May-August 2026 - The Pride Issue: Finding her Voice - The Soulful Journey of Val James

For Val James, music isn’t something she discovered—it’s something she was born into. "My journey in music began in my mom’s belly," she says, reflecting on a life shaped by rhythm, melody, and legacy.

Raised in a musical household, James surrounded herself with creativity from the very beginning. Her grandfather led a Drum and Bugle Corps, her mother played multiple instruments, and her father, Tony Brazis, was an accomplished musician who brought her along to performances across New Mexico. "I’d dance on the stage with my dad and his band at age 2, sing harmonies with them at age 16, and eventually sang on one of his albums," she recalls.

That early immersion laid the groundwork for a sound that blends blues, rock, folk, and Americana with emotional depth and authenticity. Drawing inspiration from artists like Jimi Hendrix, Aretha Franklin, Madonna, and Alanis Morissette, James developed a style that is both powerful and deeply personal. "My signature sound developed from my musical training, my dad's love of the blues, exposure to many genres of music, and the '90s alternative rock scene," she explains.

Growing up in New Mexico's East Mountains also shaped her artistry in unexpected ways. "The most important thing in music is space," James says. "The space in our high desert landscapes teaches us to sit with patience, simplicity, silence." That sense of openness is woven into her music—heard in the pauses between chords, the breath between lyrics, and the emotional weight of a sustained note.

At the heart of her songwriting is vulnerability. James doesn’t shy away from the difficult or the messy. “My vulnerability means writing the hard words, the unprettiness of life, the anger and pain… without censoring myself,” she says. For her, music is transformation—an emotional release that connects artist and listener on a deeply human level.

That same intentionality carries into her work behind the scenes. As a producer and songwriter, James thrives on the process of building something from nothing. “It’s extremely exciting to think of a sound or line… and then get to go into the studio and hear your thoughts literally materialize,” she says. Her attention to detail and solution-focused mindset—skills she also applies in her work as a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor—allow her to bring both precision and empathy into her music.

While she values the control and flexibility of studio work, live performance offers something entirely different. “When it all goes right, it’s just so cool to be on the same frequency with other humans,” she says. With hundreds of performances under her belt, she continues to find joy in sharing the stage with fellow musicians and connecting with audiences in real time.

​Like many independent artists, James has faced challenges along the way. “Being a single, female musician, if you want something, you have to make it happen yourself,” she says. Navigating a male-dominated industry and the realities of inconsistent pay have required resilience, adaptability, and determination. Yet, she has continued to push forward—running bands, performing at major festivals, and carving out her own space in the music world. Including an upcoming appearance on the “Home Cooked Music Podcast” on June 25 sharing original songs.

Community remains central to her journey. As a member of the LGBTQI+ community, James sees inclusivity as essential to the music scene. “Inclusivity in music means having events that feature people from all walks and abilities of life,” she says. Her work extends beyond performance, using music as a tool for connection, healing, and advocacy in spaces that need it most.

Among her many accomplishments, recording her 2017 album Don’t Worry, Baby stands as a defining moment. “Recording my album… was the cherry on top, my most proud accomplishment,” she shares. The project became even more meaningful when she invited her father to sing harmonies on one of the tracks. A moment that would later carry deep emotional weight following his passing in 2023.
Today, Val James continues to create, perform, and inspire. With upcoming performances at the Chocolate and Coffee Festival and the Rio Grande Community Festival, she remains a vibrant force in New Mexico’s music scene.

Through every lyric, every note, and every performance, she stays true to one guiding principle: authenticity. In doing so, she invites others to do the same—finding connection, healing, and truth in the power of music.

Follow Val James on instagram @valjamesmusic/