Nates James is a British soul singer / songwriter who released his debut album, Set The Tone, in 2005. The album, heavily influenced by classic soul artists such as Prince and Stevie Wonder, won James widespread critical acclaim and two MOBO nominations for Best Newcomer and Best R&B Artist. The album, penned almost entirely by James, spans a wide variety of music styles, from the bassy R&B of "Set The Tone" and the upbeat pop of "Universal" to classic ballad "Justify Me" and verging on rock influences in "I'll Decline".