Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to James Atkins. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

James, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

My core craft is writing, performing and recording my own music. My journey has been a bit all over the place, which I admit is definitely not uncommon. Songwriting was something that just came from playing music and a need to process my feelings its a cathartic process and then through repetition it became easier and was something I built from. Thought its still a cathartic process it is a more deliberate process now and I can right about other things that just throwing my feelings out. I have always been interested int technology and seeing how things work as well so I have a pretty big interest in gear and the equipment used for making and recording music, it wasn’t a need as much as I enjoy the whole process. I’ve been writing and recording my own music for over 10 years now.
As far was what I could do to speed up the learning process, I think being more intentional earlier would help, having someone to guide me to show me the steps would have been huge and along with that self belief. Confidence is huge in most parts of life but I’ve found truly believing I have something to offer has shifted everything from a hobby to a life pursuit. If I had someone earlier to say I think you can do this, you can write and you have a great voice Here are the first couple of steps to showing people what you can do. I think that would have changed a lot. Just a mentor really.
I think if you love to create you are going to create but the big difference is getting you work seen or heard and for that the core skills are networking and communication. I used to be quite isolated and think I could do everything myself and this did help me work on my craft but it also doesn’t lead to much success. When you start collaborating and working with others, using there skills as well as your own doors open. I think to be successful in the creative industry you have to work with people. so you either need someone to do that for you or be ready to get better at communicating

James, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a country/folk singer songwriter from Melbourne Victoria. I’ve been writing songs for 10-15 years. This started as just something did as a teenage to help process things but the more I did the more I enjoyed it.
I grew up in the church and learned to sing and play in that environment. though I’m not really involved in that scene anymore it did teach me to be infant of people, to lead an audience and to be comfortable up there. It also taught me how to work with people, to communicate and play in a band. I fell deeply in love with music and everything that goes with it, From guitars to writing songs, the recording process and performing, the technical aspects as well as the emotional stuff.

My career in the creative industry is just starting I am building a following for my original music. I realised my debut single “up jump the river” in 2024 with a follow up single of “brighter skies” later that year. I’m realising an EP in 2025 and hope to continue to connect with people and make a name for myself.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

I don’t think none creatives will necessarily understand the complexity of releasing your own music. You need to be authentic but understand what makes a good song or artist, or performance. You have to be practised but not like a robot, comfortable but be thinking of so much. Writing music, you have to write from a real place, but work on your craft. basically get better at being you and being comfortable at showing you to the world.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

I think we simultaneously expect artists to be perfect and the best version of themselves while undervaluing what they do. We expect them to do it for “the exposure” or “experience” but if we make a mistake or the piece isn’t exactly what they were looking for then it isn’t good enough.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://jamescatkinsmusic.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/james.c.atkins_music?igsh=dTRneHVrOGtvbTEy&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1CK5niet5J/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBIB4B3CUzVaRmfVMq656ig
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-142653702-424329210
• Other: https://www.abc.net.au/triplejunearthed/artist/james-c-atkins/