Adored musician James Casey’s debut solo EP, The Kauai Project, will be released on streaming platforms and exclusive, limited edition vinyl on Wednesday, August 28. The final project from the referred and aptly-missed artist will arrive one year after he passed away from colon cancer at age 40. The Kauai Project limited-edition vinyl pre-order is available now via Relix Marketplace, with vinyl shipments starting in September.

The initial project, which was led by the single “New Bloom,” dropped last year, as captured in our initial reporting of the number and its official music video. Notably, The Kauai Project received critical praise, including recognition on NPR’s Best Songs of 2023 list. The preliminary EP roll-out yielded follow-ups, “E.J.B.M.” and “Outside,” before Casey stepped back from promotions and refocused on health and impending treatments. 

With the trust and love of his family and friends, the final single from The Kauai Project, “This Place (pars Animus),” will be released on the date of Casey’s passing, August 28, 2024. The number serves as an ode to Casey’s explosive fusion project, Animus Rexx, with Randy Runyon, Reuben Cainer, BIGYUKI, and Justin Tyson, and was completed musically by Runyon and Cainer. At the same time, Casey’s wife, Ayla, carried on her husband’s mission to bring his debut EP to fruition. 

Ayla Casey offered via press release, “I am beyond grateful to honor James’ life with the culmination of a project that meant so much to him. James did not want his absence to weigh on us – please join me in celebrating the love and joy his music continues to cultivate.”

Before his passing, Casey shared the stage with high-profile acts such as pop princess Meghan Trainor, jam world monarchs Trey Anastasio (TAB), and members of the Grateful Dead, including Bill Kreutzmann. The Kauai Project represents Casey’s first semblance of original music, stemming from a COVID-era venture, which resulted in a two-year stint on the Hawaiian island of Kauai.

At age 38, Casey was diagnosed with Stage III colorectal cancer just days after performing at Red Rocks with Billy & The Kids. News of his health battle ignited a conversation about the diagnosis and music’s role in freeing him from the reality of the situation, as captured in the mini-documentary Music as Medicine. “If just one person doesn’t have to go through what I’m going through, then it’s all worth it,” Casey said in the video.

Following Casey’s passing, his family and friends hosted a celebration of life concert at New York’s Brooklyn Bowl. The concert featured the late artist’s collaborators, including Trey Anastasio, Louis Cato, Nikki Glaspie, Jennifer Hartswick, Brady Watt, and dozens more. The benefit concert raised more than $32,000 to support cancer charities hand-picked by Casey for their exceptional work in the community. 

Pre-order a limited edition vinyl pressing of James Casey’s The Kauai Project at RelixMarketplace.com/Vinyl.