Electronica organica collection marks the Samurai Jack music warrior's first shot at songs beyond celluloid heroes.
He's composed countless hours of music for films and TV shows, including Samurai Jack and Powerpuff Girls, and though these and several of his other scores are commercially available, award-winning composer and record producer James L. Venable has finally fulfilled an artistic vision beyond the screen imagery that has guided his diverse style.
Sure, he's written soundtracks galore, including those for Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back, directed by Kevin Smith, MTV's 3 South, and Scary Movie 3, received two Annie Awards for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Music for The Powerpuff Girls and Samurai Jack series on the Cartoon Network and has inadvertently developed a sizable fan base as a result of his genre-blending innovations in his film and animation music, but Holding Space is Venable's hip and humorous first shot at making a record that stands on its own.
"If left to my own devices, what would I write?" was Venable's million dollar question. It has taken him -- and his fans -- two years to find out, but his electronica collection, punctuated by organic elements, is filling the space he's been holding for it on Aug. 3, when Holding Space is released on his own Screaming Fan Records.
As intriguing for its songs, such as "Take Off Your Clothes" and the unexpected twist of "Happy Ending," as it is for its album title, Holding Space is club-and-dance influenced -- an appropriate forum for Venable the percussionist to indulge his inner rhythmmeister. Venable also included three bonus tracks for the diehard animation fans, "Samurai Original Test Music," "Puff Demo #1," and "Puff Demo #2."
Venable, who was a club and events DJ before and during his apprenticeship ghostwriting for film and TV composers, wrote and produced Holding Space while simultaneously composing three back-to-back-to-back scores. He credits executive producer and wife of seven years, Sophia, with keeping him on track.
"It's really great to have someone that I really trust listen to it from a purely impact perspective," says Venable. "Sophia's always been that person for me. Fortunately for me, she was a fan of my music right off the bat. Otherwise I would have been doomed in the relationship."
"One of the really fun things about this record, for me, was that I could throw into my music the same kind of vibe that I want to have when I go to a friend's party, meet new people and joke around with them," he reveals. "So it really did feel like this whole recording artist thing can be an extension of who you are. And something clicked that made me realize that all of these people who are buying millions of records are really buying a piece of an artist's personality."
And Holding Space is loaded with Venable's unique point of view and irresistible charm. But besides these personal qualities, it's just very cool music -- perfect for a club tour, which is where Venable plans to take up Space and commandeer the steel wheels and a couple laptops to mix the tracks with other dance floor grooves.
Her husband's staunchest advocate since they met at a wedding where he was the DJ more than nine years ago, Screaming Fan Records CFO Sophia points out, "When the music is authentic and honest and you're not trying to be somebody else, that's when it translates."
With this in mind, she was a tough executive producer and lent an invaluable ear to the project. She cracked the proverbial whip when anything and everything seemed to supercede the writing and recording process. Sophie recalls, "I would say, 'I don't care that you want to spend time with your wife and kids, and I don't want to hear about your other deadlines'."
With a home studio to rival the best commercially available facilities out there, Jim jokes, "the way technology is these days, even Mozart would have a hard time if he didn't understand how to use a Mac."
As a much sought-after film and TV music composer, Venable doesn't plan to quit his day job anytime soon, but with the release of Holding Space, there's room for both.