Getting to Know… James Houlahan | Interview

In the 508^th Q&A in our Getting to Know… series, we get the inside scoop from Los Angeles Americana and folk singer-songwriter James Houlahan. 

What thoughtful and poetic words from the Los Angeles Americana and folk singer-songwriter James Houlahan! Houlahan gives us the inside scoop on his musical beginnings, goals, musical influences, and current and future musical endeavors. So, without further ado, let’s jump right into Getting to Know… James Houlahan: Interview No. 508!

 

 

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For those who may not be familiar with you, what would you say makes you distinct or unique? How do you rock the audience’s socks off?

I want to state for the record that I do not perform any sort of explicit de-socking on my listeners. Beneath the words of my songs, I coax and cajole the audience into a state beyond socks entirely. My wish is for them to look down at last and realize they are not wearing socks at all. They never were! None of us are wearing socks, spiritually speaking. And that now they can rise freely and go dance barefoot into all the music yet to come! Through my own work, I want to get behind these flimsy elements of separation. To try and share my affinity for music and song that gets past all such boundaries.

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Okay, let’s explore some juicy backstories. How did your music career begin, and what were some of your goals or visions early on?

It’s been a gradual flow from a trickling tributary into what is now a steadily flowing river. I had no idea what I was doing at first. Chasing vague images of rock stars from my childhood memory, I suppose. But then I felt and heard the deep reservoir of the blues and stumbled upon the uncanny and sublime underworlds of American folk music. And my ear opened to the poetry and harmony possible in songwriting. It’s been a rush to the ocean ever since!

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Let’s talk more about goals.  Have your goals or perspectives changed since you first started? What do your aspirations or goals look like now?

I want to do the best work I can. That remains my most important goal and aspiration. I have had other goals and expectations along the way, but they have faded from urgency as time passes. I realize more and more that I am very lucky to have some kind of connection with the muse and mystery of songwriting, and I want to take that as far as I can.

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Everybody is influenced by somebody else. Who would you consider some of your biggest musical influences, and how are they influential?

Tom Waits because his records conjure an entire world into being. You can get lost in his songs and love it. Neil Young remains a hero and a true voice, celebrating the energy and power of music. His tunes have, in a certain sense, taught me how to live. There are countless others: Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Patti Smith, John Prine, and so many more…!

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Ah, the fun stuff.  What’s your craziest tour story or the wackiest thing that’s happened during a performance?  Feel free to be creative.

It’s only happened a couple of times, but I really like it when the power goes out during a show. I’m often playing solo acoustic, so once we lose electricity, I’m no longer bound to stay behind the microphone. Last time it happened, I moved closer to everyone and moved from table to table. Just a voice and a guitar in a room, with a bunch of ears and beating hearts. It’s always fun when those walls fall down, and everyone suddenly finds themselves together!

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To this point in your career, what would you describe as your favorite song you’ve recorded or performed live? What makes that song special?

The song “That Bird & I” off my latest album, On a Wing, comes to mind. It was written from a very solitary, private experience. And then I realized the kind of story about music that the song could tell, and how that experience could relate to others. Why do we sing? Why do we do what we do despite all the slings and arrows of outrageous misfortune? I don’t think songs can provide an answer exactly, but they might guide us towards better questions.

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Is there anything else awesome, cool, or left-of-center we should know about you? Secret talents or surprising tidbits?

I’m fascinated with reading tarot cards. The Tarot of Marseille, to be precise! That said, I don’t consult the cards as a means of fortune-telling. People who say the tarot can predict the future are lying to you. But I do get a lot out of learning how to see myself, others, and the world around me. Italo Calvino once said that the cards are a machine for telling stories. And when my story gets stale or otherwise opaque, they are often a boon for new ways of seeing.

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What are you currently working on or promoting that you can share? We love secrets, but there’s no pressure. 

If you’re reading this and have never heard my music, I want to encourage you to go take a listen to my newest release, On a Wing. If you’re into discovering secrets…secret thrills and secret moments of sonic pleasure…this album is chock full of them! But please don’t take my word for it. Go hear for yourself! I may be a bit biased, after all.

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Thank you so much for sharing and taking the time to answer these questions. Best of luck moving forward. 

Thank you for the opportunity! Best of luck to you, too!

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Getting to Know… James Houlahan: Interview No. 508 [📷: James Houlahan]

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