That\u2019s the idea behind musician Aaron James\u2019 new project, \u201cPaint What You Feel.\u201d With this, James pivots from his traditional role behind his guitar and instead takes on a new role as a human canvas. \u201cMy songs represent a lot of themes of self-discovery and the importance of telling those stories,\u201d he explains. \u201cThe paint kind of represents the parts of me I haven’t discovered yet, but there’s always parts left to uncover. So, the idea was to get other people to tell their stories and be vulnerable about things about themselves or how they’re feeling through painting on me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Paint as self-expression isn\u2019t new to James. If you\u2019re familiar with his live show, he has always performed with streaks of paint on his face and body. He admits that initially he did this to create an onstage persona (and truthfully, to help with a little stage fright). Eventually the body art and his music became intrinsically tied. \u201cHonestly when I released my very first songs, there was a woman who, just for promo of the songs, would work with me to do different body paint type stuff. We painted something to represent each song. It was from there that I had the idea that I could do this all the time and it could really mean something to myself and others.\u201d<\/span> Despite the glimpse of success the project had, James\u2019 focus shifted back to just writing and creating his own music. He released a handful of beautiful singles and stunning EPs, set out on a solo tour, and collaborated with his Unapologetic labelmates and other local musicians. It wasn\u2019t until many years later that James would bring the project back at a Trolly Night in downtown Memphis. There, he once again stood blindfolded and shirtless, armed with cans of paint, and asked those that passed to stop and paint something on him. And, once again, the impact was overwhelmingly positive. \u201cEventually it became, like, oh maybe there’s a bigger idea here. We can turn it into something more, like a documentary sort of thing.\u201d<\/span>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wearememphis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/2-200x300.jpg\")
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\n<\/span>It was before the 2016 election that James first set out to try his \u2018paint what you feel\u2019 idea in real life with real people. \u201cThere was a lot on people’s hearts at the time, so people wanted to get a lot out,\u201d he recalls. \u201cI stand there and I don\u2019t speak, but I can still hear obviously. I just heard a lot of very positive things from those that participated. It definitely made people feel good.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
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