We really loved your music and your voice."
- Tom Pearce (Pro-demo.com)

"All I can say about your music is WOW what
a great sound I would be blessed to play your
music on gatorbroadcasting - personally I like the song
"To The Man" but then again, I like most of the cd!"
- Scott Beaty (Gatorbroadcasting.com)

"I like the vibe. Good stuff."
- C.C. Chapman (Accident Hash Podcast, Boston Mass)

"I really like what I heard - we'd love to play your music."
- John O'Day (WCH Radio, St. Louis Missouri)

"Very Nice! Powerful and polished!"
- Lee Widener (NeverEndingWonder Radio, Portland OR)

"Very impressive. I heard the music - loved it
and you have a sense of humour, love that too :)"
- Dan Cortese Entertainment (Ontario Canada)

"You are one Dynamite Singer/Songwriter!"
- John Frank (Singer/Songwriter, Las Vegas NV)

"Your album sounds amazing Vanja!
And your cupcakes arent too shabby either!"
- Demasiado (Band from San Diego, CA)

"Love your voice! your sound is great.
A thousand thank yous for the music - it makes me smile big time."
Alden (Salt Lake City, UT)

"Vanja James? More like Coolja James or perhaps
Radja James. Maybe even Awesomeja James.
Thank you for what you do in music! National Noise
wants to play some tunes from a Vanja James album SOON!!!"
-Jason Gears (National Noise Podcast)

"Holy crap... I just watched the "War song" on Mookie's site.
Jeez... I predict big things for you. Gotta go see ya live!"
-Marco Collins (91x fm, San Diego)

"You sing as if jesus was mad at the world
and wanted to punch a f*cker in the face.
god bless it."
- Aaron S., The Attacks

"Do you miss the Lilith Fair? Vanja James would be playing the opening slot on the side stage if it were still 1998. The only distinguishing characteristics are the lyrics, which sound like excerpts from Sarah McLachlan’s 11th-grade diary. MS/vanjajames."
—Todd Kroviak, San Diego Citybeat

"Vanja James could become the next big female singer/songwriter. Her self-released, self-titled debut album is a powerful composition of pop-rock and indie ballads that are instantly pleasing. James’ powerful vocals are backed beautifully by a diverse cast of musicians on her promising debut.
The album opens with the fast-paced, acoustic guitar driven pop-rock of “On Your Own.” The song has a simple, but fun pop rhythm. It has a stripped down sound that really allows James’ vocals to come through. James has a voice that will remind of you of other singers like Sara Bareilles or Alicia Keys.
“Craptastic” and “The Bayou” share the same light-hearted, fun pop-rock sound that “On Your Own” has. These songs would be right at home on pop radio.
While James can definitely write a successful pop song, she also shows a great deal of diversity on the album.
“August” is a fantastic indie rock song that plays with Appalachian melodies on harmonica. It’s definitely a uniquely composed song that later cuts loose with a horn line. Likewise, “Mouthful” shares the same country-rock feel as “August” by using smartly crafted slide guitar.
At other points on the album, James writes heart breaking songs like “To The Man” and “Beautiful Mess” that use delicate arrangements of guitar, strings and piano. On these songs, James establishes herself as a fantastic singer and truly shows how promising she is.
James continues to surprise you with diverse songs throughout her album. The piano filled, jazz influenced “Deal With The Devil” sounds unlike any other song on the CD. However, James sounds right in her comfort zone with the song.
Late in the album, James even proves she can do straight-up, electric guitar fueled rock with “War Song.”
Vanja James delivers an incredibly talented debut. Her ability to succeed in a variety of styles is refreshing. James is definitely an artist to keep your eye on. "

 - MuzikReviews.com Assistant Senior Editor-Chris Homer

"There is no shortage of local performers who fall into the category of singer-songwriter, but there are precious few who work to subvert the genre.

With much of the singer-songwriter boom coming in the wake of Jewel’s mid-90s success, it’s easy to see why so many artists rely on the simple guitar and vocals mix to get their message across. And yet, it’s artists who push musical boundaries that keep this music interesting.

While it’s the road less traveled, for musicians like Vanja James, the quest to make their music a unique statement through arrangements and instrumentation sets them apart in an overcrowded field. "
- Bart Mendoza, SdNews.com