Interview with James Smith.
Interviewed by: Sarah Evangelista
Recently releasing District Line EP, the talented James Smith is one you need to know.
We recently got the chance to chat with James about the project and more music.
You’ve been loving music from a young age, what's your fondest musical memory?
Some of my fondest musical memories would probably have been whilst I’m in the studio. Sounds boring but I definitely find working with other musicians on my own music thee most exciting thing. There’s something so magical about sitting down with a band for the first time and figuring out a direction of a new song, especially when I’m the only one who knows it. If I were to pick though, I’d say it was the first time i heard ‘rely on me’ (one of my tunes) played by my band after I had written it. It was such a moment!
District Line - EP was released a bit ago, it’s so beautiful. How are you feeling about it being out?
Thanks so much! I’m feeling great about it! Had such a lovely reaction and it’s made me a lot more confident about releasing the next project!
This EP is your first project as an independent artist, so because of this, was it more nerve wracking to release it?
For sure! Being without a record label comes with a lot more work and admin. There’s also not much of a safety net money-wise. However, I’ve found the process extremely positive and a lot more efficient than before! There’s nothing holding me back now. It also feels a lot more authentic to me with all the creative choices I am able to make.
Unlike your other EPs, this one was written, produced, and not made in a fancy studio. How different was this experience?
Well I made a lot of this EP in my bedroom, which I have done before - but I always had access to other studios to finish stuff. This time I had to finish it at home. This meant that I had to pay a lot more attention to detail but without getting too caught up in it. I didn’t want to take the production too seriously on this project, I wanted it to feel as natural and floweyyy as possible and I’ve found that doing it at home allowed me to be free creatively.
How do you feel that shaped you as an artist, especially creatively?
It’s definitely allowed me to gain an individual sound. I don’t think I’m too dissimilar from a lot of male singer-songwriters right now, but I’d definitely say I’ve got my own thing going on. - which i believe comes from working alone. I think if I was in the room with other producers who are popping right now, I’d end up sounding like everyone else.
Compared to your last EPs, what are the major differences that you see with the new one?
It’s a step closer to what I think my debut album will sound like. Although expect a lot more muso stuff on the album for sure!!!
Which tracks were the easiest and hardest to make?
District Line was pretty easy cause I basically produced the whole thing the day we wrote it. The lyrics and melodies were done within an hour or so - so I spent the day producing, which is always good when a song is fresh! It’s pretty stripped too.
My Oh My took a long time, I went through a lot of different versions before I ended up just stripping it back to hardly anything - which I thought done the song a lot more justice than if it were to be properly produced up with a lot going on.
We’re always looking for up and coming artists, do you have any favourites at the moment?
Oooo wicked! I’m a big fan of Madisson Cunningham at the moment. Her latest album is superb!!!