By: Lisa Steinberg
Photo By Greg Gorman
Q) Who are some of your musical influences?
A) My chief musical influences specifically for Love, Pax are artists like Elliott Smith, Nick Drake, Gregory Alan Isakov, Jose Gonzalez and Iron & Wine. They all make mellow music that somehow still reaches into the deepest parts of your soul.
Q) How would you describe your sound for Love, Pax?
A) My personal favorite way to describe my sound for Love, Pax is calling it “melancholic motion sickness.” Truthfully though, the way it could best be literally described is softly sung mellow folk leaning indie music. Slow and drenched in melancholy but with a hopeful undertone through most of it. Acoustic strumming accompanied by almost whisper-like vocal delivery. Relaxing and dreamy.
Q) You’re also a part of the groups Flamingo Dogs and Soundaze. What sets Love, Pax apart for the music you make with them?
A) Yes, I am a part of two bands called Flamingo Dogs and Soundaze. They are vastly different in sound compared to my work as Love, Pax. Flamingo Dogs is a duo I started originally in middle school with my oldest friend in the world, Jared McGill a/k/a JAREDCONNOR. We started originally making alternative hip hop music as we both grew up primarily inspired by that kind of stuff, but over time we have evolved the sound to be more electro-pop facing these days, with trace elements of rap and hip-hop still. With Soundaze, the band was born originally out of a collaboration that Jared and I were doing for a Flamingo Dogs song with our dear friend and talented vocalist Dayton Sinkia a/k/a DayWu Xin and the sound changed so much that we quickly realized this could be its own thing – its own band. So, we started Soundaze with the mission statement or goal of the band to be that we purposely blend as many different genres of music as possible; so while we are rooted in alternative hip=hop, we also make songs that lean heavily more into spaces like rock, folk, dance, R&B and experimental. Soundaze is an all genre encompassing music experience. Love, Pax is different from these two bands as it is more of an intimate look into myself and thus is a bit more personal in some ways. While I still make a hiphop song as Love, Pax every now and again, the sound is mostly indie folk and primarily focused on exploring that.
Q) What inspired your latest song “Snapshot?”
My newest song “Snapshot” was honestly inspired by my personal struggles with OCD. I wanted to explore the feelings of being trapped and suffocated by my OCD while also externalizing it in a hopeful context. Music and all forms of creative self-expression are the best ways to manage and handle any and all mental struggles you may find yourself dealing with, at least that is how I feel about it. I also wanted to keep the lyrics poetic enough though that the listener could hopefully interpret the song in their own ways. Just to me, personally, it was inspired by my own mental hang-ups and ongoing battle with OCD.
Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?
A) I think the listeners connect most strongly to the multi-harmony chorus that I sing. It sounds quite hopeful and cheery and I think people find a positive vibe from it, which is really gratifying to see. I sing four different harmonies with myself on that, and I feel it is probably the standout part of the song.
Q) How does the video for the track play into the message behind it and what is it about classic movies that inspired it?
A) The video plays into the personal message of the song for me because it shows a person isolated in one location kind of wandering the property and singing this song to himself – singing to no one but still singing, nonetheless. Externalizing the pain and the hope and the regret. We also wanted to lean into a timeless quality which is where the choice to make it black and white and feel like an old Hollywood noir classic film like Citizen Kane or something came from. Rocky Schenck had a really clear vision and made a comprehensive storyboard for that we filmed entirely at his private residence. He is an avid film lover and student of the classics, so it was a match made in heaven getting to work with him on this video. He directed my favorite Adele music video for her song “Hometown Glory” many years ago. Fun fact, there is an easel in the back of the second shot of the video when I reveal myself and come around the corner and it is an actual prop used in the ending of the film Citizen Kane.
Q) With “Snapshot” out now, is this a prelude to a full album or EP to come?
A) Absolutely, it is. I am steadily working on a full length debut album but want to focus on releasing singles for now as I figure out which songs go best with each other.
Q) What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?
A) I do typically need to write music or work off of a composition before I start to be able to write lyrics because when you’re writing lyrics it is equally important to be hearing how the music would inform the performance or delivery of those lyrics. Occasionally; however, if I think of a strong lyric or concept or something, I will write it down later so I can maybe try it out when I am writing the actual musical components. I almost always end up having to tweak the lyrics later though.
Q) How much of a hand do you have in the production of your music?
A) I have a massive hand in the production of the Love, Pax music. I typically write the entire song on guitar with the lyrics first. I arrange the song and practice it countless times over before I get into the studio for recording. I am extremely lucky though for the Love, Pax music to have an infinitely talented music partner and producer to work with named Nikolas Thompson. My songs would truly not be the same without him. He records and engineers me and he also adds many production elements such as bass, piano, drums and countless other instrumentations to help make these songs true multi-layered compositions. He takes my foundational building blocks and truly elevates everything. He is a consummate professional and a true musical multi-talent. He also writes film scores, and I highly recommend to any filmmakers looking for a composer to hire him. He and I work closely in the production process though to bounce ideas back and forth, so I would say I am intimately involved in the entire production process of my music. It goes the same way for the bands; however Jared is the actual composer and producer of the group. So, while we all give input and bounce ideas off of each other, he is ultimately the band member that is most involved in the production process of those groups.
Q) Where can fans keep up with Love, Pax and any plans to perform live?
A) People can keep up with my Love, Pax music anywhere they stream their music – Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, etc. You can also keep up with it on my main Instagram and TikTok pages which are under the name @thisisjamespaxton. I also would really appreciate people subscribing to my official YouTube music channel, which can be found under the name @Love-Pax and is where all my music videos can be seen. I performed hip hop live last year at Hotel Ziggy, but no current plans to play any acoustic Love, Pax songs at the moment; however, I am absolutely hoping to in the future.
Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?
A) I would absolutely love to collaborate with an artist like Bon Iver or Gregory Alan Isakov or someone of that musical ilk (although that’s absolutely a pipe dream and aiming as high as possible! [laughs]) Honestly, though, there are too many artists to name that I would be honored to get to collaborate with. I’m thankful though that between the two bands, and then Nikolas Thompson, I already have incredible collaborators already that I want to and hope to work with for life.
Q) You’re also an actor. What are the upcoming on-camera projects that you have been busy working on?
A) I just recently wrapped filming on an independent drama feature in New Jersey called SICKLERVILLE, as well as wrapping up the Laugh Factory produced psychedelic comedy TOAD. I have a western starring opposite Malcolm McDowell called LAST TRAIN TO FORTUNE that is expected to release this coming September in the US. This year, I recently had a sci-fi horror film called DRAGN come out (available to stream now) as well as a horror satire called GRIND that premiered at SXSW and is making a world tour of the festival circuit as we speak.
Q) We recently saw you in the film Twisters, where you were able to honor the legacy of your father’s original performance. What did the experience mean to you to be starring in that film?
A) My cameo appearance in TWISTERS was very special to me. I felt extra connected to my dad getting to represent his spirit on that set and in that film. That was a great opportunity to do something for him and for the fans of the original.
Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work – either the music you make or acting work?
A) I would say that I forever hold nothing but gratitude and appreciation for anyone out there who takes time out of their lives to either watch a film or show I did or listen to a song I’ve written or had some hand in. It literally means more than I could possibly ever put into words or articulate and I think I speak for most all creatives who make stuff and put it out there into the world. To see somebody connecting with something that you put your heart and soul into is truly the most life-affirming and wonderful thing that I can ever experience. So, in simple terms, I just want to say thank you. I love you, I see you and it never goes unnoticed or unappreciated. And thank YOU Starry Constellation Magazine for this fantastic interview and for taking the time to help me spread the good word of this music and these films.
Watch The Video For “Snapshot”