James Trevor Lucier III was born in 1993 in Monterey, California. His interest in music began early in life. One of his first significant musical memories was receiving a pink toy violin from his mother. Although it could not produce a pleasant tone because it was only a toy, his attempts to coax music from it influenced the way he would later shape his sound and his approach to songwriting.

When James was nine, his parents filed for divorce, which was deeply traumatic for him. Before turning ten, he attempted to end his life by taking his father’s climbing rope into a group of trees near his childhood home known as the Adventure Trail. He discusses this experience further in his song “Still Here To See.”

James later moved to Deschutes County, Oregon to live with his father, where his interest in musical instruments became a persistent request. His father, who had been involved in music as a DJ and longtime music lover, eventually brought home a snare drum. James immediately began practicing and spent hours playing along to “Reelin’ and Rockin’” by Chuck Berry until his drumsticks broke and the drumhead wore out. His father then bought him a full drum kit and arranged lessons. This marked the true beginning of James’s lifelong dedication to music.

His first teacher was drummer Jeff Ingram, who had toured with Merle Haggard for many years. Ingram’s instruction helped James progress rapidly, and he soon played rhythms far beyond his age level. His father later purchased a professional thirteen piece drum kit from a retired touring metal drummer and strongly encouraged extensive daily practice. Although James loved playing, people around them sometimes expressed concern about how intensely both he and his father approached James’s future in music. His father often referenced drummer Kenny Aronoff’s eight hour practice routine and insisted that five hours a day was not enough. James developed a powerful and flashy playing style and joined a band called Cellar at age fifteen. Cellar toured regionally in Oregon and recorded an EP, but the studio experience discouraged James for a time, particularly the pressure of recording to a click track.

The band eventually dissolved, and tensions grew between James and his father. James began acting out at school and at home and was expelled from every school he attended from middle school onward, often due to marijuana possession. This would become a significant factor later in his life. He moved back to Monterey to live with his mother, whose more relaxed parenting style provided relief but also allowed his behavior to become increasingly erratic.

During this period, James formed a strong musical and personal bond with Vincent Randazzo, now known as Leche Malo. They shared similar experiences as children from troubled homes. James developed a serious drug habit during this time, primarily centered on marijuana but also including alcohol and psychedelics. Randazzo later introduced him to Josh Opitz and Joey Hall, which led to the formation of the rock band Moses Nose. James played bass guitar, and the band recorded an EP and a full length album and toured the west coast. Eventually the band fell apart after serious conflict. Around this time James experienced a period of severe instability that led to his first admission into a psychiatric ward for his safety. He was diagnosed with multiple mental health conditions and, after being released, began using drugs more recklessly while taking SSRIs.

James later formed another band called The Proudest Monkeys. The project filled what he saw as the space Moses Nose had left behind in the Central California music scene. The group rotated through several musicians, including keyboardist Mourad Shehadeh, lead guitarist Rikki Swete, and vocalist Nick Stoeberl, who holds a Guinness World Record. They recorded several EPs and released an album titled Destruction of the Species. The project came to an end when James attempted to trademark the name The Proudest Monkeys and encountered legal action from The Monkees, who were protecting their trademark. Feeling defeated, James disbanded the group. He and his wife then moved to Austin, Texas in search of new opportunities.

Austin proved more challenging than expected. James and his wife worked full time jobs, with her supervising a bank and James taking various sales positions. He spent up to eight hours a day performing on South Congress Avenue in hopes of being discovered, but that opportunity never materialized. He contributed to several projects during this time, most notably as the drummer for the psych rock band Geranium Drive.

The arrival of Covid 19 brought significant changes. The Austin music scene collapsed almost overnight, and the tense political climate influenced James and his wife to leave Texas. They purchased a travel trailer and spent about a year and a half traveling the United States in search of a new home. They eventually returned to Oregon. Not long after, they experienced a life changing event.

On July 17, 2021, their dog Max went missing. James tells more of this story in his song “Bring You Back.” He searched for Max for four months, often eight hours a day, through extreme heat in the northern Oregon desert. Despite every effort, Max was never found. James and his wife still hope that Max is safe somewhere, in this life or the next. The loss devastated them and led them to leave the area where Max disappeared.

They moved to a rundown trailer park in a rough part of Portland, where James’s drug use intensified as he struggled with major depression. He took a job as a budtender in a marijuana dispensary, which gave him inexpensive access to drugs. One night the dispensary was robbed, and James quit soon afterward. He and his wife realized it was time to make a major change. They decided to combine financial resources with James’s recently retired mother, who also needed support. Together they found a home in Douglas County, Oregon, where James, his wife, their pets, and a thriving colony of cherry shrimp now live.

In Roseburg, James began therapy and committed to sobriety. He joined recovery programs and, after several mental health crises and hospital stays, reached a stable equilibrium in sober living that he maintains today. Roseburg has proven to be an ideal place for his creativity. The community is home to many talented musicians and artists, and the local scene is vibrant and growing. James is proud to be part of the band James and the Lost Dogs and to collaborate with regional acts such as Widespread Haze, Fairweather Friend, The Mothersmuckers, Tarantula Trustfund, Oddities, Liam Quinn, Christine Elise, Levi Melendez, and many others.

Along with performing solo and with James and the Lost Dogs, James is active in music academia. He sings tenor in the premier vocal jazz ensemble The Umpqua Singers, the ambassador choir for UCC in Roseburg. The group performs throughout the region for large audiences and travels to distant locations, including international destinations such as Ireland.

James’s dream is to live a life centered around music. His goals include building a prolific body of work, helping listeners feel less alone, and supporting others in creating music of their own. He believes that artistic expression reduces harm and strengthens communities. His concrete ambitions include becoming a platinum selling artist, touring the world, and earning a Grammy nomination or win. Although he does not desire fame, he acknowledges that financial success would be welcome. More importantly, he hopes his songs will enter the cultural landscape in a way that supports people who experience trauma, addiction, or mental health challenges so they know they are not alone.