Spread the Social Love:
[altsounds] You have written 200 songs since 2003 and 350 since 2001. Does that mean that you were in a more productive patch between 2001-3?
[Jason] In a certain manner, yes, but 2001 to 2003 was a period where all that I did musically was just write songs and melodies, whereas, it was in late 2003 that I actually bought my first four-track, so from then on, I have kept writing songs, but have had to focus on recording, arranging, and producing them as well.
Shepherdstown sounds like a nice place where everyone knows one another. Is it really like that?
It's a quaint liberal arts setting, and is where I attended University, which certainly allows for a very communal atmosphere. That being said, I'm more of an introvert than most people, so I probably don't know as many people "in town" as the average Shepherdstown resident.
Do you find that self-releasing is harder now than it used to be?
I think that releasing albums yourself can give an artist a sense of freedom, and with it becoming more common, it becomes easier to execute. However, that doesn't mean that it's easier to thrive financially as an artist. I think that financial success has probably become much more difficult to attain in the wake of many high-profile self-releasing albums for next to nothing, which tends to set a precedent in the eyes of the listener. But that may not be a bad thing.
The new album "Almighty Row" Is that meaning a big argument or a long trip downriver?
I always based the album's title on the big argument, or large falling out definition, but the long trip downriver certainly applies too. I actually didn't know of the phrase until I was reading a UK newspaper online, but something kind of instantly clicked when I saw it, and I knew that I had to use it for the title of a release at some point.
Your pic on MySpace is very dark. Can we see a lighter one please?
Maybe in a couple months. It fits the music right now, so that's what I go with, but I intend on some new projects in the near future, so we'll see what that brings.
How important to local music is the WV Musicians network?
It's important, but in my own experience, I try not to corner myself into just the West Virginia market. I've seen stats on where my fans are located, and most of them are from the UK, or states that I've never visited, so that actually tends to translate better than pandering to my own location, which can certainly work, but it's not the route I've chosen to take personally.
You list both the Stones and the Beatles as influences. Traditionally one had to like one or the other.. Which would you choose and why?
If you had asked me this 7 years ago, I would have picked the Stones just to be a contrarian, and also because the Stones had that evil sort of reckless abandon that I was very keen on in my late teens. Not to mention the fact that they are legends, and other than the Beatles, are unparalleled when comes to the music they've put out in the past 45 years. But now, the Beatles win out overwhelmingly, especially when you take into account all of the musical and creative changes they made to their music and their group in such a short span of time. That doesn't even mention the songs they wrote, which are important enough in history to pull them ahead of any act, past or present.
Happy birthday for Oct 1st. How old are you now?
I just turned 26, and I don't feel any different, but no matter if time is relative or not, the clock does keep ticking.
Who is the most important person in your life and music?
That one collectively goes to my wife, parents, and siblings. They have all been very supportive of me throughout my life, and though my work can be rather negative, that is certainly no reflection on any of them. I couldn't have asked for it any better when it comes to the people that I grew up with on the family farm and the new branch of my family that my wife and I have now started.
Any chance of a tour in the UK?
Definitely. I would love to tour the UK (Scotland and Wales included) at some point. I visited the West Midlands, Northwestern Wales, and the Greater London area, and enjoyed my time in all of those locations. I'm trying to get a 7", or even "Almighty Row" released by some small indies out of London and other UK locations, so if that were to happen, that would even be more of a catalyst to start playing my music abroad.
[Jason] In a certain manner, yes, but 2001 to 2003 was a period where all that I did musically was just write songs and melodies, whereas, it was in late 2003 that I actually bought my first four-track, so from then on, I have kept writing songs, but have had to focus on recording, arranging, and producing them as well.
Shepherdstown sounds like a nice place where everyone knows one another. Is it really like that?
It's a quaint liberal arts setting, and is where I attended University, which certainly allows for a very communal atmosphere. That being said, I'm more of an introvert than most people, so I probably don't know as many people "in town" as the average Shepherdstown resident.
Do you find that self-releasing is harder now than it used to be?
I think that releasing albums yourself can give an artist a sense of freedom, and with it becoming more common, it becomes easier to execute. However, that doesn't mean that it's easier to thrive financially as an artist. I think that financial success has probably become much more difficult to attain in the wake of many high-profile self-releasing albums for next to nothing, which tends to set a precedent in the eyes of the listener. But that may not be a bad thing.
The new album "Almighty Row" Is that meaning a big argument or a long trip downriver?
I always based the album's title on the big argument, or large falling out definition, but the long trip downriver certainly applies too. I actually didn't know of the phrase until I was reading a UK newspaper online, but something kind of instantly clicked when I saw it, and I knew that I had to use it for the title of a release at some point.
Your pic on MySpace is very dark. Can we see a lighter one please?
Maybe in a couple months. It fits the music right now, so that's what I go with, but I intend on some new projects in the near future, so we'll see what that brings.
How important to local music is the WV Musicians network?
It's important, but in my own experience, I try not to corner myself into just the West Virginia market. I've seen stats on where my fans are located, and most of them are from the UK, or states that I've never visited, so that actually tends to translate better than pandering to my own location, which can certainly work, but it's not the route I've chosen to take personally.
You list both the Stones and the Beatles as influences. Traditionally one had to like one or the other.. Which would you choose and why?
If you had asked me this 7 years ago, I would have picked the Stones just to be a contrarian, and also because the Stones had that evil sort of reckless abandon that I was very keen on in my late teens. Not to mention the fact that they are legends, and other than the Beatles, are unparalleled when comes to the music they've put out in the past 45 years. But now, the Beatles win out overwhelmingly, especially when you take into account all of the musical and creative changes they made to their music and their group in such a short span of time. That doesn't even mention the songs they wrote, which are important enough in history to pull them ahead of any act, past or present.
Happy birthday for Oct 1st. How old are you now?
I just turned 26, and I don't feel any different, but no matter if time is relative or not, the clock does keep ticking.
Who is the most important person in your life and music?
That one collectively goes to my wife, parents, and siblings. They have all been very supportive of me throughout my life, and though my work can be rather negative, that is certainly no reflection on any of them. I couldn't have asked for it any better when it comes to the people that I grew up with on the family farm and the new branch of my family that my wife and I have now started.
Any chance of a tour in the UK?
Definitely. I would love to tour the UK (Scotland and Wales included) at some point. I visited the West Midlands, Northwestern Wales, and the Greater London area, and enjoyed my time in all of those locations. I'm trying to get a 7", or even "Almighty Row" released by some small indies out of London and other UK locations, so if that were to happen, that would even be more of a catalyst to start playing my music abroad.
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