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{"id":8439,"date":"2017-05-06T11:00:14","date_gmt":"2017-05-06T17:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/urban-plains.com\/2016\/?p=8439"},"modified":"2017-05-04T12:32:53","modified_gmt":"2017-05-04T18:32:53","slug":"label-free","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/urban-plains.com\/2016\/innovation\/label-free\/","title":{"rendered":"Label Free"},"content":{"rendered":"
One vocal musician takes production into his own hands, creating a synthetic Midwest pop sound<\/span><\/h5>\n
Words by Sarah Beth Coleman<\/em><\/p>\n
Musician Ivory James identifies as a \u201cMidwest-raised popfunksoulectro singer-songwriter\u201d created from \u201cPrince-worship and bad luck in romance.\u201d But to many people, he\u2019s Avery Mossman, a student vocal music major and K-12 education minor at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. <\/span><\/p>\n
His solo project as Ivory James is fueled by his conservatory-style higher education and more than six years of classical vocal and saxophone training. Mossman was born in the Twin Cities, Minnesota and raised in Iowa City, Iowa by a folk musician father and a soul and R&B obsessed mother <\/span>\u2014<\/span> a combination that he says has a direct influence in how he perceives and creates music. <\/span><\/p>\n
\u201cMy dad taught me that a great song would be able to stand on its own,\u201d Mossman said. \u201cYou know, just you and an instrument of your choosing.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n
Mossman also attributes his love of performing to his father, who would invite him on stage to sing. \u201cHe did that well before I was good,\u201d Mossman said. \u201cReally before I knew what singing could be.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n
Mossman says that his mom\u2019s influence is an \u201ceasily audible impact,\u201d highlighting his use of synthesizer and the dance-pop style. Artists like Stevie Wonder and Prince inspire Mossman because they \u201cperfectly occupy the middle space <\/span>\u2014<\/span> an incredible marriage of really good songwriting and really good production.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
Mossman as Ivory James during a live performance. Photo provided by Adam Nantz.<\/p><\/div>\n
For Mossman, the recording process starts personally. \u201cWhat you hear is 100 percent one guy working alone, but tweaking is really collaborative,\u201d Mossman said. While using drum kits or recordings of his own instruments and performances get him quite far, he also recruits friends to improve and build on his ideas. <\/span>Mossman attempts to use these methods to create a \u201cvery intent\u201d sound.<\/span><\/p>\n
Much of Mossman\u2019s writing touches on topics of failed relationships, drug addiction and more, but he admits that the energetic rhythms and sound makes the topics less uncomfortable to process and easier to bring to light.<\/span><\/p>\n
\u201cI think the power to give something that can be stuck in your head or makes you want to dance is something that should be respected and experienced.\u201d – Avory Mossman<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n