Denver based outfit Hunter James and the Titanic stopped by to chat about their musical influences, preference on performing live or recording, and whats in store for the rest of 2021.

What’s your writing process like? Do you write the music or lyrics first?

Most times I just sit with an instrument and try to let my subconscious mind do the talking. It’s important to not let your conscious, logical brain get in the way too much. Sometimes I see writers that have this great objective and finite goal for writing, to me that isn’t really allowing yourself the full spectrum of creativity. Sometimes I have a melody or something going into sitting down with the guitar or piano, but usually I just try to open myself up to whatever comes forward.

Do you prefer performing live or recording, and why?

I love them both, but overall I would have to say recording. I like the ability to really get things how you want them in the studio and try different tones and parts and ideas. It’s a very creative space. Generally when you are playing something live 98% of it has been worked out ahead of time (unless you are jam band). My favorite thing is finding new melodies or textures in a studio recording that really support the song. I love playing live because of the energy you are able to pass back and forth with the crowd. Sharing an energetic and emotional experience with audience members feels really good as well. But it’s still the studio for us.

Who are your main musical influences and why?

A lot of the singer songwriter movement of the 1970’s in Laurel Canyon. Joni Mitchell, Crosby Still and Nash, Jackson Browne, The Eagles, Joan Baez. Also a lot of 60’s soul music, motown records. Paul Simon. Rufus Wainwright. Jason Isbell. Neil Young. Bob Dylan

If you could change about the music industry, what would it be?

Better revenue for recorded music.

What’s in store for you for the rest of the year?

We are planning a tour for winter and spring! And always busy writing and recording. Planning on putting out another EP winter of 2022, with a few songs that didn’t make our last full length release “La Liberte” and a few new songs that are in the process of being recorded right now. I used to write all the songs for the band but more recently other band members are also writing tunes for the band. We are becoming more of a collaborative entity as far as writing goes. Working on a song right now with our lead guitar player Taylor Marvin and have been writing more and more with Lizzy Gogolowski, a singer in the Titanic. Also track 5 “Too Different Pictures” on our last album was written by our other guitar player Jason Brazzel.

You can find Hunter James and the Titanic on Facebook and Instagram.

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