Flying in from Maine, musician Samuel James comes to Colorado Springs to prepare for his concert at the FAC on Saturday, April 7, 2012. Perhaps you’ve already read about the musicians who have influenced James’ distinct sound and style, but here’s a Q&A with the musical man himself.
Where did your love for music come from?
I had it since I was a child. My mother was dancer and my father was a musician. My father was a trombonist and a jazz pianist. So they brought it to me.
When did you realize you wanted to make music your career?
Ten years ago. I just started writing songs and started playing them. I got something out of it that I never got out of something else I had done. When someone does something that they love, and can make money out of doing it, they have won.
What do you hope to communicate through your music?
It depends on the song. Some songs I write are political. Some are funny. Some are just genuine emotion. Some are hate songs. Like everybody, I want to express my emotions.
I think myself as songwriter. A trick of being a writer is to sit down and do it. Some days it comes easier. It’s just about working, some days it takes you two hours, while some days it literally takes 20 minutes. There is no telling which song is better.
It’s always the next one. I always say the song I have just written is the best and then will write the next one and take to that one too.
I think it depends on which song. I hope you would stick around a little. They [lessons in songs] are too didactic for me.
Song writing of Bill Withers and Tom Waits, and the music and style of say Sunhouse and Andy Mckee. OR Neo-soul, folk blues, percussive finger-style on acoustic guitar.