Hello, I’m Aaron James
A little bit about me…I’m an indie songwriter based in Memphis, TN, though I grew up in central Pennsylvania. I’ve been a (pursuing) artist for about a decade now and I’m in a strange phase of having accomplished some pretty cool things, but also feel very much like I’m trying to find my way in my artistry, both with songs, writing, and other creative endeavors.
It was through music actually that I discovered Substack. One of my favorite songwriters, Laura Marling, created a page and I immediately subscribed and have been attached to her musings ever since. Simultaneously, I felt a calling to create a space where I felt like my vulnerability and thought explorations could feel a little more protected, absent from the influence of an algorithm. I sometimes feel as though on social media platforms I shy away from monologging too much because of the attention economy we live in, and I saw Substack as a means to find a community of readers and engagers who enjoy marinating on thoughts and ideas a bit more than the general tiktok and instagram audience.
I also see Substack as a place where I can share unreleased songs, voice memo’s of song ideas or old songs in their rawest form, and discuss the inspirations behind my songwriting in more depth. (as well as other behind-the-scenes content from other creative outlets I’m pursuing)
The goal is never to condition my existence to be solely confined to virtual spaces…I’m working incredibly hard to be the change I want to see in the world, and create the songs and art that I think can make a difference.
I want to encourage anyone who discovers me to feel more deeply in what seems to be a more and more numbed world. I want to inspire introspection and self-awareness, and I want to represent what I believe to be the never-ending journey of finding ourselves…and hopefully in some way I can assist someone else out there who is also struggling to understand who they are, and what all of this is for.
And while I don’t want to live entirely in virtual spaces…Substack does offer me a way to find new people to connect with on the thoughts I’m trying to share and the work I’m pursuing, while also presenting an outlet for supporters of mine to donate to a cause that they believe in.
Everything I earn from this goes right back into the art…so if you happen to find something here that you resonate with and want to help spread the message, I hope you’ll consider subscribing and joining me on this crazy journey.
Thank you for being here and hope to talk soon!
-Aaron
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