In the Greater Toronto Area, rappers are a dime a dozen, but artists are one of a kind. James Richfield, is exactly that. One of a kind. Struggle, perseverance, ambition, and inspiration are no stranger to James. Growing up, James was very much into Much Music and Electric Circus often dancing and singing along with his favorite artists such as Billy Idol, Iggy Pop, Billy Joel, Van Halen, Kiss, and much more. Although many children show signs of what they’re meant to be from and an early age, James took his time really settling into music.

I recently got in touch with the man himself and we discussed his music and what it’s like to work towards becoming a musician in Canada.

Bambi Blue: According to your biography, you took some time settling into the idea of music: Where and how did you finally make your start in music and what really motivated you to really jump in?

James Richfield: I started into songwriting when I was seventeen. At first I didn’t get too in depth with it. I didn’t consider making a future career out of it. It was more like a hobby. Actually, I really started figuring out music by taking songs and writing my own lyrics for them just for laughs. After a while I started to develop my own concepts derived from the original artist’s instrumental flow. Once I started receiving all kinds of feedback, I began to actually consider it more seriously. I’ve always wanted to make a career out of being me. What really motivated me was knowing that people would hear my words and could be influenced by them. With that said, I guess that’s when I knew I was meant to be a musician and help better the world through my creative output.

BB: So fans are a big motivation for you – getting your message out there. What about other artists? I noticed that the influences you’ve listed on your Myspace are really diverse (Korn, Slipknot, Aerosmith, Weezer, Metallica, Smashing Pumpkins, etc.). Do you draw anything in particular from any of them?

JR: All my influences all have a similar trait– they’re all where they are at for being themselves and having a relative sense about them that listeners can feel a part of. For example, Korn became an influence to me after their album Issues because they made music from another person’s perspective, putting the listener in the driver seat. I like that concept, so I draw the element of realism and outside-the-norm-thinking from my influences because this is what makes them great bands in my eyes and I think it will help me become great as well.

BB: Where do you see yourself going with music? Where would you like to go? Where do you not want your music to take you?

JR: I want every household in the world, anywhere that sound can be omitted I want to be there. I personally see myself as the next Timbaland – potentially bigger! It’s funny, that’s one of my goals — to go to Mosley Music Group Studios and just boggle Tim’s mind. Also I really used to want to go to Tokyo and perform out there, but not so much now because Kanye went there and now everyone wants to be Kanye and to go to Tokyo. Ugh. I hate wagon jumpers. I want my music to still take me there though, but when the hype dies down. Then I’ll be appreciated more. I don’t want my music to take me into the mainstream. I want to be semi-mainstream. I’d be out there on TV and stuff but not too intensely… (I don’t want to get) to the point where everyone gets sick of me but I like how it is with Busta Rhymes… where people love my music underground and don’t really care if I do an album but when I do they eat it up like a buffet.

BB: Being a musician in Canada myself, I find it difficult to really get out there and become recognizable in the larger scene. Do you find that Canadian musicians really support each other? Do we stick together? Do you have any bands or solo artists that you’ve become friends with that are always there to tell others just how awesome you are and vice versa?

JR: True (Canadian) musicians do support each other. The ones that just want to be the shining star (sic) will step on every last toe so they can walk ahead. We have the potential to stick together but too many people want the spotlight so they use each other to get ahead and in the end, both end up right where they started. I have, actually, become friends with bands, singers, classical musicians and engineers. I talk about them all the time and vice versa theres Mr. Pink (a band from Mississauga), Sabrina Fallah (a rock singer from Ottawa), and Jenni (a violinist from California). It’s really great to have a diverse circle of friends that are involved with music because it keeps you level headed and personally keeps me open to many genres of music.

Stay tuned to TransCanadaRadio for more interviews with artists like James Richfield as well as Canadian concert listings.

As always, I’m reachable and ready to hear from you at: bambi(at)transcanadaradio.com!