Junior’s Cave Golden Isles Online Magazine’s latest interview comes from the sensational talents of Indie Pop Singer/Songwriter Fontaine James. What makes this musician a special joy to listen to are his crafty and brilliant songwriter's skills and massive vocals. If a person wants to experience music for adults, then music lovers have come to the right place. In this spotlight with this Webzine, Mr. Fontaine explores his musical journey. Enjoy!

Isaac: It’s an amazing time to be a DIY artist/performer/band/musician. What do you enjoy the most about being an indie performer?

Fontaine: It’s a very heady time. The circles that I run in at the moment are incredibly supportive. There is an amazing sense of camaraderie and bohemian spirit that keeps everyone energized and challenged and none of us are above dreaming. We all have different musical tastes as it applies to what we create as artists but we share an astounding mutual respect for all music.

I’m a sort of Pop Singer Songwriter but we’ve got a Jazz Gal, a Blues Rock Duo, a Full On Pop Goddess, an Electronica God and a Balls Out Stadium Rocker - No slackers here. Being surrounded by this kind of diligence makes me feel responsible to produce and I’m grateful to be in the thick of it.

Isaac: If you had an opportunity to sign with a major label, would you sign now knowing you may have to give up some of what you have built up over the years about you in the process?

Fontaine: The one thing I do not want to mess with is process. My producer (Adrian Holtz) and I have gotten into an amazing groove. Our roles are clearly defined and I would not want to upset the apple cart.

I’d love to be wooed by a major label and tempted with a “game changer” type advance but I would have to think twice about signing and relinquishing the kind of “singular voice” creative control that I have right now. Why, what have you heard?

Isaac: I remembered Simon Cowell from American Idol talking about the “it” Factor that makes a musician/band stand out. What do you think is your “it” factor that makes you stand out from others in the music business?



Fontaine: To be perfectly honest, I don’t have the kind of “IT” factor that Simon Cowell is looking for but that doesn’t mean I’m coming to the party empty handed. I might not be the guy that stops conversations when I walk in the room but I will gladly start a conversation while we are waiting in line at the bar.

And I very well might say something that will stick in your head for days. I hope that is the experience folks get when they listen to my music. A little bit of - Oh, I didn’t expect that, or Hey, this guy is funny, Or, I never thought of it quite that way.

Isaac: Why should music fans listen to your music? Describe what they are going to get when they listen to your music?

Fontaine: I want to give fans an earful. I sincerely hope they get lost or even overwhelmed by the quirky yet gorgeous arrangements that Adrian has put together. I hope they are intrigued and comforted and entertained by the stories and turns of phrase that weave through the lyrics and I hope they cotton to the characters that reveal themselves as you listen to these songs.

Isaac: Briefly describe your humble beginnings that led you to where you are at musically now.

Fontaine: Humble beginnings? Hmmm.

I’m not from a musical family per se but Dad sang a lot of Johnny Cash around the house and Mom would hum along to Sergio Mendes and Brasil 66 while passing hors d'oeuvres at their soirees. It wasn’t long before I was standing in front of a mirror using a tennis racquet as a guitar. That was really the foundation I guess.

Also, I went to Catholic school where the nuns made me sing the soprano solos because I could hit the high notes. They thought that was a hoot.

Isaac: You have some strong iconic influences. Of these influences, which artist/band do you relate to the most and why?

Fontaine: Well, there are two sets of influences. There are the big guns that influenced me as I was growing up like The Beatles, The Beach Boys and Harry Nilsson and later on, Tom Waits and Leonard Cohen. Then there are a few contemporary guys that are having a profound influence on me right now.

People that might not be on your radar but nonetheless they affect me every day. Guys like Royal Wood, Jeremy Messersmith and Elbow. Royal Wood in particular is an extremely prolific writer/performer and he inspires me to keep my majestic nose to the grindstone and get the work done. So where as early country, rock and roll and anything with a sixties vibe may have influenced my sound aesthetic, it’s the new guys that are influencing my work ethic.