James Michael (Sixx A.M.)

James Michael is a musician, songwriter and music producer. He is best known for being the singer of Sixx AM, and he also has made music as a solo artist. He has a new solo record coming out in September that he performs all the instruments on. We discuss the new record along with the history and future of Sixx A.M., his musical inspirations, songwriting and more! 

0:00:00 -Intro
0:00:53 - Interviews & People
0:01:37 - Early Beginnings 
0:03:50 - The Last Americans 
0:05:02 - Red Lobster & Early Music Career 
0:09:04 - Competitive Business & Luck 
0:10:58 - First Record Deal & Meeting Nikki Sixx 
0:13:00 - Thoughts of Quitting & Hyper-focused 
0:16:20 - Sixx A.M. Formation
0:25:50 - Success of Sixx A.M. & Nikki Sixx 
0:27:45 - Getting Along as a Band 
0:29:33 - Dealing with Fame & Rockstar Perception 
0:37:20 - Fan Perception & Personal Privacy 
0:40:35 - Deep Conversations with Nikki & D.J. 
0:41:30 - Inspiration  For Music 
0:43:35 - Songwriting & Modern Vintage 
0:48:03 - Drummer for Band & Future of Sixx A.M. 
0:51:07 - New Solo Record in September 
0:53:28 - Record Labels & Business Side
0:56:30 - Listening to Music 
0:59:40 - Retaliators Soundtrack 
1:00:48 - Social Media 
1:03:12 - Animal Charity 
1:04:00 - Solo Album & Promotion 
1:05:00 - Down to Earth Musicians 
1:07:48 - Outro 

James Michael website:
https://www.jamesmichaelmedia.com

The Humane Society website:
https://www.humanesociety.org

Chuck Shute website:
http://chuckshute.com

Transcript

Chuck Shute: 0:00

Hey, welcome to the show. And this is a big one James Michael, producer, songwriter. And of course, the singer of 6am is here. And we're going to cover a lot of things. We discussed his journey from arriving to LA at age 19, to becoming co writer with Nicky six, and then a hip producer and how he finally got his first hit as a musician with 6am at age 40. Plus, he tells him about his upcoming upcoming solo record, the process of songwriting, the chemistry behind 6am and so much more. So, real quick before we get started, if you haven't already, please make sure to like this video and subscribe to my channel on YouTube. I would greatly greatly appreciate it. James Michael, coming right up thank you so much for doing this. By the way, I didn't realize I mean, I knew I was like very grateful that you chose to do this. But then when I went to go look and listen to some of your other interviews, I was like, Oh, this guy doesn't do a lot of interviews. Like I like hit the golden goose here. I'm like, this is like a rarity.

James Michael: 1:09

You know, I, I go through I go through spurts of doing interviews. When when 6am is, you know, in the process of releasing music, but other than that I pretty private, I don't tend to venture out too much from my little cave here.

Chuck Shute: 1:26

Yeah, that's what I heard you said like a quote, like, were you you'd like people, but you seldom see them or something like that.

James Michael: 1:33

Yeah, that sounds like me. Yeah.

Chuck Shute: 1:36

So I mean, if we could just go through your whole your whole story. So fascinating to me, just your whole background. And I didn't realize that you kind of grew up with that scene in the 80s. Like you would move to LA at 19 to be a rockstar in that you were there in 1987.

James Michael: 1:51

Yeah, I moved out. Shortly, I went to college for a couple of years in Chicago, and I studied music theory there. And very quickly realized that that was not going to be the path that that inspired me. And that really captured my imagination. So I just, I took the plunge, I loaded up my car and drove out to Los Angeles and immediately immersed myself in the, in the music scene out here. And, and yeah, you know, so I've been out here a long time and, and really been working at it for a long time, that the interesting thing about the way my journey has been is that, you know, I did really initially want to be a rock star when I was a kid. So that was my main goal, get out to LA, get in a band, get famous and live the life. But very quickly, when I got out here, I realized not only, you know, the challenges of having something like that happen to you, and the likelihood is so slim that you're, you're going to ever achieve those type of things. So I immediately started focusing more on on, you know, music production, engineering, mixing, songwriting, all of the other things that I might be able to control the outcome a little bit more of, and so I ended up having a very diverse career that really, you know, I feel like I've had four or five different careers, the career as a as a music engineer, the career as a mixer, the career as a producer, the career as a songwriter, and then later on in life, I got to add Rockstar to that. So it's been an interesting journey.

Chuck Shute: 3:39

Right? But so if we, if we go back, because you were initially in some bands, I think in Michigan, like the way we dress a night shift, and then what was the band The last Americans Was that your first band when you got to LA, and I

James Michael: 3:52

was I was actually in San Francisco. Okay, it was a great band, it was kind of a heavy rock band little bit Southern rock inspired by the likes of you know, the Black Crowes and, and some other bands that really had that sound. So I was I was the lead singer of that band and the main songwriter in that band and it was a lot of fun. It's where I kind of added the the rock sound to my voice, because if you were to listen to, to that band versus even 6am, or some of my solo stuff, each one of them my voice sounds very different. And that was very intentional. I you know, I've always been a bit of a chameleon when it comes to vocalizing so when I was in the last Americans, it was a very heavy kind of bluesy rock sound. I tap into that every once in a while and 6am and with some of my solo stuff, but it was it was a unique band all to itself.

Chuck Shute: 4:57

So were you in any of like the hair I mean, because this is at He's LA. Was this when you were when you were like working at Red Lobster? And you're in these like shitty bands? What were these shitty band I want to know about? I think this stuff is fun.

James Michael: 5:09

Okay, yeah, that was fun. That was when I first got out to LA. And I was a host at Red Lobster, that was my, that was my job to make money. I loved that job, I loved all the people I worked with and stuff, but But during that time, is when I was first starting to meet other musicians in Los Angeles, and, you know, anything that interested me even remotely, I would join that band and play with them. And so I was in several bands, none of which ever turned into anything, but they were all great experiences. And, you know, I learned how to be a band member during that time. And, and also, you know, learned just how tough this business was, and how and what a steep mountain it was going to be for me to climb. So in certain ways, being in those early bands really inspired me and probably also gave me a dose of reality, and maybe discouraged me in certain ways to so that I so that I, you know, was aware of the fact that if I only had that one dream, that one plan of just being in a band, or being an artist, you know, my chances got much smaller of having any success. And that's when I kind of learned to diversify, and really focus on several different aspects of what I have what my skills allowed me to do.

Chuck Shute: 6:31

So Did you at least make connections through these bands like playing shows and playing with some of these members? I don't know if they ever went on to do anything else? Or I mean, because how did you you must have been able to network a little bit during this time, right?

James Michael: 6:44

You know, I think I was too naive to really understand the concept of networking and what the value of networking would have been. So I was just kind of a satellite bouncing around from from one star to another, you know, and just kind of trying to figure out my way, it wasn't until I had spent a few years in Los Angeles, really just trying everything I possibly could, that I that I started to kind of hone my skills and realize, okay, if I'm, if I'm gonna make a living in this business, I've got to, I've got to start thinking of this as a business. And that's when I started focusing more on my skills that could get me practical jobs, versus that dream of being a rock star, which just seems so elusive. And really, there was no roadmap to that. But there were roadmaps to these other channels of income. So I just started following those. And I started doing things like joining, you know, songwriter communities and things like that anywhere where I could, you know, as you mentioned, I could start networking, but I spent the first few years there just kind of bouncing around and not really using it to my advantage. And before I realized, oh, you know, I've got to get more organized about this, I've got to come up with a plan and, and that plan kind of meant putting those dreams of rockstars. Not necessarily on the backburner, but just over to the side a little bit so that I could start, you know, using my skills as a recording engineer to get some jobs at studios, and then maybe at those studios, I would meet artists as they were coming in, and eventually I'd be in sessions with, with artists that were more established. And that really proved to be the right way for me to go was to, you know, just be willing to take on jobs, whether I was just doing some ProTools editing, or whether I was engineering or whether I was, I didn't really start mixing until later. But but you know, taking any gig that I could where there was the potential that more established successful artists were there, and I could, you know, start to network with them.

Chuck Shute: 9:04

So when you look back on your early attempt at being a rock star musician, what do you think went wrong? Because I mean, especially in the 80s, I look at a lot of those bands, you know, it was all about the look, I mean, I don't know what you look like then. But now I look at you, you got the look, you clearly have the sound. I mean, unless your voice wasn't good, then and it got better somehow. So what what do you think went wrong? I mean, it's just that competitive?

James Michael: 9:28

You know? That's a good question. And I would rephrase it a little bit. I don't want to say anything went wrong, because that gives the impression that you know, that there were things I could have done back then that maybe I didn't know that couldn't be the case. But but the reality is, is that this is a very, very hard business to get established in. So when somebody is trying in trying everything they know how to do to have success, and it doesn't happen. It doesn't necessarily mean that something went wrong. It just means man, you have chosen one of the steepest mountains to climb. And, and, and you could do everything right, and still just never have that lucky break that it requires at every one at some point, every artists that's ever made it every, you know, rock star, every pop star at some point, they have gotten lucky. And it and and at that point where they got lucky they had done all of the preparation that needed to be done leading up to that moment of luck. And, and that's how careers end up getting made by these these by incredible preparation, determination, tenacity, and then those moments of luck. So I don't think anything went wrong for me back then I just, you know, I probably well, I know that I wasn't ready. In fact, when I when I finally did get my first record deal, which I think was in 99. It was it was a solo record deal. And we put out a record called inhale. That that was a pretty critically acclaimed record, but but commercially, it was it was not a success. But at that, at that point, you know, I really, that's, that's when I realized that, you know, it was I was going to have to do everything I possibly could to to keep this career moving forward. But it was I was going to depend on a lucky break at some point. And it wasn't until I had signed that first record deal that I started really meeting other musicians, other successful artists, I happened to be on the same label with Nicky six from Motley Crue who had a sub label at this record label that I was at called Beyond music. And they had Motley records, which was kind of attached to beyond. So that's really where my first introduction to Nicki happened. And we became friends just because we'd pass each other in the halls of the record label. And one day, he pulled me aside and said, hey, you know, I heard your solo record. I really like your writing. Would you be interested in doing some writing for Motley Crue? And, of course, I said, Absolutely. And that was really my, one of my first introductions into legitimately writing for a legitimately signed and successful band. But that was, you know, that was many, many years after I had been struggling in Los Angeles, just trying to find that right avenue. So again, back to your question. I don't know that anything went wrong back then. It's just, I just hadn't had my moments of luck yet.

Chuck Shute: 12:58

It's just crazy. I took 13 years, but you kept going, like, was there ever a time where you thought, oh, maybe I should try something else? Or was it just because I guess you were doing the engineering and stuff to pay the bills. So you're still around music?

James Michael: 13:11

Yeah. I was still around music. But yes, I had many of those moments where I just thought, this just isn't working for me, you know, I'm now I'm 25. And now I'm 28. And it's still not happening. And I'm 30. And it's not happening. And do you know that I did not have my first hit song as an artist until I was 40 years old. Which, which means that, from the time that I moved out to Los Angeles, when I was around 19, till 40 years old, that was all just this constant grind. And this constant struggle and having moments of success and moments of luck and moments where it looked like things were heading in the right direction, and then complete disappointments where they they ended up not panning out. So you know, so yeah, it took me a long, long time to to realize that initial dream that brought me out to Los Angeles in the first place.

Chuck Shute: 14:08

Yeah. And didn't you? I mean, you you got really hyper focused on being a songwriter, I think, didn't you say you lost some relationships and some friendships because of that?

James Michael: 14:18

Yeah. You know, I, there was a point, which goes back to your question of, did I ever consider giving it up? There was a point where I just, I did really say, All right, the artists thing isn't going to happen for me, I had, I had spent years sending out demo tapes and and was constantly being, you know, discouraged and basically say, you know, people would tell me you just don't have the voice for it. You don't you know, the songs aren't there. We don't hear you as an artist. We, we know that you're a songwriter. We know that you're able to write songs, but we don't hear you as the guy to perform those songs. I got a lot of that and Sorry, I got to turn off my phone here. And, you know, that was, that was very discouraging and disheartening. And so at a certain point, I'm not sure what age I was, but I really just, I took that to heart and I thought, maybe I need to listen to this, you know, if I, if I just keep on going down this road, I could end up being 40 and having nothing happening. And so I really took a shift in focus, I gave up the idea of being an artist, and I just really focused on songwriting. And during that time, I signed my first publishing deal, I started to see some success, I started to be like, Okay, this, this songwriting thing could really pay off for me. And it did. And so I spent, I spent years just doing that, and being very content and feeling very successful. And, you know, feeling appreciated, because I was getting a lot of cuts, I was writing for a lot of different artists. And then maybe, you know, five or six years into that, in by that time, Nikki and I and Nikki six and I had had become very good friends. And we'd written a lot of songs together both for Motley Crue and for other artists. And we started just toying with this idea of, of taking these these diaries that he had written and turning them into a movie. And then he and I should should make the soundtrack to that movie. And we really love that idea. But it was, but we kind of came up with that idea. And then just didn't really follow through on it for a couple of years, we both kind of went our own ways. He got really busy doing Motley Crue and I was just really, really busy doing, you know, other songwriting gigs. And then one day, he called me out of the blue and said, Hey, you remember that idea that we had to kind of do a soundtrack to my diaries and stuff, and you guys and I said, Yeah, we loved that idea. Why didn't we do anything with it? He says, Well, I found our guitar player, his name is DJ ashba. And, and I think that the three of us should get together and really explore that idea. And at the time, I was actually deep in production, I was producing a scorpions record at the time. And I said, you know, I'm really in the throes of this record right now. But I love the idea of us all getting together, when I'm done with the scorpions, I'll come out to your place, the three of us can sit down and see if if we have any chemistry. So I did that I finished the scorpions record, went out to his his studio and met DJ and him. And we immediately, like, within minutes, we're writing songs together, we just we both we all picked up instruments and started playing, we're like, whoa, this feels different. This feels really cool. It was amazing to have somebody as incredible as DJ on the guitars. And, and it was just, it was just neat to to hear all of these different ideas being thrown, you know, around, I wasn't used to that I had been doing a lot of CO writing with people but not with, not with other artists like this, you know, and so it was it, we we became, we very quickly realized we got to keep doing this. And that was the beginning of 6am. It was it was probably a matter of a month or two of us, you know, repeating that and getting together and writing that we had recorded Life is beautiful, and a few other songs. So it's been an interesting journey. And it really, you know, it was unexpected. By the time that six Sam happened, I had, you know, completely given up on the dream of being a rock star. And it was it was just really another one of those those moments that looking back on it now I'm like my god that that chant, you know, that meeting that we had, that first day that we got together changed the trajectory of my life so dramatically, because then for the next 10 years, 6am really dominated everything that I was doing, because I ended up producing and mixing the album. So there was a it was a huge workload for me. So I actually ended up having to put all of that other stuff that this is the entire other careers that I had been building as an engineer and as a songwriter, and producer. I kind of had to put those on hold and focus completely on 6am. So but but again, that really didn't happen until my late 30s. And like I said, our first song went when life is beautiful. became a hit. I was 40 years old. And it was it was the first time as an artist that I was experiencing that kind of success.

Chuck Shute: 19:58

Yeah. So how did Nikki Fine DJ because I know DJ was in I think it was in Bullitt boys and then beautiful creatures. Did he see him and beautiful creatures? Or was it something else he was doing?

James Michael: 20:07

Oh, they actually met I love the story, they actually met at a funeral, which is very appropriate for 6am. They met it Randy Castillo, the drummers. And, and DJ and I had had met before, we had crossed paths and recording studios and stuff like that. So the three of us didn't know each other, it was more like we knew of each other more than we knew each other. But that changed quickly. You know, we instantly became very, very close friends.

Chuck Shute: 20:40

Yeah. And you were not originally supposed to be the singer, you were just gonna be the songwriter? Did you guys try out any other? Can you say what other singers you guys tried out? Or looked at?

James Michael: 20:50

Or? Well, here's the thing, we never actually tried out any singers, at least that my knowledge, who knows maybe Nicki and DJ did, but yes, my, my, my involvement was supposed to be writing the songs with them, and producing and mixing it. And then and because it wasn't supposed to be a band, this was just supposed to be a soundtrack to this book, right. And so the, the idea was going to be that we'd get the songs written, we'd get them recorded, and then we'd audition a singer to come in and just lay their vocals over the top of everything that we'd already built up, sonically. But the issue became that because I, even though I don't really fancy myself as a singer, I, I, you know, I vocalize and I do my best to make things sound good that I am singing. And I have a pretty big range, I have a larger range than most male tenors have, in the rock world, at least qualify that. I didn't realize how difficult it would be to find somebody else to sing these songs, because of that range. So we did reach a point when we were starting to talk about okay, we got to we got to audition people. And it became clear very quickly that finding somebody to really, you know, hit those notes and do it the way that I had done, it was going to be a challenge and may set us back, you know, much further it may take a lot longer. So at some point, Nikki and DJ just said, Hey, would you mind if we just kept your voice on these on these songs for the time being, and we'll, you know, we'll put out a song and and, and just see what happens. So they put out life is beautiful. And it just very, very quickly started climbing the charts. Well, at that point, I'm locked in because you know, it's going to be difficult now, once we've long on the radio, to to replace, you know, the vocals on it. So I kind of reluctantly became the actual lead singer. say am I it was never my intention. I remember at some point saying, Yeah, I guess that's okay. You can lead my voice on, on on the first couple of songs, and then we'll find somebody to sing the rest of them later. And then a couple of months later, the record label called and said, Hey, life is beautiful is turning into a hit song, we need to shoot a video for it. Would you mind also being in the video, I'm like, Okay, I'll be in the video. But this is I'm just going to do the one video and then we'll find that their singer, I was still convinced that we'd find another singer for the band at some point. But literally, that's just how it kept on unfolding. It just was like, Okay, well, now we're releasing another song, kept my voice on it. And before, you know, we put the record out, and it all had my voice on it. And that's how I became the singer of the band. It was never supposed to happen.

Chuck Shute: 23:54

That's so funny. You tried so hard to be a singer, and then it couldn't happen. And then you're like, Okay, I'm gonna be a songwriter. I'm not a try not to be the singer. And then you it's like, it's so interesting.

James Michael: 24:04

That's right, check what what was interesting about it is because of all of the frustrations that I had experienced earlier on, when I was trying to be a singer, I really made a very heartfelt and committed decision to not do that anymore. And just focus on the writing and the producing and be a behind the scenes guy. And I loved it. I loved the idea I was because I was I was writing songs for all of these different artists. And then I'd watched those artists go out and have to tour for the next year or two years, be away from home be away from their families. And they were out there playing my songs and I was sitting at home collecting checks. And I was like, This is so much easier. If I just sit right with all these different artists, let them go out and do all of the difficult tasks of promoting their albums and stuff. And I can sit back and collect the checks and that's really how it went for a long time. So by the time 6am came around My life as a songwriter and producer was was pretty appealing already. So that's why it became a bit more of, you know, arm twisting to get me to actually commit to being in the band. And you know what, it was one of the best decisions I ever made, because I just, I have had such a blast being the lead singer of 6am, and the producer of 6am. And just, and a founding member of the band, it's just it's been such a, an amazing journey and the experiences that I've had, it's just, I just can't imagine now, not having done that and missed out on all of the the wonderful experiences I've had throughout the years.

Chuck Shute: 25:47

Yeah, and I think in my opinion, I think 6am beat a lot of the odds to and just being so successful like you guys, obviously, were surprised that life is beautiful to hit number two on the Rock Charts. But I mean, I think before that, if you had said, Okay, Nikki six, oh, yeah, he's just in the 80s guy, and then these two other guys, but we've never heard of them this bit, the song is not going to do well. And it blows up. Like he kind of looks like a genius in a way that he discovered you. And he basically discovered DJ ashba. And you're both of your careers took off because of this.

James Michael: 26:15

You know, you're right. And and I think that that, therein lies one of the very genius things about Nikki is that he he just has an amazing vision, no matter what it is that he is pursuing. That's something that I've really enjoyed about working with him is his sense of imagination is huge. And it's inspiring. And, and that's been a real fun part of this whole process. And but the other thing is that, you know, people would very easily assume because of that, that he is guiding the way for 6am. And I think he'd be the first one to tell you that 6am is absolutely a collaborative effort. It is law cracy through and through and, and those songs and those experiences are all of ours. They are DJs. They are mine. They're Hibbs, his their shared stories. And that's what has been so special to us about 6am There was always the potential for it to be very different because of who Nikki was, but but he didn't want it that way. Either. He wanted this to be a band, and he wanted this to be a collaboration. And I think that's why that's why the albums were so special and so unique. And so different from from other bands that were making music at the time.

Chuck Shute: 27:49

Yeah, and you guys get along really well, right, like talk about that how you, you, you guys, if you have a fight, nobody holds a grudge, it's over in five minutes. I love that,

James Michael: 27:58

you know, we were like, we're like any band, we have our moments that you think, Oh, this isn't gonna last much longer, because we're just butting heads and things like that. But we also have been through so much together as friends over the years, you know, really shared a lot of very personal experiences together. I remember when Nikki and I both went through divorces at the same time, and we were sleeping on each other's couches and just, you know, really just trying to make sense of lives that had fallen apart. So we've, we've, we've, we've been through so much stuff together. That I think that that those experiences and that friendship that was forged because of that will always override any political differences we have musically or business wise, or band wise, you know? Yeah, we, we get along great. And we all respect each other. And, you know, like I said, we've we've had our moments, we've had moments where we haven't spoken for six months, because we were angry with one another for something but but, you know, you get to this point in life and you look back on those things and you go boy, that was just such wasted time. You know, I say I would say that we get along better now than we ever have. We have such a deep respect for each each other's lives and, and, and what this experience is like for each of us it's it's a strange experience to be in the music business and to kind of you know, I mean, if my experience has been strange, I can only imagine what Nicky's has been like being you know, world famous since he was 19 years old. So when you understand that you realize that that is quite a burden to carry around with you. It is it is something that that has that has to be dealt with every day. You know, people's perception of of being a rock star like Nikki are probably very inaccurate, it seems very luxurious and fun. But But I wouldn't say that most people that reach that level would would tell you, you know, at least a majority of the time it feels like a burden or it feels like a such a heavy, heavy responsibility. And you have to become good at dealing with that. My former manager and best friend who passed away several years ago said to me once he said, you know, the difference between being a superstar and being a very talented person, as he said, a very talented person has talent. A superstar has talent for being talented. And it didn't make sense to me at the time. But But after getting to know Nicki, I really grew to understand that the gravity of that comment, Nicki is very good at being a successful artist. He, he's, he handles that very gracefully. And so, DJ, and I were very lucky to be in a band with him and be able to see that, you know, to see him set that example. And I think that that's something that I've always been just incredibly impressed by Nikki, and he's just, he's very good at being Nikki six. And, and you can't say that for a lot of people that have reached that level of fame. You know, a lot of people stumble over it, not that he hasn't stumbled, but a lot of people stumble over that burden, more often than not.

Chuck Shute: 31:40

Well, yeah. And let's talk about you because you said that, you know, that that was the hardest part about being in 6am was the public persona that that felt uncomfortable to you, you're more like you said at the beginning, you're more of a private person. So you felt like you were playing a character. Explain that to me.

James Michael: 31:56

Yeah. You know, and I don't think that that's that uncommon, I think that even Nikki would tell you, he plays a bit of a character because the Nikki six that is, you know, at home with his, with his wife and his kids and his dogs, is considerably different than the Nikki six that goes out and does press, you know, conferences, or the goes out and does meet and greets, or goes out and performs to 80,000 people like he's doing right now. So, yeah, so I found that it was easier for me to kind of create this character, and then step into it, step into it when necessary. And that helped me really keep a, a healthy perspective. Between any successes that I have, or any notoriety that I have, and thankfully, my notoriety was, was very limited, compared to that of both DJ N Nikki. Because that's, you know, like, like, you were saying, I'm much more comfortable behind the scenes. But I do enjoy from time to time stepping into that character and going out and getting to, you know, play that role, because it's a super fun role to play.

Chuck Shute: 33:09

I bet being on stage. I mean, that's got to be the best adrenaline high that you could get.

James Michael: 33:14

You know, it really is it is. You've heard it, you know, everyone's heard it, you know, kind of compared to a drug or an addiction. But boy, I'll tell you what, when you step out on stage in front of 1015 20 80,000 people, and they're all singing the words to you that you wrote right here in this room. There is a there is a Gosh, I don't want to use this word, but there is a godliness to it. That is that is that is terrifying. Because it's so enticing, because it is so addictive. And when you feel like you, you you have that audience in the palm of your hand. I've just never experienced any other feeling like that. And that's, that's what keeps people coming back. It's like, you know, they say in golf, golf is so difficult until you hit that one perfect shot. And then you hit that perfect shot, you're like, Oh my God, that's what that's the one shot that keeps you coming back for years to come. That's the way it is when you step out on stage and you feel that feeling. Boy, that'll keep you coming back as long as they'll have you.

Chuck Shute: 34:27

Interesting. That's a really good way to look at it. Yeah, because you see that with a lot of artists that like why is this person still touring? They've got millions of dollars, they can just retire, but they've just really loved performing.

James Michael: 34:39

Yeah, that that connection to the audience is as magical. It is magical.

Chuck Shute: 34:45

Yeah. And then on the same hand, you see a lot of people chasing it. If they have that, you know, 20,000 people singing along, and then their career goes a different way and then they lose it and then they're still trying to get back to that that must be frustrated. Maybe that's why there's so many issue is with with rock stars struggling with drugs and alcohol, mental health and all that stuff.

James Michael: 35:04

I think you're right. Chuck, it's it's a real issue for people when when they have that kind of experience. And I think that that's one of the reasons because I spent, I had such a long career, working with artists like that before any of that happened to me. I saw them going through that. And I learned very quickly, okay, this is something to be cautious about. If, if I, if I were ever to have that opportunity, you need to I need to approach that cautiously, because because I can see myself getting addicted to that very quickly. So I always, even when things started to blow up for 6am. And we were starting to have success. And I was starting to experience those little moments of fame. I made sure to never really think of it as as reality. I always thought, Okay, you're playing a character. This is this is this is not real, what the audience is feeling is real, what you're giving to them as real. But this understanding that you and the audience have, is not real. It's it's, it's make believe, and that's how I always looked at it so that I never let it get to my head or let it confuse me. And now I'm grateful for that. Because, you know, I've, I've had that experience. But I also it made me realize just how much I love my privacy and my personal life and how important that is, to me the last few years have especially made that crystal clear to me because I intentionally took a step back from from 6am and from, from music all together and really just focused on my family and in my personal life. And only recently have I been back in the studio making new music so so yeah, it's it's all it's all been very interesting. But I'm, I'm really grateful just to finish up this particular conversation. I'm really grateful that both of my bandmates are much more famous than I am. Because it really took the burden off of me and it allowed me to do this comfortably. Hmm.

Chuck Shute: 37:17

So how is like because you say you kind of play a character? How is the character that you're playing on stage different than the real you? Are they becoming more connected?

James Michael: 37:27

Well, they do become connected, that you need them to be connected, otherwise, it's just going to be disingenuous, but they're definitely connected. I think when I say character, I think I just get to, when I when I step into that role, I just get to believe the hype a little bit more, you know, I get to kind of buy into the fantasy a little bit more, just have fun with it. And maybe be a little bit cocky here because I think a certain amount of cockiness is is needed to be able to get out and do that. And you know, it's a really good question. I think they're, they're very similar. Those two those two, myself and the character are very similar. Maybe the characters they're just to protect me from from from any invasive things any anytime where I feel like my privacy is being punctured. Then I then I kind of use it as a as a mask or as a kind of a bubble to keep to keep my personal life protected.

Chuck Shute: 38:35

Yeah, how do you deal with that? Because I know like you said, I mean, you obviously don't have the level of world famous Nicky six fame. But you have a lot of followers on Instagram for that's worth and yeah, I mean, you have a level of fame. So how do you deal with super fans or stalkers or people that come out of the woodwork? Hey, remember, we were best friends in high school, like remember like, but they're just trying to like, use you basically.

James Michael: 38:56

Yeah, yeah. I just tried to be as as genuine as I can. And in any of those situations, I think most fans that that, that meet me are probably surprised at the lack of bravado. And, you know, they, I usually hear people say kind of you're you're just you're just kind of like normal, you know. And I take that as a compliment because I am and you know what, Nick is normal in DJs normal, we're all just normal dudes that have just gotten super, super lucky after working extremely hard. But, you know, I think that sometimes fans imagine a band like 6am that we're just always together and we're always hanging out. Whenever we're together. We're just talking about music. But we so seldom ever talk about music when we're together because there's just so much other stuff about life to talk about and And I find, I find Nikki and DJ, the people far more interesting than their personas. You know, and I think they would say the same about me. So we just, you know, we, we just try to always just set that aside and be as normal as we can be. And I find that the most natural so when I'm meeting with fans or talking with fans, I just very quickly try to, to erase any of that kind of pre preconception and just have a normal conversation, like we're having right now.

Chuck Shute: 40:33

Yeah, I love it. So when you talk to Nicky and DJ, I mean, can I without I don't want to get in trouble. But can you say any of the things that I mean, I'd love to be a fly on the wall of these conference that can you have like deep philosophical conversations with Nikki six? I mean, that sounds amazing.

James Michael: 40:49

That's about all we ever do. Yeah, absolutely. I mean, we, that's one of the things that that's why there's such a chemistry between the three of us is that that's where we instinctively go, we go deep. I love it. And we and, you know, we don't take anything about our friendship for granted. And we appreciate the safe space that our friendships allow us. And oh, yeah, we from the very beginning, we have just always gone deep. And I think that that's why it just seems so natural that we should be writing songs about very deep, heavy personal things. So that part of it is is you know, that part of it. It plays out both in our personal private lives and in our, you know, business lives where we're creating music.

Chuck Shute: 41:40

Oh, that's fascinating. It makes sense. Because the music is, I mean, I love Motley Crue. They're one of my favorite bands. But this is so different. It's much deeper, it's much more mature songwriting. So what kinds of what other kinds of things inspire that kind of songwriting? Like? Is there a certain like, you read a lot of books of philosophy books, or like, novels? Or I don't know, what are art that inspires you?

James Michael: 42:03

That's a good question. We, the first thing, the first word that I would use to describe all three of us would be we are observers, we're observers of life. And I think that you, you have to be in any situation. I'm, I'm constantly just fascinated by human nature. And I know Nikki and DJ both are as well. So that immediately sets you up to be able to then, you know, create narrations about your observations. And that's what songwriting is, at least that's what songwriting is for, for us. So, we always tend to, you know, when we are, when we're observing life, we tend to try to find the most beautiful thing. And the darkest thing. And, and by finding both of those, then you've got all the material that you need to create 6am music because 6am Music has always been about just walking that fine line or doing that, that very, very specific dance between beauty and ugliness and I that's how I would describe 6am music and 6am lyrics is, is just just walking that fine line between beauty and darkness.

Chuck Shute: 43:27

I love it. And I think you're you said your favorite album is modern vintage. I think that's my favorite, too. I know, it kind of took a little bit of a different turn, but I just thought I think Stars is a masterpiece, I think gotta get it right. It's just it's so melodic. So in terms of like, you know, you talk about the inspiration with, with more, I guess you're more lyrics. But in terms of making it sound good, because I feel like that's what you know, is a big part of music is the sound, the melody and all those kinds of things. Is that something that you developed over all these years of writing? Or is there a process that you do to make it sound good?

James Michael: 44:01

You mean the Sonics of 6am the way

Chuck Shute: 44:05

the song or the music like the I don't know what you call I'm not I'm not a music. I just know what sounds good, like the chorus and the verse is like, it's catchy, like what your newest song, you guys have the first 21 so catchy. I'm like, Oh, this is such a catchy. So I like that a little bit. A little bit of poppier stuff that I can sing along to, I mean, nothing against some of the heavier bands. But you know, I like to I like to be able to sing along to I like to hear the melody and stuff. So how do you figure that out without also you gotta be original to write you don't want to be ripping off another band?

James Michael: 44:33

That's right. That's right. Well, first off, I think that, and I think Nicki and DJ would both agree with this, that we just we write pop songs. It's just, you know, we all write pop songs. It's just how you present them is what will make it a metal song, or a hard rock song or a country song or a, you know, whatever. I think that it's just, it's the way that you you treat it once it's written. So, from that respect, we've always Is have put a lot of focus on, you know, good hooks and good kind of pop hooks memorable things. And then it just kind of comes down to what inspires us as as a as a music producer, which is, which is what I always kind of think my main gig is, is figuring that question out, how do I make this sound? Okay, we've got this great song, how do I make it sound are we going to lean this one a little bit heavier, or are we going to go a little bit more pop back to modern vintage, when we when we sat down and started writing modern vintage, we set out to make a very different sounding record, that was our intention, we knew we were going to be pissing off some fans. Because anytime that you make that dramatic of a shift, some people are going to get uncomfortable with it. But the thing about 6am that we've always done is we've we've done our best to take the fans on a journey. But never abandon them never leave them somewhere stranded musically, where they were, they didn't know how to get back to you know, so we always kind of will bring it back around to that heavy, darker, 6am sound. But on modern vintage, for instance, we really pushed the envelope and we really did some things that we knew, some of our fans weren't necessarily going to like, our hope was that maybe they would find some things on the record that they did enjoy. And then years later come back to it and be like, Okay, I think I might be a little more open to gotta get it right, you know, I hated gotta get it right when it came out. But now I kind of like it. I've heard that from people before. In fact, when we released gotta get it right. It didn't do very well at radio at all. But interestingly enough, we performed it live. And every time we performed it, the crowd went crazy. So it was just one of those songs that the maybe the timing wasn't right for it, you know, maybe it was a little too soon to, to lean in that pop direction. But that's kind of what I love about it. You know, I and you mentioned stars, stars is one of my favorite 6am songs ever. So I was too I was very pleased that that that song can live on the same album with a song like gotta get it right and not be too much of a sore thumb. So it was it was a lot of fun putting that record together because it was challenging because because we knew we were we were pushing the envelope and we knew that it wasn't going to be received well by everybody. But I think as I think as it has, as the years have progressed, I think it's held up well. And I think it's still the album and probably the most proud of because of the chances we took on it.

Chuck Shute: 47:54

Yeah, I love it is now How come I've always wondered this, how come you guys never made a drummer a permanent member of the band?

James Michael: 48:05

Probably because we, for the first five or six years of our career, we literally would make a point of saying we're not a band. Three guy project. Yeah, we're just three guys that got together and made some music and got lucky and enjoyed it enough that we kept on doing it. But, you know, I think that early on, had we hired a drummer permanently that would have been admitting that we are a band and I think that we all were a little reluctant to do that. But once and we've had some great drummers Jeff that was just wonderful. He I believe he dropped on modern vintage and, and just love him to death. I still I still communicate with him all the time. He's out with Black Label society now and has been for many years. But when Dustin you froze as to prayers for the when Dustin joined the band. I think that's when we really started going, You know what, we are a band, you know, he he really rounded it out. And when I think of 6am Of course, I think of the core, the three of us and the friendship and all of that. But when I think of 6am in the band, I definitely I definitely think of Dustin as part of that. And he's, he's been doing great. He's got two kids now he just he was out with Shinedown Barry Shinedown the drummer, when he got COVID They asked Dustin to join him and so he went out on tour with them and played drums for Shinedown for a while and and he's also just a dear friend and you know, just grateful that we got to make a couple of records together and tour the world together. But you know to answer your question, I think yeah, if we ever made it. Loops, you froze again cuz that would have been getting that we were a band and I think we probably just avoided that.

Chuck Shute: 50:04

Okay, so is there a future for 6am? Is there gonna be a new record or a new tour at some point? Are you still on hiatus?

James Michael: 50:11

We're on hiatus. We don't have any plans. Right now. I am communicating quite regularly with both Nicki and DJ. And we, you know, we all have some other creative projects that we are doing together or will do together. And I just, I don't know, you know, I don't know if 6am We'll do another record. Now, I think I would really love that if we did. And I, to be honest with you, I think probably Nikki and DJ feel the same. So we'll just have to see, you know, it's, it's, it's certainly not off the table. But it it, it just depends on where we're at in our lives. And if if we feel that it's something to pursue,

Chuck Shute: 50:57

so there's no plans or there's no like, Okay, we're going to start writing this month.

James Michael: 51:02

We have no plans, I in fact, I'm getting ready to release some music. I'm going to be releasing some music in September. I've been back in the studio recording, and it's really cool stuff. And I think that if you're a 6am fan, I think you're gonna you're gonna really like this. It doesn't. It doesn't sound like 6am, necessarily, but these songs could absolutely have been 6am songs. So I'm getting really excited about putting out this music. And I think mid September we're going to I'm going to release the first song.

Chuck Shute: 51:32

Okay, is this so this your solo career then? Or?

James Michael: 51:35

Yeah, I guess so. I'm not I'm not necessarily calling it that. But it's me and myself. So I guess it is a solo thing.

Chuck Shute: 51:43

Okay, who else has like you had the actual this is just the demos or the album already done? Who plays on it?

James Michael: 51:49

I've got? Well, I'm playing all of the instruments, everything, as I've done most of my life anyway, to play the drums to the bass, and it's not that unusual for me. I've always I've always been that guy. Okay. And, and I'm just having a blast with it. And you know, I really have no expectations for it, other than I want to start putting out music for the fans again, because it's been a long time. And you know, we've had a lot of people asking about 6am. And while this won't be 6am, I definitely think it's, it's, it's going to be something that 6am fans really respond to.

Chuck Shute: 52:25

Okay, and then will you tour for that.

James Michael: 52:27

I'm starting to I'm starting to get back in vocal shape and vocal tour shape. I don't have any plans yet. But I just, you know, now that I'm going to be putting out music again, I want to be ready for anything. And I've been considering doing an acoustic tour for a couple of years, I've been thinking about that. Because I've been doing these little things where I I'll sit down and I'll strip a rock song down to his just piano and vocal. I love those. And I've been having so much fun doing that and begin getting such a wonderful response from people that I thought, you know, there may be the possibility or it may be an idea to do, you know, an evening of music like that, you know, an acoustic thing, just me and a piano and maybe a couple other guests musicians. And so I'm starting to, I'm starting to get my voice back into shape. So that I can do that. And, and we'll see what happens.

Chuck Shute: 53:21

Okay, awesome. Well, I'll definitely see if you come to Phoenix, that sounds like a great show.

James Michael: 53:25

I'll let you know for sure. Very cool. Yeah. So

Chuck Shute: 53:27

is this through your empathic Music Group is that you still have that that's your record label,

James Michael: 53:32

right? You did, me and a couple of my friends. Put that label together. And we put out a record for this artist named SIGs, who's just just an amazing, amazing young talent. And literally the the week that we released it COVID Hit. And it really derailed all of our plans, we had plans for him to go on tour, and it just derailed the whole thing, which was heartbreaking for us. And in fact, SIGs is to this day, he's he's one of my writing partners. And he wrote co wrote with me some of the songs that I'm getting ready to release. He's just incredibly talented. And we loved that whole process of doing that. But it was heartbreaking that it didn't. It didn't happen for him or for us because of COVID. And so empathic music group is just that it was really just intended. No, I'm just putting this out myself. I'm just I'm not doing a record label or anything. I think that's one of the things that over the last few years, I've realized is that the less involvement I have with record labels than I am. I don't I don't want to say anything bad about record labels because six AIIMS record label has been fantastic. And I love them and I'm grateful for them. Better noise music, they're just they're awesome, awesome people. They're all very talented. Alan Kovac is here. It's just been an incredible manager for the band. So, so I'm not dissing that, but I just find that I'm happier when I'm not having to deal so much with the business side of things, or that makes sense. And it allows me to just to be calmer and to enjoy being a music fan again, which is where I'm at now, for, for so many years, I worked so hard, and was just going from one project to another to another to another, that I, I forgot what it meant to be a music fan, because I was just always being a music creator. And over the last few years, I've fallen in love with, with music, again, as a listener, which is what inspired me to get back in the studio and start creating, again, with this new, what I think is a healthier perspective. So so I'm very excited to start putting out music again. But but not being so hung up on the business side of it, just putting music, I don't I don't want this to sound, you know, inappropriate. But, but I don't need the success anymore. I've had so much wonderful success that I'm grateful for. But what I do want to do is I want to continue connecting with fans and providing them with I want to entertain the fans. So that's, that's what's driven me to, you know, consider putting music out again. And that's what I'm looking forward to.

Chuck Shute: 56:29

So when you started to go back and become a listener of music, are you talking about listening to old music? Or did you discover any new bands that were current band?

James Michael: 56:39

Yeah, both. Really, as a music producer, it's important to stay current. So you have to listen to what's going on now. And you have to understand it, and you have to appreciate it and hopefully love it, which which I do I love. I love the music that's being made today. But it's very, very different than the music I cut my teeth on. And, and I spend most of my time now listening to old 70s and 80s playlists, and just being happier than I've ever been, you know, listening to that music, imagining what those artists went through when they were creating that music and, and having an understanding of what the process is. And so I think that my, when I imagine what they went through I'm, I'm probably pretty accurate in many ways. And, and I just love doing that. Because I think that that classic rock and that, that pop music from the 80s I don't think that will ever, you know, I don't think we'll ever have another time like that in music, not to say that the times that we're having now are great, because I think music is as creative as it's ever been right now. But, boy, there was something really wonderful about those old 70s and 80s pop songs.

Chuck Shute: 57:53

Yeah, isn't a two I think I feel like it's when you were really young. And that music like you first hear it, it really sticks with you forever. I think I mean, I just I still remember the first time, you know, hearing like Skid Row and stuff when I was like 14 I was like, What is this? This blew my mind, you know, so

James Michael: 58:09

and I don't know, I'm gonna sound so old and like, say this, but I don't know, if the music that is being created today will have that same lasting that lasting effect i and it might, it might I don't know, maybe, you know, maybe 30 years from now somebody will be sitting back reflecting on on, you know, the first Justin Bieber record, which I love, by the way, I love it. But I don't know if there will be that same connection. You know, 30 years from now. I hope there is and he certainly deserves it because he's incredibly talented. And so are most of these young artists that are putting out music today. But it will just be interesting to see you know, we just won't we won't know and and that's why that's why I have this this affinity for you know, for music from my child.

Chuck Shute: 59:10

I love that era to I love in like the early 90s I think was was a really good time for rock to I loved when it was like when grunge was coming along. But you still had the hard rock and then you had them both. And it was such a cool variety. And then then I went full grunge and then and then it's obviously it's changed a lot since then, too. But it was a good time like 91 I think to me, that was a great year for rock.

James Michael: 59:32

It was so good. Oh, yeah, it was just so good. Yeah,

Chuck Shute: 59:35

if you look at the album's released, now you guys have another song. The telemeters movie that you guys did the theme 21 bullets is that under the 6am?

James Michael: 59:45

It's no it's not under six. They have that song. They were they were filming the movie and needed a theme song for it and it just seemed like a fun challenge. So he and I got together and wrote that song And, and then they got a bunch of of guest artists to perform it. That was a fun one. I love that song. And I think it, I think it's really the right song for that movie. So it doesn't, that's an example of, you know, just other projects that we are involved in, I'm sure that DJ and I will, will, you know, do something together in the near future. You know, it's just, that's what when you have that kind of chemistry between people, you cherish it and you you don't want to let that go because it's rare and rare. And once you have it, you hold on to it for dear life.

Chuck Shute: 1:00:35

Okay, sounds good. Any other projects that you want to promote? We'll look forward to that solo and then September

James Michael: 1:00:41

Yeah, you know, that's, that's really it. I'm just now starting to get back into social media. I took a long break from that and, and loved every minute of the break, but I'm jealous. I'm having fun getting back into it again. And, you know, trying to figure out how these algorithms work and not getting too hung up on it where I get frustrated, but, but enjoying the process. So, you know, I will keep you updated through social media as to when I'm releasing music and if there are any new projects coming up, I will certainly put it out there.

Chuck Shute: 1:01:14

Okay, so I'm assuming you're on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, right? Are you on Tik Tok?

James Michael: 1:01:18

You I'm on Tik Tok right now and I'm loving being on Tik Tok because, like on Instagram, I've got I don't know, maybe 65,000 followers or something like that. And of course 6am has has more followers but on Tik Tok right now I think I've only got maybe 800 followers so it feels really just because I haven't promoted it and I'm only doing it I'm just putting some acoustic videos out on there. So I'm just getting started on it and I'm having fun with it because it is so infancy you know it's just a stage that that you know every day I'll like see oh, I got two more followers that's awesome and I'll follow you I

Chuck Shute: 1:01:54

don't know if I don't know if I follow you or not on there. I will follow you though because I love those videos you're putting out with the piano it's great.

James Michael: 1:01:59

I'm gonna be putting several more of those out I love doing those yeah my tick tock is James Michael music so at James Michael music my Instagram is James Michael official My Facebook is James Michael official my YouTube is James Michael official. So tick tock is the only one that's James Michael music.

Chuck Shute: 1:02:19

Okay. And all those other ones. I think he got the blue tick so people know that it's verified. So if it's somebody that says James Michael from six, and then they ask you for money, it's probably not you.

James Michael: 1:02:29

Okay, thank you for bringing that up. There's, there's been a lot of that lately. I'm getting messages from fans saying hey, this, this person has reached out to me saying they're your online manager and they want you to, you know, they want you to, I don't know, write something or send something and so please don't fall for any of that stuff. Those are just scammers trying to get some attention and, and most of the fans realize right away, you know, I? I don't I don't reach out to people privately. I don't DM people, I'll never ask a fan for anything. I just post stuff. And that's it. And, and got it. Yeah, well, very

Chuck Shute: 1:03:08

cool. And then I always end each episode promoting a charity, is there something that you want to promote here at the end in terms of a charity that's near and dear to your heart?

James Michael: 1:03:16

That's really cool. Um, you know, over the last few few years, I've, I've, I've always been an animal lover, but I've gotten two dogs and they are the center of my universe. And any, any charity that you want to donate to that helps. You know, like the Humane Society or the SPCA, anything like that, that is helping either find, you know, forever homes for animals that are in need. Or, or, or protecting animals rights. Anything to do with that is is okay by me.

Chuck Shute: 1:03:53

Okay, a lot of it. Yeah, I've promoted that many, many times. So hopefully people can throw a few bucks in there. Can they pre order your album now? Or is it

James Michael: 1:04:01

not? I decided not to do pre order stuff because it just felt music business to me. I am literally gonna pop on to social media the day before I release it and let people know that it's coming out. It's going to be mid September. I just I uploaded this stuff myself. Like I said, I'm not doing a labor. So once it's once it's live, I'll let people know. And then I'll do the typical promotion and stuff. But yeah, it's it's just going to be done. You know, I'll just alert people through social media and let them know it's gonna be middle of September.

Chuck Shute: 1:04:34

Are you going to be doing a lot of more podcasts or is this am I the only one hopefully,

James Michael: 1:04:39

right now you're the only one I love having these conversations. So by the way, thank you for for reaching out to me and asking me to do this because I do love talking about the music business and I love talking about creating and I and I'm sure that you found this the more that you speak with people. There are a lot of really wonderful people in this music industry. And a lot of them surprise you with how down to earth they are. And I, that's, that's one of the things that I've been the most grateful for in my career is that I've just met incredible human beings, both creators and fans, you know, that so many amazing people. And I've always just felt like, no matter who you are, no matter who the person is that you're meeting, their life is a movie, just ready to be told, whether you are just, you know, whether you are a fan or you're, you're an agent, or you're a lawyer, or you're a musician, no matter what you do. I just find people's lives so interesting. And I think that that's why I've enjoyed being an observer of life, my whole life. And that's why I enjoy doing what I do. Because in some way, I feel like I spend my time telling people stories, whether they're mine or somebody else's, and I find that very rewarding.

Chuck Shute: 1:06:00

I feel the exact same way that I feel like that's what the point of my podcast is to tell people's stories and, and the right like you meet these people. Before I started on a podcast, I thought all these rockstars were cocky assholes. You know, they're probably playing the character, but then you get them in person. You talk to them on Zoom or whatever. And they're very down to earth.

James Michael: 1:06:16

Yeah. 99% of the time. 99 I would say that's a good statistic. Yeah. Right. You're surprised by just how how cool these people are? And yes, you once you understand that, you know, there's a character there. And once they step out of character in their in their themselves, they're usually pretty cool people.

Chuck Shute: 1:06:37

Yeah, like Ann Wilson. I had her on the show, she covered your song. Have you ever met her?

James Michael: 1:06:42

Oh, yes, yes. And I was that way. I gotta tell you, man, I've had a lot of kind of goosebump moments in my career where things where I say, I can't believe this has happened to me. Her bass player sent me a video of her performing permission. And boy that I sent that video to my brother into my mom and my dad, and just everyone I knew, because I was so excited. And so just, I was just giddy about the fact that that this incredible voice, this iconic person was performing a song that I wrote, and it just just blew my mind. Just yeah. I thought

Chuck Shute: 1:07:19

that was so cool that she and she loves that. She told me she's a huge fan of the band. I was like, Well, it's because you just don't think that she would be listening to you know, that kind of music. But now she loved it. And it's great.

James Michael: 1:07:29

It's just just amazing. Just that that was one of the many just moments in my life where I just go, I can't believe that this is happening to me. Yeah.

Chuck Shute: 1:07:39

Well, I think you give a lot of other people those kinds of moments when fans meet you. Like when you do my podcast, like I've had a little bit of a goose bump moment myself. So thank you so much. I appreciate it.

James Michael: 1:07:51

That's very kind of you. Thank you very much for for having me on. Let's do this again, sometime.

Chuck Shute: 1:07:55

Okay, anytime. Yeah, let me know. You've got it. All right. Thanks, James. Take care. Bye. Bye. Thanks. Thank you again to James Michael, make sure to keep an eye out for the new studio album in mid September. I love how there's no official release date. So I'm sure it's going to be amazing. Just make sure that you're following James on social media stay up to date, because that's when he's going to tell you when he's going to drop it. And while you're on there, if you could give me a follow or give the show a follow. We're all over everything. And again, I will bug you to make sure you're subscribed to the show either on YouTube or if you listen on Spotify or Apple podcasts that you can subscribe there as well. I appreciate all your positive comments, reviews, like shares of all my episode. It means the world to me and I'm eternally grateful. Have a great rest of your day and shoot for the moon.