Daguerreotypes is a prolific musician who is releasing his debut, double-album, This Is My Way to Tell You That Everything Is Real and Happening Right Now. It is a rich album and rumor has it the next album is already in the works!
Please tell us about yourself and your music.
My name is James Samimi Farr, I live in South Minneapolis. I play under the name Daguerreotypes.
The spark plugs need to be changed in my car, and I’ve been putting off fixing the door frame around my garage because I’ll need to buy tools that I don’t have, and I’m stressed, stressed, stressed about money like so many among my fellow men.
I have a beautiful wife and two children, with a third on the way. I have a regular job. If you saw me pass by on the street, you wouldn’t know me from any other passing stranger.
But I’m carrying within me a tremendous secret, a baby sleeping restlessly that threatens to awaken at any moment: there are beautiful songs living in me. They threaten to erupt from my being all the time. I have to live in controlled conditions, in regular conditions, or else this wave of song will overwhelm my life and take me from everything I hold dear.
I love music. My own songs are an effort to explore the difference between what’s true and what’s not true: in what we see, what we tell ourselves, how we live.
The “we” is important here. I don’t write for myself. I write for you—the listener, the readers who might be seduced by this writing to become listeners—it is a gift to humanity.
Without an audience an artist is a short circuit—very unstable and dangerous. This is one reason why so many musicians are so sad.
But I’m not sad, because I’m building an audience. I’ve made a beautiful album to share with the world, and I’m convinced it is a classic that will connect with many hearts, though this may take time.
An invitation to your readers/listeners: will you make room for me?
You have written so many songs and your debut release is a double album. Impressive. How do you write music? Do songs flow quickly? Are you a very disciplined writer? What’s your process or processes?
It’s a different encounter with my daimon each time. Some come quickly, some slowly. Some start with words, others with music.
I am not disciplined in the sense that I am writing on schedule. But very much so in the sense that I cannot let a song escape into the world unless I have dressed it properly. There’s a voice in my heart that tells me when it’s done.
Finishing them is delicate. You can easily overcook or undercook them. Knowing the sweet spot is a matter of experience and absolute faith in the daimon.
I wrote “Firefly” in a day or two. “Honeydew Moon” took years. But years of working steadily have built up a tremendous arsenal of songs—an impressive defense system.
My follow-up album is already written and complete. I’m currently trying to finish 13 songs.
The vocals on Passing Stranger pulled me into the album. It was a treat to hear iterations of your voice on the rest of the songs. Born as a Baritone makes me wonder how much of your gift is nature versus nurture versus putting in 10,000 hours of concentrated effort?
I’ve never done anything that didn’t feel like play. I played my way into competence. When I started, I would always sing off-key. I put down the guitar because it hurt my fingers.
But I found a way to play my way forward. Music is so pleasurable; it’s a world within a world, connected by a narrow bridge. I wish I had practiced more; I don’t have time now.
There’s a real ceiling to play, but it’s taken me as far as I need to, for now.
I’m not as adept as the true academics of my instruments, but I console myself: if I were, then I would be further from my neighbors, and I love my neighbors.
Not much effort. Biggest enemy to overcome was doubt.
The World That is to Come feels like a song for the times we’re in – although that may be a reflection of my days. Can you tell me about the inspiration please?
It is a song for the times. The biographical corollary: I was in D.C. in the summer of 2020. The intensity has only ramped up since.
The world we know is passing away. Many roles are needed right now, both midwives for the world that is to come, and mourners for the old one. Mostly midwives though.
Where can folks find you? Will you be playing live shows? Are there places online where folks can connect?
I am around town. I do a lot of shopping at the Costco in Eagan.
There will be live shows in the New Year, but first I must announce my advent. This will come in time.
Look for Daguerreotypes (mind the spelling) on your social media platforms, look for me at shows. I’ll be the massive man dressed in black, ready to wage my holy war against vanity and lies.
I’m a regular-degular guy.
Mostly Minnesota 