Location: Old Lyme, CT
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Life is a gift and we must protect it with fire, laughter, and good lyrics. With the combination of pointed, playful narratives and nostalgic indie/folk sensibilities, the music of Haunted Continents (solo project of CT-based troubadour James A.M. Downes) is a smirking middle finger to the vapid parts of modern life, and at the same time, an open palm to anyone who loves love but breaks out in hives when surrounded by the herd.
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BIO
It all began for James A.M. Downes (Haunted Continents) just after the tour van crashed left him stranded three thousand miles from his quiet Connecticut home, forcing him to sell handmade demo tapes of his nostalgic indie/folk songs to strangers for loose change. He was only on this tour as a merch-seller-for-hire, a means for a shy singer-songwriter to share his acoustic music with the hardcore scene he grew up in. Little did he know that one of those poorly recorded tapes would end up in the hands of a music producer who, after falling for the songs’ quirky lyrics and relatable narrator persona, would record James’ first EP and encourage him to ditch the merch gig and step into his own.
Emboldened by the support of his first producer, James hit the road after his first awkward year of college. Over the next fifteen years, he got his education on the road, touring relentlessly with his bands Call It Arson and The End of America (TEOA), sharing stages with artists like Beck, John Paul White, and Kimya Dawson, receiving radio support from over 300 stations like KCRW, WXPN, and WFUV. In the midst of the continuing whirlwind of live performances with TEOA, James found time to release a series of monthly singles under the name Haunted Continents, produced by Andy Seltzer (Maggie Rogers, Chelsea Cutler, Samia), playing shows with acts like Lost Dog Street Band and Deer Tick.
While features in Relix Magazine, premiers in Under the Radar Magazine, and the nomination for Deli Magazine NYC’s “Favorite Emerging Artist” help circulate the recorded music, James continues to bring the live show all around the east coast. Whether performing as a yearning cello/guitar duet or leading a bruising and beautiful full band, most concertgoers would agree with The Deli’s Henry Solotaroff-Webber in saying that “James boldly [displays] his talent as a songwriter, and [solidifies] himself as someone to watch.” If you come out to a show, be sure to say hello - he still sells his own merch every night.
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Press
10/19/21 Under the Radar Magazine Premieres “On Your Side”
3/17/19 The Deli Magazine's Favorite Emerging Artist in NYC
3/17/17 WPKN 88.5fm ranks “Restless Ones” as #5 “Favorite Tracks of the Week”
10/19/21 - Under the Radar Mag “On Your Side” Song Premier
“Spindly guitar lines and winding melodies create a yearning, searching tone, one matched by the deep empathy at the core of Downes’ lyrics.” -Caleb Campbell
“‘Safe on the Run’ delivers with that Neil Young-esque vibe that quenches the thirst, of our most inner trepidations. A collab with an exuberant result. Indeed.”
6/25/20 - “PASC” Review - American Pancake
“P.A.S.C.” (Post-Apocalypse Survival Crew) is a folk rock-tinged indie-pop track that is incredibly exuberant and tender considering, as Downes put is, "a tongue in cheek love letter between two survivors of the apocalypse" and, as all inclusive pop rock it sounds, it does have a pained, sad underbelly evoked by Downes vocal performance that has a nice settled in, dare I say, comfortable (best friend) quality. -Robb Donker Curtius
*03/17/19 The Deli Mag NYC’s ‘Favorite Emerging Artist’*
“James has boldly displayed his talent as a songwriter, and solidified himself as someone to watch.” - Henry Solotaroff-Webber, The Deli Magazine
