Renowned glam rocker Micky James Drops New single “Not Okay”
Born and raised in the shadows of Philly and NYC, Micky James naturally developed a taste for the theatrical and aspired to become a performer from a young age. In his music and personal style, Micky explores a sound and aesthetic that is nostalgic of a bygone era in rock-n-roll music, while still maintaining a contemporary pop ambition.
Micky’s unique vocals are reminiscent of great character voices such as David Bowie and Julian Casablancas, alluding to the dark, mysterious, and romantic qualities that are so distinct to those artists. While Micky’s flamboyant fashions evoke the glamour and swagger of past rock icons, his work is both equal parts style and substance. Inspired by the authentic energy of 60’s and 70’s iconic rock band’s, James is successful in crafting a modern and fresh approach to a timeless genre, “I wanted to take pieces of nostalgia and give it a contemporary twist”, explains James. Successfully taking his vision and turning it into a reality.
Tell us about the genesis of your project. How did you get to where you are now?
The genesis of this project started about 3 years ago. After my previous band disbanded in 2017, I knew I wanted to keep pursuing this. I had folders of song ideas that I still wanted to put out and a creative vision that I needed to see through fully. I released my first song called “Give It to Me Straight ” back in 2018. Since then I’ve put out a handful of singles, released a Live EP, did my first national tour as a solo artist and most recently just played Firefly Music Festival this past weekend.
What is the favorite song you wrote and why?
I think my favorite song I’ve written might be my latest release, “Not Okay”. It’s a very personal song to me and as a writer I’m always trying to write as simplistic as I can with a message that is packed with a punch. I feel like with “Not Okay” it’s the closest I’ve gotten to that formula and feeling.
Who are your all time musical icons?
Some of my biggest inspirations as an artist would be David Bowie, Prince, Michael Jackson, Kurt Cobain
What are some things to do to keep your inspiration alive?
As a writer, I take a lot of inspiration from the people and experiences that surround me. A majority of my songs come from a very personal place. Life is what really inspires me.
Who are you binge listening to these days?
I’ve been on a big War On Drugs kick recently.
Favorite movie or TV show?
My favorite TV show for the past year has been The Office.
Tell us about your latest release and how it came about
I started to flesh out the demo for “Not Okay” this past May. I’ve had the intro guitar lead laying around for many many years and I’ve always wanted to get around to it. I’m glad I finally did. This song came together quite quickly. My approach to this song was to write a song that felt simplistic sonically and packed with a punch of a lyric. Lyrically it comes from conversation between two individuals who found closeness and friendship after simultaneously hitting a low point in their lives. This song is a declaration to never give up and to never be afraid to reach out and talk to someone.
Do you have any peculiar pre or post show rituals?
I do have some pre-show rituals but I wouldn’t necessarily call them peculiar. My ritual consists of stretching, a 5 minute vocal warm up and a shot of whiskey.
What’s the future looking like for you?
As for the rest of 2021, I will be doing a bunch of tour dates in November. I’ll be joining The Rock Boat Cruise 11/7 – 11/12 with Switchfoot, Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness and a handful of east coast co- headlining dates with Wildermiss 11/16-21.
Who inspires your style and aesthetics?
I’m not sure if a specific person directly inspires my style. There are certain decades that I certainly draw inspiration from. I’ve always been interested in taking something from the past and making something new out of it. Either with my music or with my fashion.
What is the achievement or moment in your career you are the most proud of and why?
A big achievement for being an unsigned artist was playing one of the main stages at Firefly. I’ve never gone to a festival before and the reasoning was because I told myself I would never attend unless I performed. That was a highlight for me for sure.
What do you think is the best way to make it as an artist nowadays?
I couldn’t really tell you. All I can say is to make sure you find your voice and make a total commitment to what you’re doing.
What would you change in the music and entertainment industry especially after this past year?
It’s hard to say as many of us such as myself were locked away in a creative state of mind. I wasn’t paying too much attention to the industry or what was happening. I do think that there should have been more of an immediate relief for all of the struggling independent music venues.
