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Mike James (2)

In an era where too many indie-pop groups sound like they’re merely pursuing a peer-approved lifestyle, one listen to Mikey James’ estimable and growing catalog bears the heart of an artist who writes, sings, and makes music because he has to. Edgy melodic music is in his blood; there’s a beat, a tune, and a sound in his head at all times that must be liberated, or, like the also prolific Robert Pollard, he will all but explode in creative expression looking for release. In short, James lives the music, and his energy, drive, and desire are products of that lifelong quest for a hook that won’t quit. Mikey James started out playing drums in clubs when he was only six. After learning guitar at the age of 16 with the help of his “pops” and Steve Schiltz (Longwave), he started writing and performing all the instruments on demos around the age of twenty. He’s since learned guitar, bass, drums, keys/synth, and percussion and spending years on his four track recorder, eventually coming into own as a producer of his own music as well as other bands, The Demos, The Heroic Enthusiasts, and Teagan & the Tweeds. After playing drums for New York City’s post-punk band Longwave (for whom he wrote a few songs), he went on to form a slew of bands and solo projects starting with The Mercies, Mikey Jukebox, Admirers, Hawker M. James, most recently, Singing River.