If Kenny James has a guardian angel it might be his ’71 Plymouth Scamp. The divine might not be much further off than the slow roll of a 3000 lb road boat. While James is placing his hopes in an otherworldly power, there’s still something to be said for the earthly comforts of all that chrome and steel. His latest single, “Guardian Angel,” much like life, sees James journeying through God’s Great Outdoor Cathedral & Motorway wrapped in this blissful cocoon.
James explains that “Guardian Angle” isn’t a new song, but rather one that’s recently received a reworking and a brand new video. He originally recorded a version that was much slower at his home studio in Sackville, New Brunswick.
“It’s a song that I wrote some time ago. It was originally much slower. I changed the tempo and structure and it came to life,” explains James.
As for the song’s religious content, while the Plymouth Scamp might provide a holy experience, James says that his inspiration for “Guardian Angel” is of the genuinely divine variety. We’d all like to think there’s some force safely directing us through life’s challenges, whether that’s an almighty being making sure that we don’t slip in the shower or an engineer working hard to ensure our tires don’t leave the road while we push the upper limits of the Scamp’s modest top speed of 167km/h. After all, life is about the journey, not the destination. Let’s try to arrive in one piece.
“I think we all feel some sort of spiritual guidance at times in our life. That’s what it’s all about,” says James. “I’ve had multiple experiences. They all sort of meld into one. I’ve always felt that something or someone has been keeping me out of trouble. Even when I try to get into it.”