James Arak - West Of Around CD

Listening to West of Around is like being invited into a secret. Arak James whispers revelations and croons prophecies, while his guitar confidently and precisely holds us in the catchy, profound country music traditions of Austin, Texas, where he hails from. Like many of his influences, such as Townes Van Zandt, James has a gift for weaving music and story together. Whether we're behind a “7/11” or the metaphysical “veil,” his sonic mysteries dignify life beyond hierarchy.

West of Around is a living invitation to listen for what is always present and holy. Soundscapes of trickling streams, humming insects, and quiet evening backyard conversations hold us in an ethereal yet grounded reverie- and suspended we stay in this truly freaky and beautiful gift of an album.

-Lynsey Robertson, Fleas Of Mercy

Arak James was born in Austin, Texas, on Halloween 1991. He had his first guitar by the age of 3 and his first piano by 6. He grew up with an earnest disdain for country music, leaning instead into an adolescence of punk and petty crime. Today, he lives in Brooklyn and disdains none of the above. He has played for over a decade in Texas punk bands Glue & Institute, and now he introduces us to his own strange, baroque, magical country world. –Ever/Never