Chris James (engineer)

Chris James
Background information
Born
Christopher Leon James

Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
OriginMurfreesboro, Tennessee, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Audio engineer
  • record producer
  • songwriter
  • musician
InstrumentMulti-instrumentalist
Years active1993–present
Labels
Member ofSelf
Websitechrisjamespro.com

Chris James is an American musician and audio engineer who has worked as a recording engineer and/or mixing engineer for several musical acts. He most frequently collaborates with Prince, with whom he has been nominated for two Grammy Awards, and performs as a keyboardist for the band Self. He currently resides in the Los Angeles, California area.

Early life

Chris James was born in Memphis, Tennessee, moving when he was ten to Maryville, Tennessee. He was educated at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro with a focus on music and recording.[1]

Career

At college, James shared a dorm room area with Matt Mahaffey, lead member of the band Self. Following the release of their debut album Subliminal Plastic Motives (1995), Mahaffey recruited James for live performances, later being inducted as a full-time member.[2] Playing keyboard and recording several albums for the band, he moved with the group to Los Angeles, California,[1] in 2001 to be closer with their parent label DreamWorks Records.[3] In the area, James opened his own studio named the Archive Studio. He's used the location to work with various artists, including Luther Vandross, Van Hunt, Ne-Yo, Paramore, Miguel, Frank Ocean, Janelle Monáe, and Kings of Leon.[1]

James grew up listening to Prince, inspired by him to write and record songs emulating his style.[4] He began working with the singer in 2012, mixing albums such as Plectrumelectrum (2014) and Art Official Age (2014) at Paisley Park Studios. He additionally performed guitar as part of Prince's live band and toured as a sound engineer.[1] A colleague of James was involved with mixing one of Prince's albums and was unavailable to return to record Hit n Run Phase Two (2015), leading to James' substitution and involvement with the singer's final project before his death.[4]

James later created Dolby Atmos mixes for the concert film Prince and the Revolution: Live (1985),[5][6][7] and the albums Diamonds and Pearls (1991),[4] Purple Rain (1984),[8][9] and Around the World in a Day (1985).[10] He additionally mixed an unreleased demo for "Do Me, Baby",[11][12] the single "Silver Tongue",[13] and the posthumous album Timeless (2026).[14][15][16][17] At the 59th Annual Grammy Awards, James was nominated in the Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical category for Hit n Run Phase Two,[18] and was again nominated at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards in the Best Historical Album category for the super deluxe edition of Diamonds and Pearls.[19]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "RSR075 – Chris James – Grammy Nominee – Best Engineered Album for Prince". Recording Studio Rockstars. February 10, 2017. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
  2. ↑ Harkey, Scott (September 11, 2000). "Self / Interviews". Silent Uproar. Retrieved October 25, 2025.
  3. ↑ Swann, Travis (July 10, 2011). "The little label that could". The Murfreesboro Post. Archived from the original on March 23, 2012. Retrieved June 22, 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 Sinclair, Paul (May 8, 2025). "Remixing Prince: Chris James on his Purple Rain Atmos Mix". Super Deluxe Edition. Retrieved October 25, 2025.
  5. ↑ Moore, Sam (March 30, 2022). "'Prince and The Revolution: Live' set to be remastered for new reissue". NME. Retrieved October 25, 2025.
  6. ↑ Garcia, Thania (March 30, 2022). "Prince and the Revolution's Legendary 1985 'Purple Rain' Syracuse Concert Set for Vinyl, Blu-Ray Release". Variety. Retrieved October 25, 2025.
  7. ↑ Bloom, Madison (March 30, 2022). "Prince and the Revolution: Live Deluxe Vinyl Release Announced". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 25, 2026.
  8. ↑ Pilley, Max (June 22, 2024). "Prince's 'Purple Rain' gets new Dolby Atmos mix for 40th anniversary". NME. Retrieved October 25, 2025.
  9. ↑ Vito, Jo (June 21, 2024). "Prince's Purple Rain Gets Dolby Atmos Mix for 40th Anniversary". Consequence. Retrieved October 25, 2025.
  10. ↑ Alper, Eric (October 2, 2025). "Prince and The Revolution Announce 'Around The World In A Day: The Singles' Box Set for RSD Black Friday". That Eric Alper. Retrieved October 25, 2025.
  11. ↑ Aubrey, Elizabeth (October 15, 2021). "Prince estate shares previously unheard demo of 'Do Me, Baby'". NME. Retrieved October 25, 2025.
  12. ↑ Graves, Wren (October 14, 2021). "Prince Estate Shares Previously Unreleased "Do Me, Baby" Demo: Stream". Consequence. Retrieved August 25, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Silver Tongue | Prince digital single, Sony Legacy (2024)". Goldies Parade. May 24, 2024. Retrieved August 25, 2026.
  14. ↑ Bland, Travis (April 20, 2026). "New Prince Single "With This Tear" Released Ahead of Vault Project: Stream". Consequence. Retrieved August 25, 2026.
  15. ↑ Aldecoa, Kayla (April 21, 2026). "New Prince Single Released on 10th Anniversary of Artist's Death". Parade. Retrieved August 25, 2026.
  16. ↑ Skinner, Tom (April 21, 2026). "New Prince single 'With This Tear' released on 10th anniversary of death ahead of vault project". NME. Retrieved August 25, 2026.
  17. ↑ Giacomazzo, Bernadette (April 21, 2026). "Prince Estate Unlocks Vault for Haunting New Song 'With This Tear'". Complex Networks. Retrieved August 25, 2026.
  18. ↑ Gelt, Jessica (February 12, 2017). "Chris James' purple armband at the Grammy Awards is a tribute to Prince". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
  19. ↑ Frazier, Nina (February 2, 2025). "2025 GRAMMYs: See The Full Winners & Nominees List". Grammy Awards. Retrieved October 25, 2025.
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