"I Didn't Know" Cheyenne James, Album: Burnin it Up
What drew you to the music industry?
I've been in it since I was a young kid. Surrounded by musicians. You could say it's almost all I know.
Who are you inspired by?
Art, books, movies, other music, nature. Also the lives that I and my family/friends have lived. Inspiration is everywhere. You just have to be open to it.
Please explain your creative process
What’s an average day like for you?
If I'm gonna be creating, an average day means trying to relax. Maybe grabbing a drink or smoking a bowl to calm any nerves about creating something brilliant and just trying to stay focused on creating anything. I also put on movies I love that make me laugh.
Is there a hidden meaning in any of your music?
On occasion. It depends on the stories I'm trying to tell. Sometimes there's a phrase that will mean more to certain people than your average Joe, but most of the time I try to be transparent in my writing.
Do you collaborate with others? What is that process?
I love to collaborate. That's how I wrote the music for my last album! Usually that means lots of laughing, telling stories, making synonym charts for lines that need improvements in verbage, and a healthy dose of pizza, beer, and pot.
Please discuss how you interact with and respond to fans.
My fans are the reason my music is being pushed. I always try to make them feel like close friends or family and very often, they become those things in their support of me.
What is your favorite part about this line of work? Your least favorite? Why?
I love the creative community and performing. I really do live for the applause. I do hate how competitive and exclusionary it can be though. There are lots of ups and downs but I try to not let them harden me because I feel you need to remain a bit soft to write good music.
Have you ever dealt with performance anxiety?
All the time. I get stage fright still, but I know that if I push through it, I'm going to create an ephemeral experience to share with my audience and their support gets me through it.
Tell me about your favorite performance venues.
I've loved performing a lot of places. I'd have to say that private parties have afforded me some opportunities to perform in some incredible venues full of decadence, but I will always have a soft spot in my heart for dive bars where my biker families hang out.
What advice would you have for someone wanting to follow in your footsteps?
Be strong. Be tough. Try to believe in yourself all the time, and if you can't, surround yourself with people that do. Overnight success takes decades, so be patient, and always be in it for the music, because if you're in it for fame, it'll break ya.
That concludes our interview with Cheyenne James, native to Houston, Texas and traveling blues musician and songwriter.
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