Hey, look. A surprising development off-camera. Together in some form since 2007, Beacon James has released a four-song EP produced by Pine Hollow Studios.

The trio of lady singers that largely front the up-’n-coming folk-‘n-roll ensemble Beacon James prod, joke, and chuckle with each other on a curiously comfy couch at Racy’s Coffeehouse. Jess McIlquham, Kori Nielsen, and Britta Gilbertson are each in their 20s, and are bright, smiley, and restless smart alecks among themselves. They might spar wits in their leisure time, but on stage, where you might have caught them occasionally at the James Sheeley House or the kickoff show of the Sounds Like Summer Concert Series back in June, their cohesion is something marvelous.

Largely inspired by songwriters Sly & the Family Stone, Nickel Creek, Aretha Franklin, and Dave Matthews Band, they lend themselves to jazz-influenced harmonies and folk pop melodies.

“We are a family group; we all care about each other,” said Jess. “If someone has a problem, we will work it out. And I think that shows up in our music a lot more.”

But make no mistake – Beacon James is no all-girl group. While Jess plays keyboard, Kori plays bass, and Britta plays aux percussion, the ensemble also features Duncan Ninja singer Nels Urtel on vocals, mandolin, and guitar, Tim Mattison on vocals and guitar, UW-Eau Claire Jazz I saxophonist Joe Tierney, and drummer Zach Brawford.

Beacon James capture a sound that is imbued with bright and extravagant vocals, and instrumentation beyond a typical folk-rock ensemble. Largely inspired by songwriters Sly & the Family Stone, Nickel Creek, Aretha Franklin, and Dave Matthews Band, they lend themselves to jazz-influenced harmonies and folk pop melodies. These skills and instrumentation appear in Beacon James’ debut release, a self-titled EP out this month.

The band assembled with Jess, Kori, and Nels jamming on bluegrass songs, and lots of Nickel Creek, in Chippewa Falls following Jess and Kori’s Chicago-based former band (also named Beacon James but largely unrelated) disbanded in 2007. Zach joined in summer 2010. When Nels’ Mankato-based a capella group InPulse went on tour in winter 2010-2011, the band considered phasing him out; they would replace him with Tim, whom Jess and Britta knew from UWEC’s Show Choir, until InPulse disbanded last February. Nels returned to the band; by then Joe was already onboard and Tim already a fixture to the group.

After performing at the Heyde Center last February, Irie Sol vocalist Chris Williams introduced the band to Evan Middlesworth, owner and sound engineer of Pine Hollow Studios. The band took a great liking to his recording studio and in April recording began. Recording wrapped up in early June and the CDs are available now.

Song on the Radio pops with two sax solos, and despite being awfully smooth, seems a sassy, witty breakup song. “It’s a song of lies. It’s an angry girl song,” laughs Jess. Invisible to the Eye, inspired by the French novella The Little Prince, is a careful, sensual, and curiously darker tune featuring an Indian raga vocal solo by Britta and verses written in haiku. The EP closer The Green Tower tells the story of a memorable, yet diseased pine tree of Jess’ childhood. As the vocals mourn the memory, sudden swells of organ give way to the massive, spacey sweeps of a distorted lap steel solo courtesy of Evan. Thus, a villainous chainsaw purges every last branch. “The pedal steel (represents the sound of) the chainsaw,” says Jess.

The CD is available at shows and The Local Store, going for $5. They’re rockin’ the Raw Deal (603 S. Broadway, Menomonie) on Sep. 9, The James Sheeley House (236 W. River St., Chippewa Falls) Sep. 24 and Nov. 26, and The Heyde Center of the Arts (3 S. High St., Chippewa Falls) Oct. 28.