Story & Lesson Highlights with Jacob James of Los Angeles

We recently had the chance to connect with Jacob James and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jacob, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What battle are you avoiding?
I guess I’m battling the possibility of losing momentum and energy to keep pressing on as an artist. It can be tough, this is a full time job after all. So far I don’t believe I have as far as I’m concerned. I’m performing out just as much as ever and releasing new music at a similar pace. It’s when you really don’t feel like doing something and going out and doing it anyway, I feel like that’s the biggest testament to your commitment towards your goals and not losing the plot. Whatever that may look like, it’s different for everyone. I’m battling that mentality because I’m going through a lot of things unrelated to art and music but I still haven’t stopped doing what I’m doing and I’m proud of myself for that fact. Maybe I do need to stop and rest for a while at some point but I’ve yet to reach that point yet. This music thing is too important to me, even if what I do only reaches a handful of people.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Jacob James, I’m a solo artist who’s been a singer-songwriter for many years now. I perform almost weekly at venues all over Southern California as an acoustic act. I realize my music isn’t for everyone; it can sometimes be a bit depressive or heavy or avant-garde. Whatever you want to call it, what I write is what compels me so I’m just going to keep doing what I do and hope my listeners stick around with whatever I’m experimenting with. I’ve been consistently putting out homespun records I make in my home, almost exclusively by myself for a long time now. I just prefer to work that way; I’ve dealt with a lot of people’s egos that just make me not want to have anyone else in my creative space. I’ve been at this long enough to know who I can and can’t work with and I know my own personal processes. I’m working on putting out a lot of individual singles this summer, it’s been a very turbulent time for the world at large so I don’t feel that it’s a great time to be releasing a large well polished body of work all at once with so many heavy issues going on at once for me personally. It’s a lot for us all to take in. The world always needs music though so I’m just offering what I have in small fragments at the time of writing this. I have a full new separate record I haven’t finished but I plan to keep chipping at it and to release it sometime next year and keep throwing out small doses when I feel it’s appropriate.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
Miscommunication can really be a hindrance in maintaining bonds between people both creatively and personally. I think we all more or less want the same things, to be heard and satisfied with what we’re doing and not feel stifled by someone else’s ego or intentions or whatever else that is unfortunate but also makes us human. What can restore these fractures, I believe, is the ability to make amends with people and admit when we’ve been wrong or stubborn. I’m working on that myself and I hope others are as well. We only have one life to live and try to make something beautiful and relatable so there’s no real reason bonds should be completely destroyed, even if it means not working together in creative spaces together.

When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I decided the moment I realized that I could be vulnerable with my work, that’s when I started using it to my advantage. I harbor a lot of pain, both of my own and others’ making. I’ve tried my best to use my depression as my superpower rather than let it bolster me down into a prison of my own despair. I feel things very deeply and intensely, sometimes to my detriment. That being said, if I can manage to make it into something relatable and artistic I think I’ve done my job right. We all feel pain and I hope we all have the capacity to be joyous and I don’t think they’re dichotomous, rather two sides of the same coin. People have referred to my music as sad but I’d disagree, I think it’s just human. Or at least as human as I can relay it to be.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
I’d say the public version of me, rather it be when I’m out performing live or on social media or however else I put myself out there is the real me even if it’s at my own expense. It pays to be authentic even if it’s to a fault. I don’t go around projecting that I’m always fine and doing big things because a lot of the time I’m really down on myself and don’t feel like being positive or pretending that I’m doing fine. It may come across as a cry for help but really I’m just chronicling what I’m going through and sometimes it’s awesome, I love sharing that too. I just think authenticity goes a long way and people can tell when you’re faking things to seem like you’re doing better than you are. So yes, I think the real Jacob is what you’re going to get if you follow my work at all.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when I’ve finished a project I’ve been working on for a long time. It’s so cathartic to know that you’ve made something that wasn’t in existence before or without you. For instance, when I finish a song and get to go for a walk listening to the final mix that I’m completely, or as completely as possible, satisfied with I feel that is true peace. It brings my soul alive and makes me think that I’ve done something good with my time and energy. Very few things come good without hard work and dedication and if something beautiful blooms from that, there’s absolutely nothing like it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Jacobjamesmusic.bandcamp.com
• Instagram: @jacobjamesmusic
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JacobJamesOfficial/
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@jacobjamesmusictube?si=OxMBthjZIN0Zv4ON
• Other: Find my music on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube or any of the other major streaming platforms