Actress and singer-songwriter Michelah Desnai returns with “James & Nikki,” a striking new single inspired by the legendary 1971 conversation between James Baldwin and Nikki Giovanni. The song captures the raw, complicated emotion of love that’s both intoxicating and destructive—a theme that feels timeless and deeply human.
Built on soulful vocals and smooth production that blends pop, jazz, and rock, “James & Nikki” showcases Desnai’s powerful storytelling and musical range. Her background in theater adds dramatic tension to every verse, while her global perspective—born in Virginia, now based in Glasgow—infuses the track with a universal resonance.
“I know the truth, but I deny it for you,” Desnai confesses on the song, followed by the unforgettable line, “If loving you’s a crime, then tell the world I’m a dangerous criminal.” It’s an honest admission of self-betrayal in the name of love, sung with both ache and grace. The result is haunting yet undeniably beautiful.
Calling it her strongest work to date, Desnai shares, “I believe this is the best song I have written.” “James & Nikki” is a confession turned into melody—a song about the lies we tell ourselves for love, and the truth that still finds its way through.