sharing songs in a more intimate setting, Dorris has built a reputation for delivering music that feels genuine and lived-in, something the desert music community has always embraced.
With Perfectly Imperfect now out in the world, we caught up with Dorris to talk about the inspiration behind the new record, his journey as a musician in the Coachella Valley, and what’s next.
CVW: Let’s start with the new record. What was the inspiration behind Perfectly Imperfect, and what does that title mean to you personally?
Dorris: For me personally, Perfectly Imperfect has a mountain of meaning. On a surface level, it means exactly what the words portray in their succession; that something, anything, with all of its flaws and imperfections can actually be seen and accepted as being perfect. That perhaps the very concept of perfection at its very core may be flawed and imperfect. That isn’t to say that we shouldn’t aim to enhance our lives, aim to make life more efficient or aim for a higher version of self, but to forget or believe that at any point the imperfections are not to be integrated as one part of the whole is unrealistic and misses the mark. This pursuit has created a cultural fog that has permeated so many areas of our lives. I wanted to put out an album and a creation that is full of natural mistakes. The kind of mistakes you feel free to make when you don’t take into account the listener and are just creating from the flow of creation. I feel like we can all benefit from spending more time in that space without the fear of judgment and without the seeking of validation outside ourselves.
As the various applications of AI continue to expand into more areas of our lives, I have a theory that we are going to return to valuing the beauty in the imperfection in a big way. It will be mistakes made during live performances and the beautiful reactions or answers to those mistakes that will become the epicenter of the excitement. The acceptance of flaws and moments that make some cringe may become the very medicine we all need and just not know it. Those are the same variables that make us beautiful in our own ways. Our struggles and our challenges in life allow us the opportunity and the reflection to grow from. If we choose to hold others to some perfect reflection without examining ourselves within that, then we’re just choosing to be willingly ignorant to the role it plays in our development. This last year brought me many lessons through examining things that happened around me personally through this lens. Situations I was cornered into that shed light on the systems around us and their imperfections and corruptions as well as how easily others can be persuaded into believing narratives so easily. One can either accept the narrative others are trying to paint of a situation or even of you for that matter and join that lower vibration or you can find a way to rise above it all and let truth and time speak for itself. It always will. The heart and soul is all there rooted within every song on the album. The magic is there. It just isn’t sitting atop a foundation
CVW: How does this album differ from your previous work, both musically and emotionally?
Dorris: I used to aim my ideas towards a particular sound or genre for the most part and I believe that limited me. I now honor each solid idea regardless of what “genre” it fits into and most importantly I allow the emotion to dictate where it all leads. I’ve always had a diverse range within my music and voice, but I now accept my role as co-creator within the process. I have come to understand that I’m working with a force greater than me when writing. I’m not the first to adopt this frame of thinking. Some songs come to me almost entirely in their complete form and others take a lot more to decipher. That alone is proof to me that we are pulling from some other unseen place; the Oneness and all-connectedness of this world and Universe we live in. You have options when navigating through life: You can look at it as all just being mere chance and coincidence or you can choose to believe there is magic everywhere and that it’s all connected if you allow it to be. I wanted this album to embody the process through which I create and to show others the beginning stages of where a song comes from. The birth of the idea. The shadow side of creation and its inception point when you create through Spirit this way. This lifting of the veil lets the listener in on exactly how I create. These are first take freestyles and improvs that had no thought behind them besides the heart from which they came. Magical moments shared amongst friends. Not all of your songs are going to be for everyone, but each one does have a place in this world for someone. You never know what life that one song may save or the Universe of inspiration you may unlock in another human being from them hearing it. This trickle down effect can truly be so contagious that you awaken an entire generation without you ever even knowing it. That is why you should create and once you are satisfied then it is your responsibility to share it. It IS that important. That is the high level of respect and reverence I bring to my music and creations.
CVW: Was there a particular song on the album that was the hardest to write or record?
Dorris: The Difference (Reborn by the Sunshine). This song has been with me for over 11 years and it has held many shapes, versions and forms to it. This is one of the first songs I ever wrote when I switched from playing bass guitar exclusively and started creating on an acoustic guitar. I wrote the first version on my brother’s old Epiphone acoustic that had the worst action ever which I played for a long time. It felt like a rite of passage to learn on a guitar that wasn’t the easiest to play on. It was also special to me because it belonged to my late brother Cassano who never truly learned to play it. Once I upgraded, it felt as if I had truly earned it. The version on the album is the first time I played this iteration of it with anyone. This recording features Jeffro Uitto on mandolin who is just an all around phenomenal artist and Scott Isabell (radio name = Johnny Toot) on acoustic who added these deep almost pad-like rhythms as well as some lead.
CVW: You’ve been part of the Coachella Valley music scene for a while now. How has the local scene influenced your songwriting over the years?
Dorris: The scene out here has changed just as much as I have throughout the years and will continue to do so. I used to believe that certain places or that people don’t generally change and now I would take the opposite to be closer to reality. At this point in my life, I feel that I have been so many versions of myself and all of them have served their purpose. This changing has brought me so much growth through not stifling myself by trying to fit into any one box or get too caught up in any of it. This desert holds a myriad of vibes, scenes and stories; I’ve been fortunate to be a part of so many of them. The Universe has a beautiful way of making it all come together in perfect timing. It has proven this to me so many times over by leading me to the most perfect places at exactly the right time, regardless of whether I perceived those places or situations to be good or bad at the time. I’ve learned to trust in that and to surrender to it as best I can. So yes the Coachella Valley, the scene and the life I have lived here, the tragedy and the triumph, the joy and the sadness; all of it together has been such a beautiful influence that I take into my art purposely and consciously a lot of the time and is a part of everything I do at a subconscious level all of the time.
CVW: When you start writing a song, what usually comes first for you, lyrics, melody, or a guitar riff?
Dorris: I honestly don’t have one way of creating, but I have connected most with melody over the years. It hasn’t been without practice and testing out the full spectrum of sound my voice can create (ask my 13,000+ voice memos) but again these all come from reaching into my mind without fear of judgment and working out what I feel. I will use anything to write a song these days. I look at all instruments exactly for what they all are; tools. Tools to be used in any way you desire in order to produce a sound that inspires you and serves the song you are writing. Don’t let anyone try to discourage you from playing something in a new or different kind of way. That isn’t to say you can’t pick up tips and tricks along the way from others. It can all serve you and your songwriting or performances. At the end of the day it is up to each individual artist or band to decide how they want to serve up their music. Be who you truly are without backing down even if it isn’t the normal behavior people are used to. The listener either listens or chooses not to. No hard feelings on either end. Lean on your ear and your heart overall and learn the rules of this game to know when and how you want to break them… if you choose to learn them at all.
CVW: Every album has a track that the artist feels especially connected to. Which song from Perfectly Imperfect means the most to you and why?
Dorris: Although the message in The Difference has always been an important one, One Day At A Time is the one that encapsulates the true ethos of what Perfectly Imperfect is centered on. Don’t be the villain in your own story being written. Don’t be so hard on YOU. It’s one day at a time, even when it feels like nothing aligns. It’s just one more try and you’ll be right back. Perfectly Imperfect. Beautifully Broken. Enough to see the light through the cracks.
CVW: What does a typical creative process look like for you? Are you someone who writes constantly or do songs come in waves of inspiration?
Dorris: I am constantly creating in my mind. I have so many unreleased songs and tenfold when it comes to ideas, hooks, riffs, and partially completed songs. Plot-twist: all of the recordings on this album are voice memos recorded on a phone. There is some EQ and other processing, but I wanted it to be raw. I wanted it to be real and to show other artists that although there is a respect to be given to recording professionally and taking those recordings as far as you can until you are creatively satisfied, the most important thing is to release your art. If waiting for the perfect recording is keeping you from releasing your music and moving on to creating more music, then I say screw all the details and find a way to get it out there. That is more important. This is my way of putting myself out there in that same vulnerable space. I have recorded and released many other records this year that I spent a lot more time on and I am proud of those as well, but this is something different all together. I am proud that I was able to get past the many walls that used to keep me from releasing music.
CVW: The desert has such a unique vibe and energy. Do you feel the landscape and culture of the Coachella Valley find their way into your music?
Dorris: Growing up here, I couldn’t wait to leave once I was old enough. I didn’t find much beauty in the sand and the dust all around us. It wasn’t until I left throughout different periods of my life and returned that I began to see the true beauty of the Coachella Valley. The more and more I learned about the roots of this valley and her people, the more beautiful it became also. The Coachella Valley is the land of water warriors who had a very important mission of protecting that water for over 5,000 years and still do. I did a lot of researching and learning last year about how we all arrived and came to live in this desert. It isn’t the sweetest of stories and it sure isn’t finished yet. Go out and learn a little more, as I am continuing to do, about where we live and what transpired over the years to allow us to live here in the way we do. I am more connected to nature and Spirit now than I ever have been in my life, and I am grateful for what this valley has taught me. That is without a doubt a big part of my music. Take a moment to pause and observe the magic of life all around you and let it speak to you. It has a lot to say and so much to teach us all.
CVW: Looking ahead, what’s next for you? Any upcoming shows, collaborations, or projects fans should keep an eye out for?
Dorris: I have an EP titled Careless Dreaming currently being mastered by Pete Lyman of Infrasonic Sound in Nashville, TN that I will be releasing in early April. I am finalizing the details for a performance in May at the gorgeous new coffee roastery, Desert Kid Coffee as part of a series of live recorded performances titled Desert Kid Coffee Presents: Desert Sounds. It’s going to be magical and I’m excited to be part of one of their first recordings. Last year I established my own independent label and I am also growing a creative collective & podcast under its umbrella. It is named ::WOLF//SNAKE//EAGLE:: I am seeking those who aren’t afraid to dive deep within themselves and their art and who share this soul-level calling. Those interested can contact me by visiting my website wolfsnakeeagle.com I’m just getting started on this new chapter and there’s no stopping this freight train. I’m everywhere baby!
CVW: Where can fans find you?
Dorris: @JDLoveElectric on IG and YouTube @WolfSnakeEagle on TikTok James Dorris and the Love Electric – on Spotify, Apple Music, SoundCloud and beyond. Visit the James Dorris and the Love Electric BandCamp page to support the new album. I made it affordable for everyone.
For James Dorris, music has always been about honesty, embracing the beauty in life’s flaws and turning those experiences into songs that connect with people. With Perfectly Imperfect, he continues that journey, offering listeners a collection of songs that are as heartfelt as they are relatable.
Keep an eye out for upcoming performances and new music as Dorris continues carving his path through the desert music scene, one authentic song at a time.
That’s a wrap on this week’s Local Music Spotlight, but the party doesn’t stop here. Hit the shows, feel the beats, and keep the valley’s music scene thriving. Because around here, the next song that changes your life might be playing tonight.
