James Fauntleroy, a prolific pop songwriter, discusses his debut album, stolen songs, and musical influences like Weird Al Yankovic and John Mayer. They also explore the challenges of failure, getting paid as a songwriter, and the elements of a hit song. The flaws of the music industry and the impact of the internet on fame are also discussed.
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Quick takeaways
James Fauntleroy gained recognition and opportunities when his songs were stolen and uploaded by international hackers.
The music industry is primarily focused on business rather than the music itself, leading to exploitative deals and a lack of true superstar artists.
James Fauntleroy credits artists like Babyface, Stevie Wonder, Prince, and John Mayer as his biggest influences, and praises John Mayer as one of the greatest songwriters ever.
Deep dives
James Fauntleroy's journey as a songwriter
James Fauntleroy reflects on his career as a songwriter, highlighting how he got into songwriting when he discovered he could get paid for it. He explains that he started off with a small fan base but gained recognition when his songs were stolen and uploaded by international hackers, resulting in a larger fan base and opportunities to collaborate with major artists. Despite setbacks in the music industry, Fauntleroy remains passionate about preserving the art and supporting other artists. He also discusses his debut album, "The Warmest Winter Ever," which he released years after its initial iterations, and why he chose to make it a Christmas album.
The challenges in the music industry
James Fauntleroy opens up about the challenges and flaws in the music industry. He shares his perspective that the industry is primarily focused on business rather than the music itself. Fauntleroy criticizes the lack of support and regulatory boards for artists, leading to exploitative deals and a lack of true superstar artists in recent times. He also emphasizes the importance of good taste and understanding music history in order to create something new and relevant.
James Fauntleroy's influences and admiration for fellow artists
James Fauntleroy discusses his admiration for several artists, including Babyface, Stevie Wonder, John Mayer, Prince, and Diane Warren. He describes them as music historians and credits their influence on his own work. Fauntleroy also praises John Mayer as one of the greatest songwriters ever, highlighting songs like 'Stop This Train' to exemplify Mayer's talent and ability to capture the human condition in a relatable and introspective way. He believes that Mayer's work solidifies his status as one of the greatest songwriters of all time.
Creating a Unique Sound and Connecting with the Listener
James Fontelroy discusses his approach to creating a unique sound in his music. He emphasizes the importance of not only studying and learning from music greats like Stevie Wonder and Prince, but also understanding what worked in their music. Fontelroy shares a story about a music executive who criticized his songs for being too complex, but Fontelroy defends his work by highlighting the diversity of successful songs throughout history. He emphasizes the need to connect with listeners emotionally and create music that turns consumers into believers.
Intentional Songwriting and Acting in Music
Fontelroy explains that his songwriting approach is intentional and influenced by various artists and genres. He aims to create a cinematic experience for the listener, using different characters, pronunciations, and vocal techniques to convey emotions and tell stories. He cites examples like Stevie Wonder's 'Village Ghetto Land' and his own song 'Magic' as instances where he intentionally modifies his singing style and performance to create a specific atmosphere. Fontelroy also discusses his guitar playing, acknowledging that he may not be the most skilled, but he combines his understanding and love for music with creative arrangements to craft unique sounds.
James Fauntleroy is one of the most prolific pop songwriters of the past 15-plus years. Some of his most prized placements include writing songs for Beyoncé, Rihanna, Justin Timberlake and Bruno Mars. He’s also contributed background vocals to songs by Travis Scott, Jay-Z and his longtime friend, the late Nipsey Hustle.
Similar to his music industry idol and mentor Babyface, James Fauntleroy is also an artist in his own right. While his songs have lived on streaming platforms over the past decade, in December James released his official debut album, The Warmest Winter Ever—a Christmas album put through the Fauntleroy filter.
On today’s episode Justin Richmond talks to James Fauntleroy about why he decided to drop his debut album well over a decade into his career. He also explains how hundreds of his songs were stolen and posted online by international hackers. And why he considers both Weird Al Yankovic and John Mayer among some of his biggest musical influences.
You can hear a playlist of some of our favorite James Fauntleroy songs HERE.