We were lucky to catch up with James Littier recently and have shared our conversation below.

James, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

So many artist create music out of limitations that they unknowingly have placed on themselves. Alternatively, when they seek help to escape limitations, they sometimes work with producers who put even greater limitations on them because that producer has their own individual bias, inflated ego, or pre conceived notions of what that artists’ sound “should be”. What this leads to is the artist stepping out of the studio having been robbed of their individual sound.

Producers that don’t put in effort to investigate the sonics an artist is drawn to across the scope of their listening habits are withholding so much of what makes creation so special for the artists.

My mission in what I do, is to create an environment where the artists I work with actually find more of themselves through the music we make together. I want to help them find their musical DNA and understand what that sounds like, so they always feel able express themselves through the music they make, regardless of what the genre might be or who they are collaborating with.

The way I see it, my job is to be the hands and feet of the artist. Yes it’s a collaboration in many ways, but ultimately I’m here to execute their vision. When they can’t pinpoint an aspect of that vision I help them find it. Their purpose is to to create freely. My purpose is to bring that creation into other peoples ears through the music.

When people hear the artists’ music, I want them to hear and know better the individual who created that music.

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 got into production and mixing initially so I could release my own music. I very quickly found I really enjoyed working with others on their music as well. It didn’t take long until I was spending much more time helping others create the music they wanted to make as opposed to me working solely on my own projects.

I’ve been working as a music producer and mixing engineer for the last 11 years helping musical artists hone their vision, find their musical DNA and get closer to their goals.

Artists come to me because they are wanting to not just make great music, but evolve their sound and do some “soul searching” to find what they are capable of.

I’m very intentional I am about the artist leading the whole process. I don’t see it as my job to make the music I see it as my job to help THEM create the music. I’m there to offer guidance and expertise but ultimately I want to pull the inspiration out of them so that whatever we come out with feels fully authentic.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

For me it’s been just finding artists through Spotify etc and networking with them on IG. My approach is very relational rather then sales oriented. What I mean by that is I make it my biggest priority to simple get to know the artist first before I open the door to working with them. My biggest passion is people so I keep that first and I find it builds much better working relationships.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

For me the biggest pivot I’ve had to make was going from doing music as a hobby (albeit I was already working on music in a full time capacity but not making money from it) to making music for a living. I was shocked at how easily what you love can become work just as much as anything else when you don’t prioritize keeping your passion for it alive. I’ve had to majorly shift my priorates to make sure that I take time to work on passion projects, listen to music, watch documentaries, (all things that inspire my passion for music) as well as have a really good life outside of music. If I keep all these things as high priority my work and the people I work with only benefit.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayrencemusic/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaCZ486JK6fdCFehjt2tsSw
• Other: Some work I’m proud of https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5aoGVcBTTthVSyHqGWkXeY?si=9eaa91ea2ea74327