“Music is more important and vital in today’s society. The current climate of oppression and leading towards obedience and fascism is an attempt to crush the artistry of the human expression.”

James Cook:

The Infinite Can of Knowledge

Captain’s Audio Project, is the brainchild of veteran Portland, Oregon songwriter and multi-instrumentalist James Cook. His solo debut “Waiting For The Moon” (2025) finely crafted tunes steeped in traditional Folk, Blues and Jazz. 11-tracks Waiting For The Moon was recorded and produced by Mike Danner at Mike’s Garage in Portland. The guiding principle for these sessions was to keep everything raw and bare bones. James recorded the basic tracks live on his 1931 National Tenor Resonator Guitar and soaring vocals and then rounded the performances out with strategic overdubs and contributions from other great musicians. James added warm and sultry anchor notes with his 100 year old upright bass. Next, Mike Danner added piano, Hammond B-3, and Wurlitzer electric piano. Legendary Portland sideman Paul Brainard put down his trademark stellar pedal steel guitar on several cuts as well as bringing in the “Paul Brainard Horn Section” of Willy Mathis and Scott Van Schlick to put the icing on musical cake on a couple tracks.

(Photo: James Cook)

He formed the much-loved Trashcan Joe who specialized in performing on instruments made out of found objects including a bass and banjo out of trashcans, giving the group its iconic name. Still performing today, Trashcan Joe leans heavily on original music influenced by the vocal Jazz of the 20’s, 30’s and 40’s, with James’ catalogue of originals numbering in over a thousand, some lost or forgotten, James keeps a few hundred in regular rotation. 

Interview by Michael Limnios                     Special Thanks: Howlin' Wuelf Media

How has the music influenced your views of the world? What is the driving force behind your continuous support for your music?

My world has definitely had a profound influence on the creation of my music. I don’t know if it really works the other way around, but the world can be an extremely abrasive place, and my hope is that my music will soften that for the listener. My gift to the world is my song writing and lyrics, and I feel that is my strength. It keeps me focused on the pursuit to share it.

How do you describe your sound, music philosophy and songbook? Where does your creative drive come from?

My sound is raw, pure, and unaffected. it’s heavily influenced by early rural folk music, where there were no gimmicks, no autotune, no synthesizers, just pure songwriting and expression. I have been told that my music is like a story with twists and turns that you don’t expect. I suppose my goal is to take the listener on a trip that they cannot predict.

”My world has definitely had a profound influence on the creation of my music. I don’t know if it really works the other way around, but the world can be an extremely abrasive place, and my hope is that my music will soften that for the listener.” (Photo: James Cook)

Currently you’ve one release titled Captain’s Audio Project. How did that idea come about? Do you have any interesting stories about the making of the new album?

My name, James Cook, is a fairly common name. My friends and bandmate’s nicknamed me “Captain”. The name “Captains audio project“ became a blanket that encompasses the music I put out outside of the bands that Iplay in. The original concept for this recording came to me while working in a remote wilderness area in the north east corner of Oregon. The isolation, peaceful solitude, and the deep connection to the Earth and natural world surrounding me had a profound influence. Access to this area required me to fly into the backcountry in a bush plane. I became so enamored with this mode of transportation that I embarked on a path to get my own pilots license and small airplane.

What touched you from the sound of National Resophonic guitar? What moment changed your music life the most? 

The power, resonance, and harmonic overtones of the national resophonic tenor guitar are akin to being the unplugged version of an electric guitar. The energy and dynamics are very expressive. I can’t say specifically that there was one moment that changed my music life the most, it’s been a long journey filled with learning and evolution.

What do you miss most nowadays from the music of the past? What are your hopes and fears for the future of?

I have a large collection of 78 records, and I feel the performances from that era are pure, with no modern recording techniques like overdubbing or editing abilities. The recordings capture a specific raw moment in time. Today’s music can be recorded, edited, mixed, mashed, and become almost unrecognizable for its original source.  The scariest part about the future of music is artificial intelligence, and its ability to produce quasi, realistic imitations of real human music. Artificial intelligence should learn to do the menial tasks of human life, and leave the art to the humans.

What are some of the most important lessons you have learned from your experience in the music paths?

The most important lessons I’ve learned is from other musicians who are not afraid to express themselves. It’s very easy to have crippling self doubt when you’re an artist. When I was young, I was told that music and art are hobbies, and I’ve spent my whole life trying to break free of that philosophy.

”My sound is raw, pure, and unaffected. it’s heavily influenced by early rural folk music, where there were no gimmicks, no autotune, no synthesizers, just pure songwriting and expression. I have been told that my music is like a story with twists and turns that you don’t expect. I suppose my goal is to take the listener on a trip that they cannot predict.”

(Photo: James Cook)

What is the role of music in today’s society? How do you want the music (and lyrics) to affect people?

Music is more important and vital in today’s society. The current climate of oppression and leading towards obedience and fascism is an attempt to crush the artistry of the human expression. It’s scary, and very reminiscent of the cultural revolution that happened in China. Fortunately, it only makes the resolve of artists stronger. Much like a good book may allow you to escape, I hope my music and lyrics will take the listener on a journey.

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