Today we’d like to introduce you to Harley James.
Hi Harley, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I really got my start in broadcasting. As time does to many. Things change. I found myself. Wanting to begin pursuing a full-time career. As a performing artist. In the beginning. I was primarily acoustic. A singer-songwriter, telling stories. Like a bard. In the 17th century would carry history from kingdom to kingdom… Though performing was great. Recording became a new thing. “Get the songs on iTunes”. It’s funny, in 2015. It was surprisingly harder to find someone with a working studio that didn’t want 400$ for a couple of hours. Which isn’t a lot of money. But it was for me. What I wanted to do was spend all day in the studio. But I couldn’t afford it. It was then. I realized what I was trying to do. Needed me to be a lot more hands on. To do that. I had a lot to learn a lot. So I started learning everything I could. More guitar, bass, drums… song composition.
That all created the sound, I now have. After learning so much. I’ve learned enough to know. The next steps I need to take. For my music to level up and keep climbing the scoreboard. I will be executing a lot of my plans for music in the new year.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road less traveled is often less traveled for a reason. It has not been easy; I’ve seen my share of challenges. I like to focus on the Goal. Our lives can always be uprooted at any moment by something sudden. The unexpected times of family death, loss of a job, or need for more focus on your mental health. These can be very trying times that test us. It’s not easy to explain. What I choose to do with the hand I’m dealt is how I will define my success. Instead of measuring it by what I was dealt. Did I win or did I lose. It’s always a game and the only opponent is yourself. I didn’t choose to be born. I didn’t want the life I had. I hated myself. I looked for purpose in love. My toxic past would contaminate every attempt. It wasn’t until I lost almost everything. I realized you can hit bottom real quick. I could stay in a dark place and find comfort there. I wanted to get out. I wanted to get better. I made baby steps. Just waking up and having a routine. Was a huge component that helped.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am primarily a Singer-Songwriter. I always liked the mystic ways artists like Bob Dylan. Would have so much metaphor and layered dialogue in their songs. The songs told stories if you wanted them to. They’d say nothing if you wanted them to. Songs can be healing even when you don’t realize it’s healing you. Songs can be cathartic. A way to communicate with yourself. I think I make music to understand myself. Sometimes you just something to Dance to!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harleyakaharley/
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/harleyakaharley
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UC0kRsus_2zj0XZAuAJ2sJvw
- SoundCloud: https://www.soundcloud.com/akaharley
- Other: https://www.patreon.com/akaharley
