James Paxton

When James Paxton and I met at a Los Feliz cafe on a blazing summer day in Los Angeles, the city of stars and eternal summer, his enthusiasm for his many artistic crafts was palpable. Originally from Ojai, CA, James’ love of film and music was sparked at a young age, having been exposed to the arts early, in part, by his father, renowned actor Bill Paxton.

Having pursued acting and music for a decade, this year felt like catching and riding a massive creative wave. James appeared in three major film projects this year: Grind, DRAGN, and Last Train to Fortune. Outside of film, James also fronts the alternative hip-hop duo Flamingo Dogs and the genre-blending alt hip-hop group Soundaze as a lead vocalist. But, most recently, he’s also transitioned to a softer, folk-driven sound with his solo music project Love, Pax. His single “Snapshot” was released in April, along with a music video directed by Rocky Schenck.

Starring alongside Malcolm McDowell, Laura Marano, Mary Steenburgen, and Bernadette Peters, James’ next feature film project, Last Train to Fortune, will have a theatrical release in New York, LA, and Dallas on September 18.

Hi James! You've been working on a lot of stuff this year — lots of film features and music. How are you feeling?
I'm feeling really good! I feel like this is finally the culmination of many, many years of pursuing a career in film, music, and everything. I'm finally starting to enjoy how far I've come. And it also feels, simultaneously, like I’m at the beginning because I have all this momentum right now. In the creative arts, you have to ride the momentum when it’s there because it’s not always there.

What makes you feel grounded when you’re dealing with this naturally tumultuous cycle of being a creative person?
I have this hobby where I fix up old furniture pieces. I draw and paint on them, and create functional pieces of artwork. It's like meditation for me. I've always been able to turn to that as an outlet between jobs. It’s something I can always do for myself and sit down and think. I like to supplement my career with my own artistic hobbies just for me.

I know you're from Ojai. I mentioned earlier that I'm from Seattle, which is a really lush, beautiful place. I feel really inspired whenever I’m home, and I'd love to know how growing up surrounded by Ojai’s natural beauty impacted your sensibilities as an artist.
Ojai is this little incubator of creativity. It's a melting pot of different kinds of people. There are a lot of painters, potters, musicians, and actors. People want to rest and recharge. It's close enough to LA, but it feels like a world away when you’re there. The schools are great. I had a lot of teachers who encouraged my interests. Last Train to Fortune felt like an ode to all those great teachers because Malcom [McDowell, my costar] plays an English schoolmaster. Ojai is an amazing nest; I call it “the cradle.”

I think when you live in a city, and you’re from somewhere that’s a bit more contained, that sense of coming home just hits even harder. What’s a recent piece of work that’s moved you?
I recently read Tiny, Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed, and it’s very moving. It looks at a lot of different people’s complex situations in life and offers non-judgmental advice. I’m a very emotional person.

Oh yeah, I feel you on that.
Oh, yeah? When’s your birthday?

September, 15. Virgo! What about you?
I’m a Pisces.

Okay, yeah, there’s a lot of emotion there.
A little too much, I’m not gonna lie!

You got a chance to work with some really amazing actors in Last Train to Fortune, including Malcom McDowell, Mary Steenburgen, and Bernadette Peters. What were some of your biggest takeaways working closely with actors of that pedigree?
Laura Marano and I were some of the youngest cast members in this ensemble, and it was such a wonderful situation to learn from everybody. I wanted to soak up as much as I could. Mary is an Oscar winner. And Bernadette Peters is a Broadway legend. It was a masterclass every single day.

I definitely had a chip on my shoulder because I take the work really seriously, but Malcolm told me a few times, “Hey, man, look, we're making a movie here. Have some fun.” I'm such a perfectionist. I am hard on myself, and I want to make sure this is a killer performance. I felt really lucky to learn as much as I did.

You mentioned earlier that you’ve always wanted to do a Western. I know you were also in Grind, which is a horror satire, and DRGN is more of a sci-fi horror. Are there any other genres that you’re eager to explore that you haven’t yet?
Yes, but before I answer that exact question, I want to mention a movie I wrapped that was a new genre for me. The Laugh Factory is a big comedy outlet [in LA], and I got to star in their first film, called Toad. It’s going to come out sometime next year, hopefully in the summer. It’s a psychedelic comedy, like Pineapple Express. It’s slapstick and is loaded with famous comedians. It’s the most trippy, funny movie, and I’ve always wanted to make something like that, so I got to check that one off my bucket list.

What I most want to do is a biopic. I feel like there’s no higher honour as an actor than to play somebody real and try to get that right. I see every biopic that comes out; it’s one of my favourite genres.

Is there anybody you’d especially love to portray in a biopic?
I’m manifesting a Tom Petty biopic, or David Bowie.

Ooh, I can totally see either of those. I know this was a few summers ago, but I wanted to talk about what it was like to be a part of Twisters, given that your dad, Bill Paxton, was in the iconic original film Twister.
It was a surreal, dreamy scenario. It was so exciting. Lee Isaac Chung, Glenn [Powell], and Daisy [Edgar-Jones] did an amazing job making a new version for a new generation. It reintroduces the original nicely for people who haven’t seen it.

It was definitely an emotionally complicated thing for me to do because all I wish is that my dad could have done a sequel. He wanted to direct one for a while, and he had all these ideas for a sequel. So it feels, in so many ways, bittersweet because I was like, “He should be here on this set.” But then I thought it was a great opportunity to help give [the film] a blessing, through me, on his behalf.

That’s such a beautiful sentiment. I love that movie, and I agree; I do think they created something new that felt like it was paying tribute to the last one. On a similar note, if you’re comfortable sharing, what are some of the biggest lessons you’ve learned about acting from watching your dad?
Take the work seriously, but don’t take yourself seriously. Foster camaraderie among everyone on the film because everyone is specialising in something different toward a shared goal. My dad taught me to connect with everybody during the experience. You never know what you might learn from somebody. You could meet someone and make a lasting friendship.

He just loved the experience of being on set, and that’s what I learned from him the most. Set is my favourite place in the world. I don’t care if I’m filming in Antarctica. I hate the cold, but I would go there and have a smile on my face the whole time if I’m filming and working with like-minded people.

My dad also taught me to leave any self-conscious thoughts behind. He taught me to remember that when you’re acting, it’s the character’s moment to live, and you’re just the vessel. That allowed me to separate my own ego and insecurities and just be present.

That makes so much sense. I’m sure taking your ego out of the process makes it a better experience for you and creates a better performance. What are you looking forward to next? Any more film projects you can tease?
Toad is on the horizon. I also just wrapped a feature film in New Jersey called Sicklerville; it’s the name of the town we filmed in. I’ve always wanted to do something really adult, human, and dramatic — something about flawed people. This was that movie for me. It was really rewarding, gritty and realistic. But it was also, emotionally, the most taxing film I’ve ever done. I feel really proud of it. Many things hit home in the movie.

I just did another anthology with the producer of Grind, called Gorezone. I also have a film that I may be shooting in October and another one in November. And I’m back to auditioning! I just sent an audition tape yesterday.

Busy year! Congratulations, that’s amazing. Shifting gears a bit to talk about music. What inspired you to start making music? How long has music been an interest of yours?
Music has always been my first real love. My buddy, Jared McGill, and I started making music in middle school. We got really into Modest Mouse, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Beatles, and Elliot Smith. As a joke, we made diss songs against each other, made our own beats and recorded ourselves on our laptop. Jared was clearly way better at the beat side of things, and I was better at the lyrics and vocals. So we formed a group called Flamingo Dogs and started making alternative hip-hop.

In 2007, my dad came back from shooting in New Zealand and gave me an Eminem CD. He said, “Hey, don’t tell your mom” [laughs]. I sat on my floor, listened to the album front to back so many times, and fell in love with it. That’s when my love for music really took off.

I started playing guitar shortly before my dad passed, but I really threw myself into it once he passed because I was like, “I need this.” I wanted to get back to a softer, folk side of music. I like Iron & Wine, Gregory Alan Isakov, Elliot Smith, Nick Drake, and José González. So I started releasing solo music a few years ago.

What do you think facilitated that shift in sound for you?
My dad’s death. But I’d always wanted to make that change. I did hip-hop for a long time, and I’m still active in Flamingo Dogs and Sound Daze, an alternative hip-hop, multi-genre group. But I also needed my own personal output. My project is “Love, Pax,” which is my actual signature sign-off.

You cited some of your musical inspirations, but in this new era, is there anyone else who’s a North Star for you in terms of inspiration?
Mac Miller is one of my all-time favourite inspirations. He became such a consummate musician. He did so many genres and could play all different instruments. He obviously had roots in hip-hop, but didn’t let that define him. In terms of folk music, I love Kacey Musgraves.

Do you have any live performances planned?
I wish I could say “yes,” but at the moment, I don’t. I performed live on the Sunset Strip at Hotel Ziggy last year. It was a hip-hop show, and I performed with another artist friend of mine. I am still figuring out how to play solo music live. I could sit there and play guitar and sing, but it would also be nice to play with a few people, like a bassist, additional guitarists, a drummer, and a pianist. I’ll keep you posted on that.

I’m going to keep releasing more music this year, though. I’ve got a lot more planned. I just released a song called “Snapshot” at the end of April with a music video directed by Rocky Schenck, who directed Adele’s music video for “Hometown Glory.”

It’s the start of summer. What are you most excited about for the rest of the year?
On a personal level, in two weeks, I’m going to Scotland for the first time for my buddy’s wedding. I’m really excited to go to Edinburgh!

Professionally, Last Train to Fortune is releasing in the U.S. on September 18, and Malcolm and I will do some press and open the film in New York. It’s going to have a theatrical release in New York, Dallas, and LA.

That’s fun that you guys are going to Dallas! It really fits the film’s theme.
Yeah, it really does! It’s also close to where my dad is from in Fort Worth, Texas. I’m really excited to open it in that market.

Is there anything else you want to add before we call it a day?
I just want to say thank you to Boys by Girls, which I’ve wanted to work with for ten years now. And thank you for taking the time to talk with me.

It was great to meet you!
Great to meet you as well.