James October

James October is a singer/songwriter for the new age— the artist often starts his ballads with a unique blend of acoustic guitar rhythms and adds great energy with computerized trap drums. His usage of different genres keeps his sound rich and groovy while allowing him more wiggle room in the pop genre. A James October song is just perfect for windy drives on the Pacific Coast Highway or an afternoon at the beaches of Bali, as the artist has gotten major attention from listeners in South Asia along with the US and Mexico. Already receiving international recognition in only 9 months of releasing music to Spotify, the allure in James’s breezy pop has almost got him to 15k Spotify monthly listeners. His latest song, “The Places We’ll Go” with Emilia Ali, is out now! We recently spoke to James October about his favorite memories as a songwriter, recording with his girlfriend, and more!

Hey James! Thank you so much for speaking with us today. Let's first talk a little bit about yourself. How did you get started making music?

Thank you for having me! I started playing instruments and singing when I was in 3rd grade and as I grew up and performed more, I started developing my own voice as a writer. To me, covers only gave me so much joy because I felt like the artist always did it better (duh). But I felt that I could connect with myself and the people listening more if the songs had a part of me in them.

You made your Spotify debut during a year that was incredibly difficult for a lot of artists. Did your creative process change at all during this time?

Though this year was challenging in a lot of ways. I found that being inside all the time motivated me to push my creative boundaries. This year really helped me to develop truth in my lyrics and for that reason, I’m grateful for this difficult time.

You seem to really enjoy collaboration with fellow musicians. What do you enjoy most about teamwork in the studio?

I find that people bring out the best in me and I can bring out the best in people. Especially in a setting where we are sharing our feelings and developing those ideas into a song, I find it easy to open up and write music that people know comes from a place of truth. It’s also easy to get into your own head and start feeling negative towards your music when you’re the only person in the room. Having other opinions I find is so important for motivation and development.

With that said, do you prefer working on music with others or solo?

Like most musicians will say, it depends! I wrote ‘The Places We’ll Go’ by myself, but some of my favorite songs have been with people who can hype me up in the room. I do feel that it is easier to write a sad song in a room by yourself with moody lights, but it still depends! I’ve written tear jerkers with multiple people and joyful songs by myself.

What is the story behind your stage name, “James October”?

Similar to a lot of artists, I had such a hard time trying to figure out a name that was unique to me and not too complicated. It took years of overthinking to realize that honestly, it doesn’t make a huge difference as long as the music is dope. I was born in October, my first name is James. James October! I wish I had some crazy story about how a soul search in Joshua Tree led me to it, but I’m cool with the simplicity of it.

You made your Soundcloud debut over two years ago. Was there any hesitancy before releasing your first songs? If so, how has this changed over time?

I felt that Soundcloud was a place of less judgment and pressure than Spotify or Apple Music. As a lot of artists do, I used Soundcloud to test the waters and see which songs got a good response. I really felt hesitant when deciding what I would put on major streaming services for my first release. As I overthought the process though, I realized that just putting a song out there is the first step, and holding back because of your own judgment is going to hinder your ability to finish songs.

Your musical journey has led you to attend Berklee College of Music. In what ways has the school impacted your life, both personally and professionally?

I owe so much to Berklee and their collaboration classes. There were a handful of teachers that really challenged me and changed my perspective on my approach to writing and producing. Bonnie Hayes, Jason Petrin, and Kara Dioguardi are just a couple of them. Along with developing my musical ability, these teachers also helped me to become a better collaborator in the studio, as well as a better cheerleader for myself.

Describe one of your favorite memories from your time as a songwriter.

One of my favorite memories as a songwriter was writing ‘The Places We’ll Go’. This was one of the only songs I wrote to finish myself, and when I sat down and wrote it, the ideas and lyrics just poured out of me when usually I have to contemplate and judge and critique myself. This time it was effortless, I knew what I wanted to say and how to say it. Moments like this make me feel so blessed to be a songwriter.

There’s an uplifting feel to most if not all of your music. Who are some of the artists that have influenced this sound?

Growing up in Santa Barbara, I was exposed to a lot of feel-good music. Artists like Jack Johnson, John Mayer, and Iration were on heavy rotation during middle and high school. I especially feel that Jack Johnson's ability to be cheerful and uplifting without coming off as cheesy was what I appreciated the most. As I grew up, artists like Quinn XCII and Jeremy Zucker became huge influences to what I want my sound to be.

Let’s talk about the new release! “The Places We’ll Go” is simply a really great track. What was the inspiration for the song?

I wrote ‘The Places We’ll Go’ a couple of months into quarantine. I was living in Boston, doing online classes and trying to keep my head up. What motivated me the most was the excitement of going on adventures and making new memories with my girlfriend Emilia. As I wrote the song, I understood that most people felt the same way and especially now. Whether it be a festival, a new country, or just driving around my girlfriend’s hometown and her showing me the places that shaped her as a person.

You collaborated with Emilia Ali on this one, another artist who has put out such great work over the past year. What was it like working with her in the studio?

Funny enough, the song was already sent off to my mastering engineer when she asked to add some ideas over it. Because I am absolutely obsessed with her voice, I was ecstatic to have her sing with me. Emilia and I have worked on multiple things together and I always end up learning so much from her as I hope she learns from me. In a lot of ways our personalities are very different but those disagreements make both of us grow.

Who is the next artist that you’d like to collaborate with?

I have always had an obsession with Remi Wolf. As a producer, I would kill to work with an artist as cutting edge and unique as Remi is. (Remi I hope you see this.)

What are some of the things you like to do on your day off?

My day off consists of sleeping in, a massive breakfast, an outdoor excursion, and a nap.

Who do you owe your biggest thanks to?

I owe my biggest thanks to my mom. Being my biggest fan since I was in third grade, I don’t even know if I’d be pursuing music without her support.
Lastly, what’s next for James October?

You might be seeing me on a track with my good friend Daniel Allan in the near future ;).