Jim Marcotte

Jim Marcotte

A quietly benign presence in a wilderness of self-serving rock and pop concoctions, 'Own It' is one of the most emotionally reverberant folk songs of our time - and a great advertisement for our vanishing environment, too.

Now that it's clear terran meteorology is out of whack and out of warranty, the many voices that once hailed a new age of unity and cooperation (or dissonance and ruin) are scarcely to be heard. You see, this environmental thing is serious business after all, and if you presume to sing about it you better be able to communicate a genuine concern for the world we live in - no one's in a mood to hear unrepentent capitalists and their camp followers wax artistic about nature any more. Marcotte is the sort of artist who will naturally rise to the top of the new order; a private activist with a deeply reverent perspective on the value of life - and the power of music to preserve it - his new single 'Own It' is proof that inspiration has its right provenance in authenticity. Independent reporter Lily Clark recently caught up with the impassioned bard to talk about his life, his outlook on music, and his vision for the future.

LILY: Let's just get this out in the open - What is the craziest thing that has happened to you in your music career?
JIM: There was a percussionist who played with my band for a short, but very magical time about two years ago. He used cool percussion like chimes along with congas, shakers. He passed away in 2012 and we miss him terribly. This last weekend, the band played a set with a song that was James’ favorite. He added chimes at the beginning of the song during the intro when he used to play it. We recorded the song at the venue. Guess what? There are chimes in the intro. No one was playing chimes in the band, nor were there any chimes in the venue.

LILY: Your song ‘Own It' is receiving a positive listener response on radio. What was your initial reaction when you first heard your song playing on radio?
JIM: Excitement, satisfaction, gratitude and hope that the song will reach millions of people.

LILY: What was the inspiration behind your debut radio single?
JIM: The attitude of climate change deniers and those who remain apathetic about the plight of the planet.

LILY: It is often said that great art arises from difficult experience. Is there something in your life experience thus far that you would describe as the ‘catalyst’ or ‘fuel’ for your desire to create music?
JIM: I have drawn from relationships with women, both present and past, that have influenced and shaped my soul.

LILY: How would you characterize yourself as an artist/musician? (Ex. Down-to-earth, serious, fun-loving, complicated…)
JIM: I would characterize myself as serious with a dash of irony and wit.

LILY: What has your experience been like working with the other people on your team?
JIM: By team, that means my band and my manager at this juncture. So far, so good!

LILY: Did you come from a musical background? Are there other musicians in your family?
JIM: I am adopted. My biological parents were both musically inclined. My adopted parents have zero musical talent.

LILY: What do you find most rewarding about being an artist? What do you find most challenging?
JIM: Most rewarding has been playing my newer music - which is globally conscious - for events such as National Animal Rights Day and Empty The Tanks.

LILY: Who are your role models in music?
JIM: The Beatles as a whole and John, George and Paul individually, The Who (more specifically Pete Townshend), Paul Simon, James Taylor, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Rush and Lenny Kravitz.

LILY: Describe your best or most memorable performance.
JIM: I try to make all performances memorable, so that would be the last show I did.

LILY: What advice would you give to young, aspiring artists out there who are unsure and need guidance?
JIM: Practice your instrument and never give up.

LILY: What's next for you as an artist? Is there a new single in the works? If so, what can you tell us about it?
JIM: My next single will be in support of cetaceans who are still captive all over the world. I want to continue to bring to light the cruelty involved by those who keep ocean dwelling mammals captive.

LILY: Thank you so much Jim for taking the time to speak with us about your extensive career in music and the life experiences that led you to it. We are genuinely impressed with your talent - and your humanitarian bent - and foresee that great things will com

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