THE SQUARE at GASLIGHT PARK
June 10th – Kristopher James

The Square, a temporary public space activation project at Lykes Gaslight Park in Downtown Tampa. The project features a food kiosk operated by the Tampa Downtown Partnership with grab n’ go options provided by Inside the Box – a part of Metropolitan Ministries. In addition, the Tampa Downtown Partnership temporarily installed movable tables and chairs, overhead lighting and will offer music and other public space activities during the project’s duration
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At a young age, Kristopher James had music inside of him. Sitting in the doorway of his room, with a radio and tape deck, Kristopher spent hours making mixtape after mixtape of songs that began to mold his young, musical mind. From Boys II Men’s “cooleyhighharmony” to Garth Brooks’ hits, Kristopher swam in the lyrics and melodies. His knack for music, matched with years of filling composition books with personal poetry, improvised lyrics, and dream-like short stories, Kristopher‘s calling was determined—to be a songwriter.

It wasn’t until he sat behind a drum set, fueled by teenage angst, that Kristopher began his musician’s journey. From there, he taught himself guitar, piano, and bravely – how to sing. What is seen now, on intimate stages, like the iconic Eddie’s Attic in Decatur, Georgia, to theater stages, such as the Capitol Theater in Clearwater, Florida, is the concentrated influences and earnest emotional exposition that solidify Kristopher – as an Americana-Soul force to be encountered and experienced.

Shortly after becoming a father, Kristopher wrestled with the dualities of parenthood, and under the catharsis of writing, he penned) his first song —a 3 verse, 2 chorus, 1 bridge tune, that would breakdown the floodgates of his pent-up musical creativity. “My Heart Wasn’t Ready”, which became a breakout song, was the first of four to be written, recorded, and produced in the following weeks — his first EP “Movement,” which also features the highly-praised “Runaways”. Expounding as a songwriter, Kristopher garnered local acclaim, “His vocals are perfectly reined in to suit his range and his easy gift for melody is unrivaled in the Bay area singer-songwriter space,” (Creative Loathing Tampa 2017). It was at this support from the Florida musical community that pushed Kristopher to dive back into the studio for his second EP “Find Me”—featuring the titular track, as well as songs like the moody “Fire & the Fuse,” the anguished “Heart Shaped Grave,” and the critically praised “Humming Hallelujah.” Kristopher sustains his soulful exchange with an ardent substance that is uniquely his own.

Though he’s lived in the Sunshine State, for most of his life, Kristopher’s talent for melody and song (now) extend far past the state’s line. Like his influencers Otis Redding, Amos Lee, and Roberta Flack, Kristopher’s voice is clear, controlled, and full of all-the-feels. As with all artists, Kristopher’s sound has ebbed and flowed, evolving yet remaining instantly recognizable. With the growth he’s experienced as an artist, Kristopher felt it was time to capture his songs, in their fully-imagined sound, with his first full-length release, “Kindness Never Quits”. With “Kindness Never Quits,” Kristopher unquestionably makes his mark on the world of Americana and stirs in a soulful strength, leaving a heart-full impression on every listener