Jeffrey James was never one for easy love songs. Sitting in a dimly lit studio in Los Angeles, he recalls how “Love Don’t Come Easy” was supposed to be an upbeat, romantic track. But something shifted. 

“I started out thinking I’d write a happy love song, but this idea and these lyrics just poured out of me,” James said. “My heart told me what I truly wanted to write.”

Under the moniker FAKE SUEDE, James channels a deep nostalgia for ’70s soul and disco, blending it with modern indie rock and synth textures. His latest single, “Love Don’t Come Easy,” is a raw, honest look at the complexities of modern dating.

“A bit of both,” he said when asked whether the song was drawn from personal experience or observation. “Dating struggles are such a universal thing. I pulled from my own experiences and from watching friends fall in and out of love—deleting and re-uploading dating apps.”

The track walks a fine line between retro and contemporary influences. “It’s always a balancing act trying to tie in contrasting influences,” James explained. “I knew I wanted the song to be an homage to 1960s and ’70s soul ballads, but I also wanted to ground it in ‘the now.’” That balance is evident in the song’s structure—a smooth, flowing melody punctuated by moments of stark emotional clarity.

The warmth of the track, its undeniable groove, owes much to James’s musical idols. 

“I’m a huge fan of Bill Withers. His music always plays a role in any song I write, which means there’s a lot of Quincy Jones in there, too,” he said. “Smokey Robinson’s ballads were a huge influence for me, along with The Temptations’ ‘I Wish It Would Rain.’”

The song’s lyrics carry both frustration and hope, a delicate interplay of vulnerability and optimism. For James, that perspective is personal. 

“I think it helps that I’m in a healthy relationship currently,” he said. “So, I’m writing about my past experiences and thinking about my single friends, but from the lens of ‘I found my person, so there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.’ It’s hard not to be optimistic when you see how all the ups and downs led you to the right place.”

Beyond the song, FAKE SUEDE serves as a creative rebirth for James. 

“This has always been a side of me that’s been present in my songwriting,” he said. “But with FS, I wanted to set up some barriers and constraints for the kinds of songs I wrote and how I made them. It’s equally as challenging as it is empowering.” 

The project allows him to fully embrace the sounds that shaped him—The Temptations, Chicago, The Bee Gees—while simultaneously crafting something distinctly his own. 

“I know my influences will always be present, but I’m pulling from so many places that you’ll know a FS song when you hear it.”

His songwriting process is intuitive, melody-driven. 

“Everything starts with melody for me,” he said. “My voice memos app is filled with little melodic hooks I think of throughout the day and night. And I pull different ones out depending on what kind of song I want to write that day.” 

That organic approach carries over into his production choices. 

“I knew that I wanted to always have a handful of organic-feeling parts in any FS song I wrote. A lyrical, groovy bass. Acoustic rhythm guitar. A beat that feels like it breathes. Those are non-negotiables. Then, I let my modern influences take over.”

One of the most distinctive aspects of FAKE SUEDE is its visual identity, embodied by a heart-shaped character named Quint. 

“I was interested in finding a way to add to the stories and feelings of my songs,” James said. “Quint came out of a love of animation and its ability to add an emotional visual depth that just me in front of a camera wouldn’t usually be able to reach.” 

The name itself carries meaning. “Quint is short for Quintessence, derived from medieval Latin: Quinta Essencia. Or, Fifth Essence—an essence that was thought to connect everything. That felt like the perfect personification for what I wanted my music to convey.”

As FAKE SUEDE evolves, so will Quint. 

“He gets to explore more abstract stories and emotions within each song and video that I wouldn’t be able to on my own,” James said. “And how he does that will keep changing and growing as FS moves forward. I feel like I haven’t even scratched the surface of Quint’s journey.”

FAKE SUEDE’s world is immersive, intentional. 

“I want to create a lived-in world experience through my songwriting and visuals. It’s an ongoing evolution. I love when artists do that well, and that was the goal I gave myself.”

James is no stranger to success. His music has landed placements in TV shows and commercials, helping his work reach broader audiences. 

“TV and ad placements have been huge for me,” he said. “As an independent artist, it’s hard to get heard above the crowd. Having my music on a TV show or a commercial is the most streamlined way to drop yourself into people’s everyday lives. Then it’s all on the music to do what you hope it does best: make people want to listen.”

Reflecting on his career so far, James pointed to his time on NBC’s Songland as a defining moment. “I got to work with the amazing songwriter and producer Ryan Tedder. It was such a validating experience as a songwriter and artist.”

As for what’s next? FAKE SUEDE is just getting started. “Since starting FS, I’ve felt so inspired and have been overflowing with song ideas,” James said. “I have a long queue of new baby songs waiting for the right time to be released.”

If he could collaborate with any artist, past or present, the answer is clear. “I’ve mentioned Bill Withers at least twice already, so that would probably be my number one.”

The excitement in his voice is undeniable. “I think it’s a lot of the things we’ve discussed above. I’m so excited for my new music, and the world around it that I’m getting to create.”

That world—rooted in nostalgia yet undeniably fresh—is one where love may not come easy, but the music makes the journey worth it.