James Olmos is one of the most well-known artists on Google Plus, having proven his heart over and again in the past two years. I’ve seen him reach out to help people with everything from silly little tech bugs to middle of the night life crises. It’s a pleasure every time we get to do anything with James and we want to thank him for sending in this interview on the September AITP Music Festival.
MTM: Let’s start at the beginning. Tell us a little about yourself. how and when did you start making music?
J O: The music within me was birthed through poetry. I wrote pages upon pages of poetry during the angst of my teen years. My friend Rob played a six-string and a twelve-string, acoustic guitar. I strummed my fingers over the twelve-string and the vibrations, like a light, streamed through my body. This resonating, musical light gave my words purpose.
The transition from poetry to lyrics was love. I went there.
MTM: Why do you do it, now?
J O: When I write songs I connect with my spirit, soul and body. I’m encouraged to release what I discover. Songwriting liberates me as it allows me to take inventory of my life and then express it through music. Some have ears to hear the story beyond the melody.
MTM: What were some of your early influences and what inspires you today?
J O: People, poetry, earth, God, pain, rebellion, deep fear, pure joy, hope, breath, death . . . the essence of the journey.
MTM: What was the last song you listened to (disc in the car or what-not)?
J O: I don’t listen to a lot of music. It was probably Die Antwoord. I’m jealous of their uninhibited passion in being.
MTM: How did you connect with Artists in the Plus and what attracted you to working with them?
J O: AITP was one of the first in my circles. I love to encourage, and when I saw their passion to see others shine, I knew I wanted to support their efforts. AITP gave me a stage, and for that, I’m forever grateful.
MTM: Last year’s festival was a huge success and changed a lot of things about music on the net. Were you a part of that?
J O: I was the last performer of this three day, non-stop festival. HAHAHA – I played to very tired eyes and exhausted spirits . . . it was a good place.
MTM: What would you like to see as a result of the festival, this year?
J O: The results of music is relative to the listener. Ultimately, we need to embrace the passion behind AITP and share its vision of “paying-it-forward”. The artist have been given an opportunity to shine in brilliance because of one man’s vision. The result? I’d like to see human beings set their shit aside and melt into a cause that changes someone’s life for the good.
MTM: Have you been using services like Hangouts On Air, U-Stream, Street-Jelly, or others to perform live via video on line? What kind of reaction are you getting?
J O: 99.9% of my musical presence is online. I rarely perform in public. I’ve streamed on Skype, OoVoo, U-Stream, Street-Jelly, Justin-TV, Bambuser, LiveStream the list goes on . . . but mainly I stream through my internet “radio show” into the 3D, virtual world of Second Life. Most performances can be heard from my webpage, live. It’s been extremely successful. The beautiful souls of Second Life are indescribably passionate about music and have become my eternal song. My management team in Second Life is Spirit Fire Entertainment. The founder, Sher Salmson is a dear friend, brilliant songwriter and filled with the same passion to see other’s succeed, very similar to John Voshoshel.
MTM: Village Studios in LA will be hosting the festival, this year and there will be a studio stage in North Carolina and another in Norway. Will you be travelling or performing remote from your own studio?
J O: It’s very rare that I perform at live events. I’ll most likely be in Los Angeles . . . but I’ll be, covertly taking photos in place of performing. I like to take pictures.
MTM: If you could ask one performer to join you on a record, who would it be?
J O: Tim Behrens – Tim and I connected very early on at Google Plus. Spiritually, we are brothers. His music reaches deep into those places of “question”. And through the power of song and connection . . . you find answers.
MTM: What one thing would you change about this world, if you could?
J O: I would not change anything . . . I’d surely fuck it up even more. Though, I would listen to the one. People give me three minutes each time they listen to my song. I want to give them an hour of just sitting and listening. Let it all go and be a friend.
MTM: Where can we find you and your music?
J O: Music and more can be discoverd at www.jamesolmos.com
MTM: In closing, is there anything you would like to add or anyone you would like to shout-out to?
J O: Hi mom and dad!!! I’d like to thank God and John Voshell and his team for setting themselves aside to give an opportunity . . . a pretty fucking big opportunity for artists to do what they love.
