If you’ve ever been to an Aaron James show, you know it’s an experience in honesty. His art lives at the intersection of intense vulnerability and comical levels of self-awareness, all wrapped in the hope that his listeners will feel empowered to be just as real.
“I strive to be the most vulnerable version of myself that I can be,” he says. “And in doing so, I want to promote that same vulnerability and self-awareness in people who experience my art.”
For Aaron, Memphis is the perfect home for that mission. He describes the city as a place where people “just exude authenticity,” making it an ideal backdrop for art that wears its heart on its sleeve.
🌟 Finding His Place with UNAPOLOGETIC.
When Aaron joined UNAPOLOGETIC., he was in a period of searching.
“I was figuring out not even just who I was, but what I wanted to be and what direction I was going in… The more I became ingrained in this team, the further it widened my eyes to the possibilities of what can be accomplished just by me being myself.”
Once he got a taste of that freedom and possibility, he says there was “no looking back.” It became about being as him as possible and watching beautiful things happen both inside and out.
🎶 Memphis is the Muse
Aaron stayed in Memphis for one reason: the creative community he found in UNAPOLOGETIC.
“I really don’t think it’s so easily found in any other place,” he says. “Whether it’s your biggest metropolitan areas or smaller cities around the country, the community here made it obvious for Memphis to be the hub.”
The people, the places, and even the small businesses he interacts with daily have become part of his creative DNA. The city’s personality, unlike anywhere else, flows straight into his songs.
🎤 Moments That Defined the Journey
Aaron’s had more than a few memorable milestones with UNAPOLOGETIC., but a couple stand out:
- Hibernate EP Release Show: Hosted in a Midtown studio, it was the first time he felt an entire team fully backing his vision. “It was so obvious there was a whole team behind it,” he recalls.
- IMAKEMADBEATS TED Talk: A chance to be part of a milestone moment for the collective’s founder.
- Collaborations across wildly different stages, from punk energy at Gonerfest with AWFM to soulful vibes at the Overton Park Shell with Cameron Bethany, have sharpened his versatility and deepened his artistry.
🔮 What’s Next
After a decade with the team, Aaron still feels like he’s uncovering new parts of himself, and that journey is what fuels his creativity.
“I still aim to represent what I believe to be the never-ending journey of self-discovery… The more we’re together, the stronger our bond is. And the stronger that bond is, the stronger the art that comes from that.”
After a decade with the team, Aaron still feels like he’s uncovering new parts of himself, and that journey is what fuels his creativity.
He sees the next chapter as their most potent yet, with songs, stories, and projects already taking shape.
🎉 Celebrate at UNAPOLOGETIC.10
You can catch Aaron and the whole UNAPOLOGETIC. crew as they celebrate 10 years of boundary-pushing artistry at:
📅 August 16, 2025
🕔 5–10 PM
📍 The Ravine @ Memphis Made Brewing Co.
🎟️ Free.00
Expect music, pop-ups, games, surprise drops, and the kind of creative energy you can only get in Memphis.
Stay tuned to Choose901 for our UNAPOLOGETIC.10 Artist Spotlight Series, where we’ll be sharing the stories behind every member of the family.
For Aaron James, this anniversary celebrates the next step in a lifelong pursuit of authenticity.
