Natasha James

Sonoma County singer-songwriter Natasha James has been your neighbor since 1986, and you may or may not know her, but she’s making a name for herself.

She was nominated for country artist of the year for the 20th annual Los Angles Music Awards,  an international competition open to independent artists and their recordings, scheduled for Nov. 18 this  year. At last year’s L.A. Music Awards, she won best country album for her third and most recent CD, “Tequila Time.”

But she doesn’t consider herself exclusively a country act.

In fact, her single, “If You Think This Is Love,” is doing well on the national adult contemporary chart.

“What I write just comes out,” she says. “Some people hear country, and some hear blues or roots or Americana. I know you have to be branded, but I like to just write what comes out of my heart and soul. As long as it means something to people, I’m on the right track.”

You can see James in person when the Songwriters in the Round series celebrates Mother’s Day with James, and singer-songwriters Jeffrey Halford and Pete Olson, from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday (May 9) at Cellars of Sonoma at 133 Fourth St. in Santa Rosa’s Railroad Square. $35 in advance; $40 at the door. 578-1826, cellarsofsonoma.com.

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