Aiden James: The New Gay Interview
I first met Philadelphia-based indie musician, Aiden James, online a little over a year ago on DList.com through the normal barrage of “friend me” requests that are the bane of social networking sites everywhere. Being a sucker for furry-faced musicians, I accepted his friend request and then went to go see him play at Brainwash, a local laundromat-cum-cafe that was the San Francisco stop on his album tour through the West Coast. Sweetly strummy, lightly poppy and refreshingly tuneful, his folksy sound immediately put me at ease in spite of the fact that most of the patrons seemed to be walking around with laundry bags. He concluded his set with a disarming cover of Rihanna’s “Umbrella.” Fast forward a year later, James is back on the road promoting the release of his second album called On the Run. This time around, he trades the washing machines for a stage at Hotel Utah Saloon along with fellow folk artists Heather Combs, David Greco and Francesca Lee before headlining at the Dolores Park Cafe. On the flight over to San Francisco, James was good enough to answer 8 questions for The New Gay.
The New Gay: Tell us about your influences. And please tell me that you’re not a closet Madonna fan (lie if you have to).
Aiden James: My biggest influence I would say has been Patty Griffin. She really is what got me into doing this.
David Gray, Matt Nathanson, Mindy Smith, Shawn Colvin… Their music is very moving, honest and real. Well, at least it moves me. As for Madonna, I think it’s great that thousands and thousands of years later people are still talking about her and her son Jesus. I have this small collection of icons of her. Very Guadalupe. Wait… Madonna who..?
TNG: Please tell us about your new album.
AJ: On the Run has been an interesting album for me, and my second. I wrote some of the songs before getting into a relationship, during it… and even when I thought it was going to be over. The title track, “On the Run,” was written one month before the album was mastered while touring California, and others as long as 2 years before. Over all I’d say it’s a great folk record with a pop tune and a little splash of countryness about it. I went in excited and eager to release my new tunes because I felt my first album didn’t represent me correctly anymore. Not only because I had grown up a bit, but matured as both a performer and writer. It’s very honest and real.
TNG: These days anyone can put out a record, or rather they can post it on the innernets. Where do you fall on the indie rock continuum?
AJ: Ha. Well. I’m not signed to any major label or anything (who is nowadays?). But I do travel the country playing my songs for small crowds of people, shared the stage with other cool songsters, two records on iTunes, got my stuff on radio waves and satellite broadcast, and have a kick-ass music video, so I guess I’m doing really well on that little continuum you’re talking about. Really lucky compared to most people trying to do this.
TNG: Do you ever get to collaborate with other musicians, or are you one man, and one man only?
AJ: Stop, collaborate, and listen. I love having musicians join me; it’s so fun. Sometimes I can snag my cellist or upright bass player to do a couple shows with me. Like recently at my video release concert, I had a Rhodes [keyboard] player. That show was recorded live, too, and that will be out soon. However, my favorite is when I get to do shows with other songwriters. It’s great to sing on a couple of each other’s tunes or albums. I really wanna co-write a song with Ingrid Michaelson, or Indigo Girls’ Amy Ray or Catie Curtis.
TNG: It sounds like life on the road suits you well. Do you face any challenges touring by yourself as a gay musician, or is it a total non-factor?
AJ: I love touring. I mean… how can someone doing this for a living not? It’s a funny contrast really. You spend a lot of time in the car alone with your own little thoughts or books on tape… and then, at night, you’re surrounded by friends and fans who really wanna spend time with you. I would say the only “challenges” I face would be getting lost, or getting a bad sound man.
TNG: Did you really share a stage with Elliot Yamin? Was it hard not to stare at his fake choppers?
AJ: Yeah, I did, and Carolina Liar. I played at an outdoor festival and I was part of the lineup that day on the same stage. We didn’t really talk much– well, he didn’t know I even existed. So, no. Ha. But I will say… Something about guy singers is really sexy to me… like Kings of Leon front man, Anthony Caleb Followill, or Matt Nathanson. I’d probably stare then, at them.
TNG: What’s next for Aiden James? More touring? Have you started writing for your next album?
AJ: I’m writing a new record! Will continue to tour as much as I can since that’s how I fund making albums, and my little record label, Songster Records. I have a LIVE album coming out this fall. Some of the songs I’m working at will be on there as a little sneak peak of sorts. You can hear a track now on the Myspace page.
TNG: Anything else you want to tell the readers at TNG?
AJ: I would like a Honda Fit and a year’s supply of Cliff Bars. Oh… and I’m newly single. So come to a show and shower me with Cliff Bars and gas cards.
Show Details:
See Aiden James on Thursday, October 1, at Hotel Utah and Friday, October 2, at the Dolores Park Cafe.
Hotel Utah Saloon
Website: www.thehotelutahsaloon.com
500 4th Street @ Bryant Street
October 1, show starts at 7:30 PM; $8 cover
Dolores Park Cafe
Website: doloresparkcafe.org
501 Dolores Street @ 18th Street
October 2, show starts at 7:30 PM; artist donation suggested
Additional Artist Details:
Purchase On the Run online:
And elsewhere on the net:
- www.twitter.com/aidenjamestour
- www.aidenjamesmusic.com
- www.myspace.com/aidenjames
- On the Run Youtube Video
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