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, who performs at Dream Street today, Feb. 5, the quest to make their music a unique statement through arrangements and instrumentation sets them apart in an overcrowded field. James came to music through a church group, taking part in their worship services when she was 16. “They had a really good modern worship team with good guitars in the program and that sort of piqued my interest,” James said. Already in college, she quickly added classical guitar as part of her studies. Currently preparing her debut album “Vanja James Music” for release, she is also taking part in as many musical projects as she can. In addition to her own music, she is also singing with an another pair of bands — the Gift/Curse and Laserwolf and the Thunderbolt. “I’ve known them all for a really long time,” she said. “So it doesn’t feel like anything bigger than hanging out with my friends, but it is a lot of fun. So I’ll keep doing this sort of thing as long as they let me.” Her album has been over a year in the making, but James was determined to make a quality product, no matter how long it took. The 15 songs on the disc include contributions from over two dozen guest musicians. “It’s my recording debut,” James said. “It’s covering the span of what I can do stylewise. It took time, but getting it to sound good was more important than how long it took to do.” For James, it was important to use real instruments instead of using computer shortcuts. “You could describe my music as ‘organic,’” James said. “As in, real instruments played by real people.” The length of time spent recording could also be attributed to working on off hours. “I was working with my own money so I was paying as I went along,” she said. “The studio I was using was pretty busy, so I was at their mercy.” Additionally her choice of violinist went on tour in the midst of the project. “Sometimes people got scheduled over me, which can be a little frustrating,” she said. “But I did the budget plan, so I was willing to be patient and I probably saved a little money that way.” James is prolific to a fault, composing anytime, anywhere. “I carry a digital recorder in my car to capture any particularly good ideas,” James said. While a crucial part of her creative process, this practice can sometimes cause other motorists amusement. “I was doing a vocal warm up while I was on my way to a show downtown,” she said. “My mouth was open really wide when I looked over at the car next to me. They were laughing really hard,” she said. With a debut album imminent and touring planned for the year ahead, the future appears promising for James. But she is determined to make it on her own terms. “Music is sort of a universal language that you can use to connect with people,” said James. “I get pretty sad when I don’t sing or play music with people. It’s a happy thing for me.” She considers music to be her mission in life. “I’m blessed with it,” said James. “My life always seems to come back to that, so it seems like it’s something I was meant to do.” James performs today, Feb. 5, at Dream Street, 2228 Bacon St. at 4 p.m. The show is for those 21 and up. For more information, visit www.myspace.com/vanjajames.