James is currently working on his singer songwriter skills but is always experimenting with different sounds and genres of music. Check back for new songs and updates of posted songs. Comments and feedback are always welcome and appreciated. Full Bio: James grew up in a very artistic and musical family in Jacksonville Florida during the 1970s and 80s. He started learning to play guitar in the 4th grade and cello in the 6th grade. Played cello in Jr. and Sr. High Orchestra, Youth Symphony and then attended college as a cello-music education major. While working in a music store he met other musicians interested in starting a band. It was a far cry from his background or expectations. After the cliché band to band hop of disappointments, James began looking for new directions, sound and went about building yet another new band with the specific intentions of being open minded and more creative. The next project, Peel, got off to a great beginning with a full record recorded and gigs pouring in within a year. However, commitment to the success of the band and CD “Middle of the Day” within the band was once again limited. Feeling all the frustration of each band, James set out to start working on his own music at his pace and with his most positive musician friends. Under several names, Feature Creep, The Bone Pickers, and simply "jAEms", James continues to record anything he feels inspired to write and record and if his musician friends, old and new, are interested in participating by adding their flair to his current piece(s) he welcomes them in with open arms. The variety and number of tracks James has produced since the demise of Peel has been fairly prolific. But James has only performed one show (an FOC reunion show) since. He looks back fondly on his days at the clubs with his closest friends making music but looks forward to getting back out and doing it some more. In the past few years, James has been attending classes at the local universities working on a BFA in painting and drawing, remarried in 2006, and became a father in 2007. So he's been living a busy life yet is still working on getting back out doing public performances and shows again. Over the last 4 or 5 years (2013-2017), James has been collecting small works to compile a demo compilation. This collection includes short classical composition, soundtrack scores, and some experimental electronic and audio pieces.
Music is like food to me. I need it to survive. I can go some time without it. But I am miserable without it in my life.
Dream big. World domination, artistically speaking. A good following of cool fans really would be my goal at this time.
Drum lessons for everyone. Then singing lessons for everyone.
So long ago... I remember singing "Do you know the way to San Jose". I'm not sure I can recall anything earlier than that.
Peter Gabriel is always inspiring to me. Then Radiohead and Nirvana. But I grew up on classical symphonies. So there's a non stop list of composers I love to revisit all the time. I am mostly attracted to the Russian composers though.
God, literally everything, good and bad. It doesn't matter. Making music makes me feel good; even on those days I literally suck at it. I've realized we will have good and bad days and it is reflected in my work, whether it's music or my visual arts I make.
The best messages that we always see of course; reminders that life is a bitch. But we are not alone and it will be okay. It may never be perfect. It may never be wine and roses. But living life is always better with open eyes and an open mind with lots of patience and compassion.
Excited and nervous. I'm beyond elated to be there none the less. When I'm not able to be on the stage it literally hurts to be in the audience instead.
One word, overwhelming. Simple times are far away anymore. If I was a child now aspiring to be a musician I think I'd be more inclined to cry myself to sleep in my practice space daily. The fact that we can see with simple search how many musicians of the immense talent that exists out there is so overwhelming and scary that I would be scared to death to put myself out there at all. Not to mention everyone thinks they are experts at what we do and doesn't hesitate to be overly critical at the drop of a hat. These days, you really have to not give a shit what anyone thinks at all and just do what you feel is right for you and your work. Then sit back and let the cards fall. Or, study your ass off to learn literally everything possible to be the cream of the crop technically and creatively. Which is VERY tough to do since, in my opinion, those people are geniuses, savants, or some other freak of nature. So creativity and mediocraty is what most of us normal people are left with.
So far I think Drooble has more real connection with me and has a platform that gets me involved immediately. Like this interview section. I haven't been interviewed in 20+ years. A lot has changed since then; personally, professionally, and the whole world.
The myths and the unrealistic expectations of everyone.
Not as much as I did before having a family. I don't get out to the clubs as much as I used to. I support as much as I can. And I try to pay attention to who's still playing and where in case I can get out. Unfortunately, a lot of my musician friends have put their music on the back burner to raise their families. Which is why I'm always trying to reach out online to stay actively writing, playing and recording. Keeping the dream alive so to speak.
Qualities? Hmmm? Personal qualities haven't changed in my opinion. Musicians need to be humble, nice, and charitable in their lives all the time. Being an asshole is never going to gain your support. None of us can get anywhere alone. In fact, it takes a lot of people with the same vision, love of the work and perseverance and commitment to get anywhere. Being nice to everyone ALWAYS is key to building a loving fan base. Not that assholes don't make it big. Sometimes they weren't but become one because life for them has changed too much. But I think generally negative nasty people are shut out pretty quickly. It's pretty much anywhere you go actually; any job or whatever.
Wow. That's tough and easy all at once. Like I said in a previous question there are such a countless number musicians out there that it would seem to be easy to name one. But at the same time, what you really want to hear is an artist that we might not have heard of that we should be aware of. I could lump myself in the second category. But being humble I would have to think who else would be worthy of mentioning, other than myself. I think there are some locals from my area like a couple old bandmates in the band called Noctambulant. They are a "black metal" band. Not all what I listen to these days. But they are a solid band in that genre. Although she's no longer in my area. She's working in the LA Hollywood area, a high school friend, Sharon Marie Cline is one I think fans of traditional jazz should check out. She's a natural singer and is a genuinely pleasant person.