Michael Stover and the team at MTS Management Group is at it again. This time they introduced me to James Lee Baker, a guy with a great voice, a new EP and a story to tell. James is also a songwriter. He is classically trained and has played a laundry list of the biggest live music venues in the country. I was so impressed with what I heard, I reached out for an interview. Needless to say, I am excited to tell his story. It is my pleasure to introduce you to James Lee Baker.
I love your voice. When did you know you had the chops to be a successful singer/songwriter?
Thank you. I suppose there isn’t really ever a knowing, but just a doing. Like all artists, I face constant criticism. I use that to fuel my refinement to become a better artist. Certainly, I had an upbringing that fostered creativity and music and music training was paramount in my childhood and in college, so that helped.
I’ve always admired songwriters. What is your songwriting process like? Do you sit down to write a song or does it just come to you?
It happens in both forms. Most of time time, I get a wild hair thought and get up to go and pursue it. I’ll sit down and write it out and a song begins to form. Other times, I have to sit down and brainstorm. It depends upon what is inspiring me.
Who are some of your biggest influences?
I’m a music aficionado, so I listen to almost everything so that’s a tough question. I think the top artists in various genres include Rush, Third Eye Blind, Metallica, Garth Brooks, Ellis Paul, David Gray, John Gorka, David Mead, and The Wallflowers.
Tell me more about Home Again.
Home Again was a full length project in the flavor of my home state – Texas. It’s a collection of tunes I’ve written over the last two-three years and much of the session work with instruments was done through the internet. It was expertly mixed and mastered by Christopher Bloom of Soundstructure Studios in Denver.
You don’t have a lot of upcoming shows. Any plans for a tour this fall/winter?
I don’t perform as much as other artists do because my long term goals are more focused on songwriting. I would consider myself a boutique artist and typically perform 12-24 shows per year in intimate listening rooms or house concerts.
That being said, I will be opening up for Vance Gilbert at The Blue Door in Oklahoma City in October and traveling to Connecticut to attend and perform at the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA) conference. Beyond that, I am heads down on the writing and recording for an upcoming project that should be available in early spring. From there, I should be booking more performances in the spring and summer of 2019.
I’m a golfer and have three or four sets of clubs. As a guitarist, how many different guitars do you own? Are you married to a brand or do you just jam on what feels good?
Presently, I have four guitars and a ukulele. Like you, I see each instrument as having a purpose with its unique voice. My brand of preference is Collings out of Austin, Texas. They make the best acoustic guitars I’ve ever heard. Taylor is a close second to them.
Have you ever made a mistake on stage?
All the time, probably in every performance. The key to mistakes is minimizing the exposure to the listener. If I make a mistake that isn’t glaringly obvious, I act like nothing happened. Otherwise, I self-deprecate a bit and get people laughing, then move on.
What’s the best concert you’ve ever been to?
Again, being a diverse aficionado of music, I would have to say Nine Inch Nails. The amount of coordinated effort among the staff, the seemingly endless palate of instrumentation, and the accuracy to the recordings created a wonderful experience. Trent Reznor truly is an expert and pioneer of his craft.
Tell me more about The Canadian River.
The Canadian River EP was a cut from the LP, pulling out the more folk/Americana songs on the album for marketing to DJs in those genres. I also needed a radio edit of the title track for songwriting evaluations and contests.
The title track itself is about one’s personal search for God when faced with the ever-changing landscape of modern religion.
I don’t see any merch on your website. I would love a James Lee Baker shirt or hoodie! Any plans to add merchandise anytime soon?
Not really, but you’re not the first person to ask. They just don’t sell very well and can be quite expensive to make. It may be a worthy experiment to run and see how it turns out.
You live in Texas. They say everything is bigger in Texas! What do you like most about living in the Lone Star State?
I like how large the state is because there are a number of cities to visit, each with their own culture and community. Whether you’re enjoying the high caliber musicians and barbeque in Austin, walking the Kemah Boardwalk in Galveston, or having dinner on the Riverwalk in San Antonio, there’s enough to keep you busy.
Tell me about your relationship with Richard Gilewitz.
Richard offered Skype and phone lessons (and probably still does) and I was seeking some improvement in my fingerstyle skills. He provided several pieces for me to work on, mainly works of Gove Scrivenor, Michael Hedges, and David Walbert and taught me how to improve my technique.
Where was you the first time you heard your music on the radio?
An internet radio station in Sacramento, California, I believe!
I’ve not seen you live… Yet. What can fans expect from a live performance?
In the right environment (mainly listening rooms), some good stories, dynamic vocals, and intricate guitar playing.
You’ve been doing this for quite some time. How has your sound changed over the years?
My sound has gone back to where I initially started – folk/Americana. I discovered the value of deep lyrical writing and that is the foundation on which I write my songs these days. That is a stark contrast from the more pop/rock sound I used to pursue.
What’s next for James Lee Baker?
I will be going back into the studio in January to record a few songs at Blue Rock Studios in Austin, Texas. Beyond that, I’ll be continuing to focus on putting out new content including some music videos in early 2019.
Thank you for doing this. In all of the interview I do I always give the artist the last word. Go.
Thank you and thanks for the opportunity! See you out there!
Connect with James Lee Baker:
Website: https://jamesleebaker.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamesleebaker
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jlbakermusic
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesleebaker
