From tranquil towns to scenic mountaintop vistas, the Hudson Valley has long served as a sanctuary for artists in search of space, inspiration, and community. There’s a unique quality to the surroundings, and as a newcomer to the Hudson Valley myself, I’ve felt this enchantment firsthand. Each week, I will converse with a different artist about what anchors them here – and how this distinctive region continues to influence their lives and their art.
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Today, James Felice, a native of Ulster County and member of The Felice Brothers, shares his reflections on being an artist in Kingston, New York. The Felice Brothers emerged from the Hudson Valley nearly twenty years ago with a beautifully chaotic sound inspired by artists like Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan, as well as literary figures such as Walt Whitman and Flannery O’Connor. In just a few years, the band – now featuring Ian Felice on guitar and lead vocals, James Felice on keyboards and vocals, Jesske Hume on bass, and Will Lawrence on drums – transitioned from performing in subway stations to gracing the stage at Radio City Music Hall with Bright Eyes, along with appearances at events like the Newport Folk Festival and Levon Helm’s Midnight Ramble. Beginning with 2007's ‘Tonight At The Arizona,’ the band played a significant role in the modern folk revival while challenging its boundaries through innovative sound experiments and unwavering integrity. The New York Times described their music as reminiscent of “the rootsy mysticism of the Band,” while Rolling Stone applauded the “scrappiness” of their “folk-rock noir,” and The Guardian praised their songs as “expertly crafted, with literary-inspired lyrics that blend playfulness and depth.”
The band’s latest album, ‘Valley of Abandoned Songs’ (2024), is their first release under Conor Oberst’s new Million Stars label and features the group at their most candid and raw. Striking a balance between hope and despair, the album delves into the quest for meaning and connection through the perspectives of a diverse array of misfits and outcasts. Despite being recorded over several years with previously nearly-lost tracks, the result is a cohesive collection that feels both timeless and attuned to the present.
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Atwood Magazine: What initially attracted you to the Hudson Valley – or kept you here, or brought you back – and how has this place influenced your lifestyle, creativity, and connections with others?
James Felice: I was conceived, born, and raised in the Hudson Valley. I never left; I haven’t even left Ulster County! I never contemplated living anywhere else. It’s likely I’ll spend my entire life here. This is my home and has shaped nearly every aspect of who I am.
There’s something undeniably unique about the Hudson Valley – from its majestic mountains and lush forests to its winding rivers, rolling hills, and vibrant, close-knit creative communities. What do you cherish most about living here, and how does the region influence your artistry, mindset, or sense of belonging?
James Felice: I can't separate myself from this place; it's the environment I thrive in. Everything that I am must have first flowed from a Catskill mountain stream and now courses down the Hudson River, drawn up into the willows, the dying hemlocks, and the proud red oaks, resting in the clear pools of abandoned bluestone quarries.
The Felice Brothers © Caitlin Greene
Situated between New York City and Albany, the Hudson Valley can feel like both an escape and a junction. How does residing in this unique, multifaceted area shape your identity as an artist, and what insights has it provided you that you might not have discovered elsewhere?
James Felice: For me, it’s neither an escape nor a junction. I recognize that for city dwellers, newcomers, and weekenders seeking tranquility and charm, it serves that purpose. However, this place has its own people, culture, and history that are distinct from New York City's influence.
It's intriguing… We benefit as much as we suffer from the culture and wealth that flow up the Hudson River like a vine. These resources support our service industry, which is vital for our economy, and draw many interesting people who generously spend their money and time with us. Some even decide to settle down and make this their true home, which is certainly a positive development. Yet this vine can also strangle us. The considerable wealth of many visitors has displaced many locals, and the rampant culture has diminished some aspects of what makes this place so special.
People come here to access the mountains and experience the 'magic.' We must be cautious not to deplete this location. We should consciously and sustainably contribute back to the Hudson Valley what we take from it, ensuring that this beautiful area remains lush and inspiring, a blend of home and refuge, crossroads and driveway, vibrant and encouraging, and still just another place in
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James Felice from The Felice Brothers shares his thoughts on his journey as an artist residing in Kingston, New York, for our Hudson Valley artist spotlight!