Feature: James Laurent Decodes “Dangerous Love”
Punk Head: "Dangerous Love" captures infatuation at its most intoxicating. Do you see love as an addiction, an art form, or both?
James Laurent: I don’t think that love can be an art form, I think love is too unpredictable and all consuming. I think there are certainly aspects of love that can be an art form such as communication or romance, however I think love is one of the strongest addictions there is.
Punk Head: The track balances chaos and polish — raw guitars but pristine production. Do you ever feel torn between your engineer brain and your artist heart?
James Laurent: I think more often than not both the engineering and the artist side of me are disappointed in the artist side. I can hear perfect recordings, mixes, and songs in my head as an engineer, but being as I am not a trained singer or trained anything musically I often find my limitations come from the artist side of me. It can be a bit of a blurry line however, because the engineer is an artist in their own right and it becomes a very intimate relationship between artist & engineer. Artists have to trust the end product of their vision fully to the engineer, and more often than not, the engineer has more time and energy invested into the creation of the song than the artist. I think both halves of me work in tandem as I find engineering in itself to be an art.
Punk Head: After your soccer career ended, music became a kind of rebirth for you. Do you think that sense of loss shaped how you approach intensity and obsession in your art?
James Laurent: I think the competitive spirit inside of me transferred itself from sports to my music and engineering. It takes a lot of discipline to say no to going out on weekends and focus on learning or creating. Without having done 14 years of soccer or wrestling, I’m not sure I would understand how much work you have to put in with zero recognition. I think one aspect of it does come down to who I am as a person, I prefer to rely on just myself for success or failure. I wrestled in middle school& high school..and even in team sports such as soccer, I played goalkeeper. I am a bit of an isolationist, I find solitude in knowing I am capable of doing it myself.
Punk Head: You’ve built your career on independence: writing, producing, mixing, mastering everything yourself. Does full creative control ever feel like freedom or pressure?
James Laurent: It was never my intention to become a voice for independent artists, for the first 2/3rds of my career I tried very hard (unsuccessfully) to get a record deal. At the time it felt like it was impossible to get anybody to notice me. It comes down to perseverance and spite as I head into my ninth year of pursuing music. I think there are certainly a lot of positives freedom-wise in terms of creative control but financially and socially I feel a ton of pressure to succeed.
Punk Head: Pop-punk has always lived in that space between rebellion and heartbreak. Where does “Dangerous Love” fit in that lineage? Is it a throwback, a reinvention, or something entirely new?
James Laurent: I think “Dangerous Love” at its core is a new retelling of a tale as old as time. I don’t think I have ever set out to reinvent the wheel or be groundbreaking with my music. I have always used it as a method of communication to express and understand my emotions.
Punk Head: You’re only 25, but your résumé already spans TV, film, and RIAA-certified hits. What made you decide now was the right moment to step fully into your own spotlight?
James Laurent: I find it funny, most of my accolades are the byproduct of me trying to find success and my own spotlight. My engineering career is the direct result of wanting to make my own music sound better and over time I have stumbled my way into success with it.
