Music
You can hear his energy when listening to any song, listen closely - the guitars, acoustical, flamenco, classical, electric, the bass, the congas, the voice and those words, all original words written and performed by the same one person. James Faks.
James can remember from age 5 that music filled the air. In his own words “experimentation came with ease.” Learning the guitar, the bass, the drums, the congas, singing “the sounds and notes came naturally.”
He can remember from a young age his mothers beautiful singing voice. Her Mayan influence he believes led him to the Conga rhythms and Latin feel music that he enjoys playing. Also his father’s Jazz influence along with his already formed Rock ‘n Roll lends itself to his unique style. His music has movement, has body, has a beat and tempo of his making.
Being only 12 and then through the developing teenage years, being influenced and encouraged by his step brother, Gary, bands were formed along with his brother, Sam, the drummer. As with all movement music, the drummer, in this case Sam was the driving force to the music. Finding their way through music was natural. First within the band James became the bass player. With the bass in hand and as an extension of his internal feelings, James learned that the complete structure of a song truly comes from the bass pulse. All sounds then feed from there. This was his introduction to knowing and visualizing that he could play any instruments and in his words “it came very easy.”
Within these bands James was also a vocalist. He understands and feels that singing vocals is just another instrument within the band. By singing, bass playing and his innate sensitivity, writing the words for songs also came easily to him and was the next step for a fully developed musician. His words are poetry put to music.
Although, the guitar, with a tone quality all its own, is his true passion to this day. Acoustical, Flamenco, Electric, Classical - he loves them all and can make then all sing and speak their own songs.
He has played professionally and continues to although he would so prefer to record in a studio and produce the many tunes of his making that are playing in his head. His first recorded CD consists of 13 original songs, 7 instrumentals, 6 with vocals. The congas, the bass, the guitars “flamenco, classical, electric, the vocals, the mixing and arrangements, all done by one person - James Faks.
James Faks states “finding his way through music was natural.”