Today, I was able to sit down with James Houlahan and discuss his inspiration to write music, heroes, and much more! Be sure to check out the music of James Houlahan on Spotify below after the interview.
Interview:
What is your inspiration to write your music? Is it your
surroundings?
I don’t really know where inspiration comes from, so it seems like I need to keep my ear open to the world around me at all times. You never know when an idea might strike! That said, whatever connection I have to where songs come from seems pretty strong. Because I get ideas in almost any kind of situation. Sometimes in spite of what’s happening around me. A quiet melody appears as I navigate the chaos of traffic on an L.A. freeway. A loud rock song comes to mind just as I settle into bed and approach sleep. I feel like the songwriting mindset is like a radio tuned in to the mystery of the muse. And all I can do is make sure the reception is as bright and clear as it can be.
What type of music did you listen to growing up?
My parents did not listen to a lot of music when I was a child, so I mostly picked up stuff off the radio or television. I have this early memory of seeing Kenny Rogers singing “The Gambler” on The Muppet Show. That just about blew my mind! So as a real young kid I liked stuff that was popular at the time: Michael Jackson, Bon Jovi, Dire Straits, the soundtrack to Miami Vice! As a teenager, I became a full-on metalhead: Metallica, Motley Crue, Black Sabbath and the like. Thankfully I was encouraged to learn a musical instrument. After trying piano and saxophone, I was drawn to guitar. And it was my guitar teacher, Jay Ford, who turned me on to so much amazing music through his teaching. Eventually getting me into a wider variety of sounds like blues, jazz, folk, etc. So many doors to music opened up while learning how to play it!
Is there someone you looked up to as a hero?
Teachers are heroes, in my book. My high school teacher Elliot Lilien and my freshman college teacher Amy Kass come to mind. Along with all the teachers I’ve never met but who are heroes for art and music: Joseph Campbell, Bob Dylan, Alejandro Jodorowsky…to name a few.
If you weren’t a musician, what would you be doing today?
Probably teaching English at a small college somewhere during the day, writing poems by night. Either that or marine biology!
What advice do you have for our fans out there that want to create
music?
Do what brings you joy. It may take time for your talent and ability to catch up with your expectations and your own personal taste in music, but time will be your friend if you keep at it. And don’t worry about any kind of audience. Make the music that you want to hear first. Everything else follows.
Music:
