Stanley James
Interview 11 May 2004
Interviews Menu – Interviews
Buy Album here cdbaby.com/cd/stanleyjames2
Your currently out of
Columbus Ohio, but your from Chicago.
Tell me about yourself, Chicago and how you got to Ohio. How is it.
I consider myself an honest,
straight up and real person... and as an artist i pride myself in being real,
sincere, and committed to excellence in my career. Chicago is my
birthplace and somewhat of my early childhood and recent adult experiences, but
Ohio is where i was raised... my grandparents migrated to Ohio for employment
purposes and many of my other family members followed suit. Ohio is cool,
but a bit slow in terms of the music business and loyalty to the local
talent, however there is a serious pool of hot talent here.
Still a bit of Chicago in
you though? Who are your
influences from there...and generally.
A lot of Chicago in me... South
side baby! a lot of the old school 70's groups come to mind
when I think of Chicago... more recent artists like Carl Thomas, R. Kelly,
Kanye West etc... those brothers are doing their thing.. but I'm next!!
sooo.... my main musical influences include... the crooners like Jeffery
Osbourne of LTD, Peabo Bryson, Doobie Brothers, Average White Band,
and soul music period move me when it comes to writing and singing....
You were trained by the
same vocal trainer as R Kelly.
Tell me about that?
The lovely Ms. Lena Mclin,
relative of the writer of the hymn "precious lord".... she
taught me vocal techniques in Chicago for a while.. R. Kelly talks about her
often in his biography and how she made him sing at the kenwood academy... he
owes his life and career to her, and i give her praises a well, she once told
me i was gonna be a great singer and a super star one day... she is a great
teacher in vocal and pitch...
Tell me about your early
days in music, from the point you realized that was going to be it, to the
initial things that you did, writing, performing, singing and just generally
starting off.
I started singing at age 6 in my
grandmothers den... listening to old James Cleveland gospel tunes and Billie
holiday records... i love Billie... she was the bomb! i really took to the art
when i was in middle school in choir and at my home baptist church where my
grandmother was a soloist... once i got to high school i knew music and
singing was gonna be it for me... i wanted to play football at one point, but
the piano and sound room had me in a trance.. so i quit sports
and started singing to girls in the hall at school and talent shows.
after high school i went to the Army i did a great deal of performing in
the military... i had a group at that time we won the European Apollo Nite
and got a trip to NYC we did our thing and was selected to do background vocals
for JOE... things eventually fell through... and we broke up, but i was
empowered to keep going... i didn't start writing until a few years ago..
i just took all of my energy, emotions and experiences and let it all out
in the recording booth...
You backed Joe -
when was that and what was that like
Joe was cool... he's a great
singer and a good guy... he was just coming out and needed some background
singers and my group form the Army had met someone he knew and the rest was
history.... however, Joe's management issues were too much for our group, so it
was a short lived event, but it was cool to do and a great experience.
Then you got Good Day
Atlanta, how did that come about?
I have a extensive background in
youth development with Boys & Girls Clubs of America... i love kids and i
got the Good Day Atlanta gig because of our annual fund raiser.... my kids had
put together a African dance routine that went well with Music's "LOVE"
and i sang the lead vocals while they danced it was beautiful thing...
all of Atlanta was buzzing about it...
From your bio you pick out
a few things of note - tell me
about them, African Children’s Fund, XSNRG.
African Children's Fund was an
event that I did that was hosted by the Honorable Desmond Tutu... it was an
honor to sing for him, he is so special and humble as a great leader.... this
event was a highlight of my career as an artist. XSNRG was a interview
similar to the one I'm doing with you... however it was with my first
project... the writer was very critical of my music at the time and i really
don't think he liked it to be honest, but you learn to work through those
things to get to what your goal is... so i realize that everyone isn't going to
like Stanley James, but its cool.... just like in America Baskin and Robbins
has 31 flavors of ice cream you might not like all 31, but there is
something for everyone...
And then you came to
Europe, what was the plan and did it come off?
The plan was to shop my music to
all the major labels as they had just relocated to Berlin.... however,, Mr.
George Bush and the Iraqi war had other plans... once i got there the whole
economy in the U.S. was a wreck nobody was doing anything... it was a disaster both
financially and emotional, plus it was cold.. Smile!
Was it around this time
that you did I’m not the one.
Yes, I'm not the one, was my
baby... the very first full project I did a definite work in progress, buy
i had to do what i could to get started, with minimal recording budget and
production , it still faired well from and independent standpoint.. over 5,000
copies sold...
What kind of things were
you doing say around 2003, were you looking for work projects or did you have a
plan for an album. What was your
vision at this time, you were writing and building songs throughout this?
2003, was an interesting year... i
had quit my job and sold my house all my belongings and just moved to Berlin,
had to leave within 3 months, i was just heartbroken after my European debacle,
but it only made me want it more, i consider 2003 my training... i have learned
so much about this business as a result... my vision was just to start doing
it.. sometimes people look for a formula to this business, but you just have to
just do it.. some people will ask me how do i start? i say get some
music, sing your butt off on it and try and get the best mix you can and just
start putting it out! people love different and new music... i also was
constantly working on new material.. thus the "household name"
project!
And what were you doing
live, as you had some supporting gigs.
Do you have a band?
Live i was singing karaoke,
weddings, even on street corners for tips... hell, I'd sing to a janitor in a
mop bucket closet if he wanted me to... you have to be that serious... i
do have e band out of NYC that will tour with me whenever necessary.... they
are HOTT!
And tell me about how it
built to the release of the album.
The latter part of 2003 i was in
NYC shopping deals with the labels and I received a crash course in B.S. in the
music industry 101thus the b4 i was a star song and see you when i get there...
but it made me understand the importance of being independent and
focused... most artist think they have to have the J records or the Motown or
the Jive records logo beside their name to be successful, not so! if you sell
100,000 records at $10.00 a pop you can eat better than selling a million
records for a label at $.12 a CD... you do the math....
How difficult is it to do
all this yourself, both financially and creatively
This is probably one of the
hardest things i have ever had to do.. to survive is rough, but i am a
spiritual man. I walk by faith and not by how my circumstances
look. I always tell people that I am very happy at what i do... i would
rather struggle at being a successful artist and trying to get people to
buy my music than to be like most Americans who hate their job, are one paycheck
away from being homeless and are miserable to boot. I am happy
struggling at something i love to do, that most people support and enjoy (the
Music) and that I know will ultimately pay off.... than to hate my life, job
and existence... i tell people if you hate what you do quit and do what you
like! life is too short!
Do you have a team around
you that pulls things altogether.
I note you have several different producers.
My team consists of Me, Myself and
I (laughter!) no, but seriously my producers have been a blessing to
me.. i believe that a man's gift will make room for him... i was seriously
blessed with this album... I didn't pay a Dime for Production costs, nor
recording time.. most of the guys I worked with did this for me because they
respect my grind, determination, love for the art and boldness... only God can
give me that.. and to him be all praise.... also i believe in keeping my word,
no matter what..
And what about the final
product - you pleased with
it. What reactions are you
getting. What you doing to promote
it –What’s been the reaction at home locally, nationally and abroad. Which cuts are getting attention,
you’ve probably realized that cuts like Taking it back are the ones that are
gonna hit in the UK Soul Rooms
Overall for what i had to
work with in terms of budget, yes.... if i had the Money Justin Timberlake had
for Justified, I'd be 10X's platinum, but i didn't so i had to do what i
could.... but again spiritually speaking if you are faithful with a little and
do well with it, you will eventually be blessed with a lot more... and my time
is near...
I'm getting great reviews for
household name... both at home, more in the UK and Germany.. I'm still trying
to get more attention and the possible bookings for Europe, all i need is that
contact.. if you are reading this (in a hypnotic tone) book me, book me!
(laughter) yep taking it back and shine as well as ooh i like are getting
attention, but my sleeper is "Love Beat the Hell outta me.. i have a few
people who want to do a video on it...
What do you know about the
UK scene
Not much, but very interested in
getting over there and blowing up the spot... can you help?
I love Europe for real! the
people have a great appreciation for American music more than even Americans
do... we take for granted the essence of soul music and what is soul music if
it doesn't touch your soul? So, all i can say is UK bring it cause
I'm coming for ya!
How do you put your songs
together (the writing process) and what do you draw from.
My songs, everyone of them are
true and real life experiences, i will try to stay true to my craft form the
stand point of not selling out to what the mainstream is doing.. i love R.
Kelly, and he's very versatile, but you will never hear me sing about some of
the stuff he does... but he's been consistent with sexually charged lyrics his
whole career, but is he starving? i think not.. therefore if it works for
him cool, all I'm saying is that there is a market for me... smooth, soulful,
passionate, real and tasteful... my songs often come from things I've been
through, or view that I have about certain real life issues, i then
take tracks and write those experiences to the music as i feel it... most
of my songs are things I've produced in my head that i will have a
more skilled musician play for me until i hear or get the sound i want...
Your voice and your style
is very easy whether it’s on a ballad or a more upbeat cut. How do you see yourself in the overall
market place.
I am an adult urban contemporary
singer/songwriter/producer... that is my genre.. I'm not trying to be b2k,
Marcus Houston, nsync, Usher, (although i love those groups), I just desire to
make music that everyone can undeniably says touches them, that they can feel
me on it, and all the while making it tasteful enough to get some church folks,
even grandma and poppa listening to a Stanley James record. If i catch some 18 and under cool... if
not cool... there is a serious demographic of listener not being pleased right
now... the 25-37 year old consumer isn't buying CD's and trust me when i tell
you, there are millions of those people out there just waiting to be introduced
to Stanley James "Household Name"
Do you see a movement
towards the Soul side of things over recent months, and maybe hopefully for the
future. Who out there right now do
you like.
Oh, yes, Soul music is definitely
on the come back... hip hop is great! but with all the life issues and gender
issues we are facing these days there is a great need for healing in this
country and our world as a whole... Music they say soothes the savage beast...
well, i feel the world is a beast right now and the very thing that can heal it
and unite us no matter the race, color or religion is good music... then i
believe its time for a change... Hip Hop is here to stay and has its time and
place, but soul music will last forever.....!!
Anything else you’d like
to add.
i appreciate the interview and
consideration, and as an independent artist, i want to thank all the people who
have purchased and supported me on CD baby.com , i hope something I've
said in my interview can motivate someone striving to be a great singer or
writer to keep trying and grinding... remember P.U.S.H Pray Until
Something Happens!
God bless and One love
Stanley James "Household
Name"
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