Eclectic roots label Yellow Dog Records announces a collection of digital singles titled A Sunshine State of Mind, from innovative soul-roots outfit The Soul of John Black -- the musical alter-ego of guitarist John “JB” Bigham.

The inspiration for A Sunshine State of Mind came to JB during the winter in his home town of Los Angeles. “Although the sun shines all the time here, the mood brightens even more once the summer months arrive,” he explained. “I wanted to write about the essence of summer, songs that would keep that attitude going year-round.” Each of the tracks in the compilation has a lighthearted feeling, complimenting the upbeat theme of the overall collection.

The sequence of two-song releases begins with “Lemonade,” an uptempo blues-inspired jam, and “Summertime Thang,” a sultry slow groove that moves through a soulful Al Green pulse to a gorgeous chorus of JB’s harmonies.

Other song highlights include the feature track "Higher Power", a soulful anthem with an uplifting message. According to Bigham, the repeated chorus "we vibrate / we resonate / with a higher power" affirms that "Basically, we're all in this together."

"Johnny Bear (Give It To Me)" is an uptempo blues romp that JB conceived as a modern-day tribute to the suggestive lyrics of classic bluesmen. "They couldn't come out and say it, but you knew what they were talking about," he explains.

The series-of-singles concept reflects the inventive approach that Bigham brings to his music. JB feels that electronic distribution in small doses gives listeners a chance to digest the songs more completely. “That way you can absorb it all, rather than trying to take in everything I've been thinking about for a year in an hour's time,” said Black. “You get two into your system, then we’ll give you two more.”