Meet Sunshine James | Artist/Musician

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sunshine James and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sunshine, how do you think about risk?
Every single move you make in the music industry is a risk. Theres no college course, no training, no past reference and no insurance that guarantees success in this business. It’s all a gamble with trial and error. Then after a decade or two you just hope you finally find your place and audience. So I just make sure my overhead is minimal and I am available for any and every opportunity that comes my way. The money I’ve spent on recording, releasing, vehicles, sound equipment, instruments and whiskey has possibly broke even in my full time musician career. But so far all the risk has lead to failure, that lead to lessons, that leads to me making better choices one facet at a time. No risk it, no buiscuit.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m so very blessed to have been raised by a perfect balance of fearless dreaming and a work ethic that instilled the belief I get to do whatever I want. It sounds cliche because that’s what so many movies and shows are made about, but it’s the absolute truth. I also think it makes those movies great and popular because sadly, it’s rare people believe they can do it. So it’s almost like watching a fantasy.

For me personally, I have never felt like a single second of my music career was “hard.” Theres moments I’m sittin high on the horse and think I’m above singing a song or playing a gig I don’t want to. But that goes away pretty quick. For me, making it through school was hard. Being bullied was hard. Getting my heartbroken was hard. Losing so many family and friends between moving and death before 18 was hard. Dealing with my trauma was hard. Showing up to a job site at 6 am in negative degree weather was hard. Leaving the love of my life to do what I felt I’m supposed to do was hard. But writing songs, singing, playing, traveling, struggling and doing it all with friends, mentors and heroes is the easiest part of my life. It doesn’t pay well, but I have always had a great support system to keep me going. Theres nothing you can’t do after an honest call with mom or dad.

As easy as it is to make the choice to run down my dream, it means I’m the CEO and I’m responsible for everything. I take all the bad as well as the good. That means every day is a new, hard learned and sometimes expensive lesson. It can get pretty grueling and make you jaded but I do my best to not give up on my good sense. Be genuine, be good to people, don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself, don’t be afraid to walk away and don’t fall for every shiny BS they throw your way. The most important lessons I got recently was after one of my best friends weddings. His dad and I were up until four in the morning killing Canadian waters. I asked him about his business because he started in a little shack on his and he’s blown it up into a huge success. He told me “you gotta do it all yourself. The labor, the sales, the book keeping, the budgeting, the late nights and the clean up is all you. You can’t be lazy and hire other people to do that stuff. When you need to, you will. But until then do your homework and do the work.” As an artist I just wanna play my damn songs, but he is absolutely right.

As far as what sets me apart, I think you’d have to ask the people around me. I do my best to write, sing and play the truth and life I know or understand. All I can say is I make sure nobody is out working me. If they are, I do what I can to keep them in my world.

I released three singles and videos this year (2023) and am halfway done recording next years singles. I’m excited to be putting out music consistently along with videos from a great team that is as creatively curious and open minded as me. I’m so proud of these songs and I’m so proud of the stud musicians and engineers/producers that took it to the next level for me over at Misstyx Studios in Nashville. The humble talent is such an inviting environment to create and get your heart on tape.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If it’s their first time in Nashville, we gotta do broadway and midtown with a possible trip to printers alley for karaoke and a Daddy’s Dog hotdog. Rolling through all the live music, both original and covers, can take a couple days. The CMHOF is a good tour as well as the Johnny Cash museum on second ave. Either way though, it should always include Velvet Taco or a fried bologna sandwich and a Shiner bock at Robert’s eventually.

After that we head east. If it’s a Tuesday I would be at the American legion by 7 for dance lessons and the best damn Western swing band in the country “The Cowpokes.” Honkytonk Tuesday is always followed by walking up the hill to the underdog and catching some more great musicians and dancing, except it’s the smallest bar and it gets tight in there fast. I swore I’d never say a bad word about a hipster ever again because they are dressing up and keeping a great culture of Western swing and live music alive. It’s a beautiful thing.

Next night is East side bowl for bowling and pool. Then you wander down to Dee’s and hopefully some good bluegrass or jamming is happening. No biggy if not, it’s still a great bar.

After that you look up shows at the basement, the Ryman, Bridgestone or anywhere your favorite artist is playing.

But if it’s one of my friends, we go fishing, hunting and exploring history.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Mom, Dad, Grammy and Grampy. Mom and Grampy performed all through my childhood and laid the foundation for my passion. Dad and Grammy were the cheerleaders who both told me I can do whatever I want. I just have to work for it.

Then of course the rest of my family and friends. They have all been more than supportive and always honest. They’ve been trustworthy, respectful when I’m stumbling and there for me with no questions asked.

Website: https://sunshinejames.com/home

Instagram: https://instagram.com/sunshinejamesco?igshid=emJiaHQ5cHBpNGV4&utm_source=qr

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SunshineJamesCo?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@sunshinejames983?si=CYMD3SoayZ6jT5Ej