Contemporary singer/songwriter Brendan James began writing placid, autobiographical songs in college, accompanying himself on piano and wrapping his tenor vocals around tales of childhood, love, and nature. A native of New Hampshire, James relocated to Chapel Hill to attend the University of North Carolina, but the desire to pursue music convinced him to temporarily move to Los Angeles. He wrote songs during his stay in California and returned to Chapel Hill in 2002, where he graduated from college and set his sights on New York. James decamped to the Big Apple and issued a four-song EP before enlisting producer Mikal Blue (who would later produce Colbie Caillat's Coco) to help him record a full-length debut. Featuring songs inspired by his parents' divorce and former love interests, The Day Is Brave arrived in June 2008. After touring the album and relocating once again to Los Angeles, James wrote and recorded his self-titled sophomore release, Brendan James, which appeared in 2010. Playing Favorites followed in 2013, with the emotionally direct Simplify arriving later that same year.