An Inspired Chat with Sunshine James

Sunshine James shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Sunshine, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: Who are you learning from right now?
Mark Chesnutt and the boys in the band. He’s a legend and doesn’t even realize it. Every day I learn something from him or one of the guys on the bus. You just gotta get them going and then sit back and shut up.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m country artist Sunshine James. I’m from Arizona and living in Nashville. I’m hustling down a dream and trying to be everywhere all the time. When I’m not writing, recording, performing, working on booking emails or trying to come up with content, I’m selling merch and running the social media for the legendary Mark Chesnutt. I’ve traveled all over this country and performed anywhere they let me. Unfortunately, there’s nothing too unique about me. I’m a red blooded, blue collar American man that writes what I see and feel around me. I don’t wear a meat dress, I don’t dance on Tik tok, I’m not too funny and I’m not pretty. I’m about as basic and normal as it gets. I just have a wild dream of playing my songs to the masses. But I’m working on that. I’ll find something special about me and try to exploit it as content so that eventually people make it to my music.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
What breaks bonds for me is lying, talking about someone behind your back and using someone. I don’t believe in restoring those relationships, honestly. Those people are who they are and they will never change. No matter how much you do for them and no matter how well you treat them, they will eventually do what they do, to you. Again and again. You don’t have to waste time on hating them or getting revenge. Just understand they can still eat, but not at your table anymore.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
As an addict, there’s a guy in my head I fight every day. That guy is trying to end me at all times. So I have to talk with him daily. Whether it’s about sobriety, working out, eating right, working on parts of this business I don’t want to or just continuing this dream as an artist. There’s always a version of me ready to pack it up, go home and live a normal life. But then I go to the gym, write a song, read some pages in a book by one of my heroes, watch a Michael Jordan documentary and prove to myself I’m still better than that guy trying to end me, thinks I am.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What do you believe is true but cannot prove?
I believe major recording studios will be done as a functional business in five years. Rich folks and museums will have them. The last 20-25 years has been proof that (in the masses) people don’t care about art enough to care wether it’s real or even human made. They just want something to consume and by the time they understand the long term detriment, it will be too late. Live music will last a little longer. But I will see live performances, as I know it, almost disappear in my lifetime. I have no doubt of that. It’s how the world works. It’s sad. But it’s all the more reason to go hard on my dream and enjoy it while it still exists.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. When do you feel most at peace?
Working in the studio or performing my songs live. There’s nothing better on earth to me. I’m the guy who wears people out in the studio. I can work non stop, all day every day in a studio and never get bored or burned out. Creating music I love or I’m excited about is just a rush I can’t match with any other experience or substance.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sunshinejames.com/#music
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunshinejamesco?igsh=emJiaHQ5cHBpNGV4&utm_source=qr
• Twitter: https://x.com/sunshinejamesco?s=21&t=P7aRVlElSoIOrrHy6VzA0g
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/16yWihAm1z/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@sunshinejamesco?si=_f2jI9xJExZxkJjW

Image Credits
Justin Mayotte
Noah Alexander Nichols