Codey Lee James Reimagines the Odyssey with New Album

Codey Lee James’ debut album, Ithaca, offers a fresh take on Homer’s classic epic Odyssey. Inspired by Emily Wilson’s modern translation, which portrays Odysseus in a new light—as a flawed and selfish character. James has crafted an album that puts this updated view into a contemporary musical setting.

The album is a sonic showcase of Codey’s approach—blending Rock, R&B, Hip-Hop, and Neo-soul to tell Odysseus’s story. James describes the project as his “best work yet,” highlighting the care and effort he put into creating this full-length concept album.

“I think part of what makes this album so special to me is that each song is a stand-alone piece of art. But at the same time, they all work together to make the album itself a single, cohesive story.”

In this reimagining, the protagonist starts off confident, but his true character and mistakes become clear as the album progresses. By the end, he must face the consequences of his actions and seek to make amends. Ithaca challenges listeners to rethink the hero’s journey and offers a unique musical experience that connects ancient themes with modern soundscape and sonic accouterments.

Listen to Codey Lee James’ new album Ithica—now streaming everywhere.

Ithica by Codey Lee James