Today we’d like to introduce you to James Luker.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I grew up in Wayne County, Indiana. I picked up my first guitar at 6. I was always intrigued by artist and bands such as Hank Sr/Jr, Ryan Upchurch, Adam Calhoun, Nu Breed Jesse Howard, 3 days grace, 7 days away, and more. I am self-taught. I wrote my first song at 10 years old after watching a movie called “Broken Bridges.” It gave me motivation to write a song, and I did. I began going through a lot when I hit my teens. A lot of family drama. Losing 90% of my family to substance abuse. But the one person I always had and still have is my momma, Renee Thomason. She held me through a lot of it. My life was in shambles though. I was drinking a lot at a young age after a heartbreak. I drank so much to the point I was throwing up blood. I was just not in a good spot. Until one day, I was at the mall with some friends. I met the lead singer of a band called 7 days away. His name is Jay Bales. Jay took me in and taught me everything. He not only made me into the musician I am today but the man I am today. He taught me to write better, to sing better, he just developed me for three years straight all in all.
I consider him my big brother. He’s an incredible human being for putting up with my problems and emotions.
My drinking got under control, and everything seemed to come together. But during that time I was in the studio for 12-13 hours a day learning as much as I could. I studied everything from producing to writing to finding my own sound. I put all of my influences into one sound in a sense. Because of that hard work, I began to put on bigger and bigger shows around Indiana and Ohio. I got on billboards; I got on the news and everything. But I didn’t know what else to do being a broke musician around a state that doesn’t have much opportunity for serious musicians. Fast forward to this past summer, I got a call from an artist who wanted me to open up for him. It was a show in Concord, North Carolina. After my set, I met my now manager by the name Katie Brock or most known her as Ikonik Lenz Multimedia. She and I became really good friends. She has made me come out of my shell and finally gave me the courage to finally go for this full-time. She has seriously turned my career around. I been here since October 1st of this year. That is how I got to the position I am now.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It was never a smooth road and still isn’t. Going back to my teen years, I was never liked. I hardly had any friends in high school. I went to a real rich kid type of school. If you didn’t have money, you basically didn’t matter. So, I was overlooked a lot. I gave up on school and just wrote songs on my laptop, phone, and paper. I dropped out my senior because I couldn’t do online schooling. After that I began working factory jobs, asphalt, building houses, I even worked in a nursing home. Between all the struggles, writing was the only thing I had. However, I had many mental health issues. Suicide attempts and purposely drinking to the point I was praying I didn’t Wake up.
However, January of this year, I finally made the change to wanna do better. Since then, I have been healthy and happy, and more determined…
I owe god everything. He stayed with me and guided me to who I am today.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I feel like my music is a different sound country music needs. We need more raw material and more rock! I feel like if I can appeal to the heavy metal lovers and the country music lovers, I could create a fan base that would be unstoppable! There shouldn’t be any limits to a person’s creative mind. I feel like that’s why I stand out a little more. I’m not afraid to say what I wanna say. I never have been and never will.
How do you think about luck?
I don’t believe in luck. I believe everything happens for a reason. Bad things that happen aren’t bad things… they are lessons.
I believe you just have to see the positives in a negative.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jameslukermusic.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/james_luker_music_/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamesLukerMusic?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Linkedin: https://linktr.ee/james_luker_music11?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=0667e783-7fa8-4a57-9614-0c029b0d2293
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@jameslukermusic?si=CLOBDfGuqH2V8j-c
Image Credits
Jay Bales
Corey Stevenson
Katie Brock
Trisha Ann
