Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacob James.
Hi Jacob, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I started making music when I was about 16. I got a Bob Dylan greatest hits cd and it made me want to pick up the acoustic guitar. His early music made me realize that you could write simplistic songs just as a creative outlet and that it didn’t have to be such a complex thing. It took some time to find my own voice but a year or so later I started playing with some other guys at school, a few of which I’m still in bands with to this day.
We started doing shows and recording and haven’t stopped since. It’s hard to say if playing music has or will ever be as exciting as it was when I was first discovering the possibilities, but I’ve definitely gotten way better at what I do.
Back then it was just the thrill of doing it at all even if I wasn’t doing it well. I’d say I’m where I am today, for better or for worse, for my perseverance and ability to shrug things off when they don’t work out. I know what I make isn’t for everyone.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has been and continues to be an uneven road but you learn how to weather it in your own ways. To know when to push yourself and when you’re doing too much. It can be rough for any musician at a time when anyone can make great-sounding records in their own space and at their own workflow. What’s come out of that has been really cool but at the same time, we’re all competing in an overcrowded room to have our creative voices heard, and naturally, not everyone’s going to get that chance.
That’s why I’m so grateful for those who’ve shared their appreciation for my work, it really motivates me and makes it feel more worthwhile. These days I just try to be better than I was and maintain a positive outlook. I’m an inherently cynical dude so that’s the hard part. It can also be tough keeping morale in a good place when working with other people as we’ve all had our fair share of disappointments. But loving the craft of making music is really what keeps me going and success can have many different definitions, depending on who you ask. I’m just stoked to still feel compelled to do it.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’d consider myself a songwriter first and foremost. I love to play music just for the sake of it, but crafting a song from nothing brings me joy few other things can, especially when it turns into something I’m proud enough to try and bring to other people. Next, I guess I’d say I’m a “producer” of sorts even though that term’s become a bit of a reach, but I think I’ve spent enough time in front of a computer to warrant it. I recorded every one of my albums myself and mixed all but my last one. I’m probably most proud of my ability to consistently write better songs and make better-sounding records than what I’ve done before. My latest, “Intemperance” is definitely something I can
listen back to and hear an improvement in the overall production.
It’s kind of difficult to say what sets me apart from other songwriters from my own perspective, I think everyone with a passion for it has something uniquely “them” to offer. If I had to though, I’d say that it’s the fact that I don’t fear saying what I mean in my music even if that means exploring some dark places when I need to. Not everything I write is autobiographical, but the songwriting has become such a therapeutic exercise for me, a lot of things come to the surface that can sort of expose my many flaws. Putting some of it out as a means of entertaining someone can leave me a bit reluctant at times but my favorite artists have never shied away from their humanity so I usually roll with it.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
I’ve learned that people are people and even a global crisis didn’t have the capacity to really bring us together. If anything, it exposed many of the cracks in our foundation as a people and further drove wedges in them.
It’s really a shame, but I think a lot of great music and art has come out of it and it gave a lot of us time to reflect on what we really value, so there’s a positive. Personally, I learned that I’m way too comfortable being isolated and staying in my bubble. Some bad habits I already had were worsened by the pandemic but at least I recorded two albums!
Contact Info:
- Website: jacobjamesmusic.bandcamp.com
- Instagram: @jacobjamesmusic
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/JacobJamesOfficial/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCtyhlyuaK_OMj-JuJYcj5HQ
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/jacob-james?utm_source=mobi&utm_campaign=social_sharing
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6vIdzI2mMW3bbyPgUgWG21?si=E90hbfW8TKmDssG0N2UpUA
Image Credits
Andy Garcia Reyes, Sunny Mitchell, and William Wirt
