Aaron James writes beautiful gentle songs that explore the human condition.
We as humans are extremely complex sensitive beings and in his writing he challenges himself through vulnerability and overcoming those fears and awkward episodes with the art of creation.
Additional impulses for his songwriting inspiration he describes as:
“The everyday, the mundane, the small interactions of moments of observation that mean so little but can hold so much meaning if you look at them from the right perspective.
I really don't go anywhere without keeping in the back of my mind that anything I see today, or anything that happens to me, could end up being a song.”
I think all of us songwriters can relate to that!
Check out “The Space Between” - the stacked delicate harmonies and subtle echo repeats remind me of some of the most intimate Roger Waters /Pink Floyd vocals and production values.
Add the insistent guitar arpeggios and drums, the song ebbs and flows and adds a majesty to the subject matter.
“My New Best Friend Is Loneliness” pulls you in with the delicate chorused acoustic guitar and double tracked vocal.
It’s however the strength of the lyrics that show the push and pull of love , longing, loneliness and heartbreak.
“How many tries would it take you to write the perfect letter, describing all the storm clouds now you’re not together?”
The concise alliteration in the words have been well thought out and puts the listener in the song, as the gentle melody floats along.
The hook “I feel nothing without you” modulates and then hangs in mid air at the end of the song.
The production values really compliment the songs and subject matter.
I do think of the influence of Elliot Smith and Glen Hansard with the intimacy of the sound.
For me its the details that show the intent and professionalism in crafting his songs with intelligent non-cliched lyrics.
Thats what really pulls you in.
The word choice is well thought out - and as a songwriter myself- its the hardest thing in the world to pack as much meaning into so few words-and be original!
Aarons creative process normally happens in the morning and then:
“Usually starts by noodling around on the guitar until I find some desirable chords and a melody that feels good, and then words are typically the last thing to come. Again, I try not to limit myself to any rules and allow everything to flow however it wants to, but this is usually the order of operations for me.
Then once I have the song voice-memo'd, I'll take it to my production team at Unapologetic, which mainly includes my good friends Kid Maestro and Eillo, and the song will go through another transformation as it passes through them and we start to lay things down. Then at some point we get a final product that I either love or hate and then it's on to the next!”
His influences are varied and changing - but recently its been Half Moon Run,John Vincent lll and Kate Bollinger.
These artists really compliment the big vision of exploring the human condition - and I’m grateful Aaron turned me on to these artists to check out further!
For 2024 there’s more new music and live shows.
Also this year the plan is to release a mini-doc , tentatively entitled "Paint What You Feel" that was shot with a small team over the course of 2023.
Aaron describes it as:
“It explores themes of vulnerability and self-expression, connection, and awareness. Look for it this Summer...it's been a passion project of mine and I think it's going to be really special.”
We are looking forward to this.
I think Aaron succeeds in taking us to places we have to explore - sometimes its not the easiest of emotions and it takes courage.
However ,his art is a reflection of life and he should be commended for taking us there on all of our journeys, as we navigate this world!
More info here:
https://www.instagram.com/aaronjms/
https://www.weareunapologetic.com/