Shayfer James – Summoning (Track-By-Track)

This article has been imported from chorus.fm for discussion. All of the forum rules still apply.

Recently I was able to connect with talented songwriter, Shayfer James, and his management to discuss everything that went into his excellent new record, Summoning. Learn about each song through these deep dives in this exclusive track-by-track, and you can stream the new record here.

”Imagine That”

“Imagine That” opens the album with a cinematic mix of melancholy and grandeur. Shayfer James presents a flawed king on an empty throne reflecting on missed chances and emotional misalignment. The song moves from bombastic horns to tender reflection, imagining a life that might have been where a distant light promises a new chapter.

”One Foot In The Grave”

This track balances swagger with existential grit. James delivers sharp, defiant lyrics like “a tornado in a teapot” and “the grim reaper in a white dress,” capturing a character teetering on the edge. There’s risk, recklessness, and rebellion here, but also resilience. Through the dark imagery runs stubborn optimism, insisting that love still matters, even with one foot in the dirt.

”The Moral”

A spiritual, sensual meditation, “The Moral” reaches for something magical in love. Shafyer blurs the line between hymn and confession, inviting redemption with lines like “I think I’m worth loving for the kind of heathen who would dare.” The invocation of Eve suggests both a desire not just for connection, but for a rewritten origin story.

”Make A Wish”

Fierce, chaotic, and layered with self-aware bravado, “Make A Wish” unleashes Shayfer’s signature inner villain with style. The song is a swaggering anthem of contradictions. Part self-destruction, part transformation. Even at its loudest and most
reckless, the lyrics hint at longing for purpose, offering a glimpse of something sacred co-mingled with chaos.

”Headed Home”

“Headed Home” is a turning point. Romantic and grounded. It’s about choosing connection after a long solo journey, and acknowledging the shadows and scars that remain from it. With lines like “Some houses need a ghost,” Shayfer doesn’t shy away from complexity. The love in this song is earned, not idealized.

”Lighthouse Keeper”

Playful on the surface but philosophically rich beneath, “Lighthouse Keeper” explores the roles we choose when solitude feels safer than closeness. Whether as a beacon for others or a preacher on the move, Shayfer’s characters keep their distance, even while helping others find their way. It’s a song about storytelling, identity, and the strange comfort of isolation.

”Yellow House”

“Yellow House” is haunting, autobiographical, and emotionally stark. The house becomes a symbol of fractured innocence where love isn’t enough to keep harm away. Shayfer weaves family history and poetic imagery into a portrait of early trauma,
summed perfectly in the lyric, “Getting hurt is never hard.”

”Hell of a Dream”

A darkly funny dismantling of modern life, “Hell Of A Dream” critiques distraction culture with a theatrical wink. From Rome’s fall to curated self-help, Shayfer calls out the absurdity of it all. It’s an anthem for a generation stuck between apocalypse and
enlightenment, both seduced and exhausted by the noise.

”Reverie”

“Reverie” is about release. The quiet, painful end of a relationship. Shayfer lets go with care, recognizing that love isn’t always enough. There’s regret here, but also wisdom. Freedom is sometimes the kindest gift two people can offer each other.

”Winter Hymn”

A hymn in every sense of the word, this closing track is a tender triumph. Shayfer acknowledges both the temptation for departing and the necessity of “sticking around” to witness as many dawns as he can. The sweet hopeful message is wrapped in wintery cold imagery of Cape Tormentine Canada, where he wrote the song and most of the Summoning album.

more

Not all embedded content is displayed here. You can view the original to see embedded videos and other embedded content.