NovemberJames is a self-taught musician, producer, and songwriter from Detroit, Michigan. He grew up around music, starting to play the piano from a young age; living with his paternal grandmother, this found him performing in the church choir playing piano and organ. In the third grade he was introduced to the viola and trumpet.
He cites his cousin, Randy Ran, as a musical influence. He was a producer, singer-songwriter in the early 90’s, credited on Janet Jackson’s Rhythm nation, Johnny Gill, Cherelle, Boomerang soundtrack and many more. With the same piano, NovemberJames taught himself to play, and when Randy would come over he made it sound like nothing he had ever heard before. “He was/is truly my hero and a major influence. Randy died from injuries from a motorcycle accident in 1992,” he comments.
His brand-new five-track extended-play Movie Night, is his beat tape for writing cinematic trailer music. After playing the opening track 2020 (The End Awaits) live and receiving feedback, this sparked its release. NovemberJames feels a music producer should explore many genres. “For me, creating hybrid orchestral arrangements are not only fun to make but you get a chance to display your range of musicality,” he comments.
Heavily rooted in RnB/Trap production, every so often NovemberJames gets the ‘cinematic itch’ to create something fun to listen to. In 2011, he created ‘Deaths Resurrection’, and didn’t create another until 2020 with ‘Bend the Lie’. As he had time off from work into the new year, he knew he wanted to create something epic as a year-end theme. “I ended up capturing two of the most impactful elements of the year. The tragic and untimely loss of Kobe and Gianna as well as the virus that changed the world,” he comments.
NovemberJames sat on the project for a couple months until he decided to get some feedback from a networking podcast he was involved with at the time. Although he knew it was good, he didn’t know it would draw the emotions that it did; enough to draw the attention of a composer credited on Marvel’s into the Spiderverse video game. “He also frequents the podcast and after hearing 2020, was compelled to inquire about some other compositions in my ‘catalog’ I didn’t have what he was looking for so I tasked myself to create something,” he comments. The pitch deadline was in two days and it took him three days to make the main idea for 2020. In those two days, ‘Rush’ was the second of two compositions.
‘Forgiven’ is the most moving and touching song NovemberJames has ever created. He wasn’t in a state of forgiving or asking for forgiveness, “I just started playing and that’s what came out. It wasn’t until I played it back and afterwards I felt like I was ‘Forgiven’...don’t know from what but it was a good feeling...so I put them together to make my demo tape,” he continues.
With his music, NovemberJames wants to capture something dynamic, something short but impactful. “ I wanted to create a scene for people to channel their inner- director and cast themselves in their own movie,” he comments. Regarding the EP, he continues, “Whether they’re going for a morning run listening to ‘Rush’. Need help thinking things through after being hurt with ‘Forgiven’. I indeed wanted to create something that one could get lost in their own thoughts to the point where they forget the music is playing. That’s the purpose of a movie score.”
As the global pandemic of COVID-19 has affected many things in the world, when asked how the time helped his creative juices, NovemberJames commented, “Fortunately, I was unfortunately deemed an essential worker during the thicker part of the pandemic. However, the pandemic is the reason 2020 (The End Awaits) exists.”
NovemberJames’ willingness to explore is what drives him forward as a musical artist. “I believe I was born to create music and not just one type. I found my purpose early in life but never walked in my purpose until a year or so ago,” he comments. He wants to show his children that their dreams are attainable and not to give up.
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Words by Danielle Holian