Oh, the life of a singer-songwriter. It means having a career where you can actually tell the masses what you think. However, it’s only now and then that you can actually find a musician who truly does the opportunity justice in this genre. Originally from Iowa City, Jason Reeves takes this mission very seriously. He’s been known to say, “I’m just a simple boy that believes in love and dreams,” but his greatest characteristic is his willingness to share this belief. His songs aren’t just about young puppy love or the announcement of doing the taboo (Katy Perry pop).
Self taught on the guitar after discovering Bob Dylan and James Taylor, he has taken this this skill and honed it into tremendous talent. Of course, songwriters write about love and heartbreak but Reeves pulls you in a little closer with his lyrics of hope and renewal as well. He’s been the #1 MySpace folk artist for 9 months and has held a consistent spot in the unsigned acoustic top 5. He now has the chance to share even more with audiences as his album, The Magnificent Adventures of Heartache (and Other Frightenting Tales) becomes available on iTunes on August 12th. If you want a physical CD, you’ll have to wait until September 9th.
Don’t be too disappointed with those dates though, because there’s only one thing better than having a great artist’s CD. For those of you who guessed seeing them live, you’re absolutely correct AND lucky! Jason Reeves plays the Troubadour ( Map ) TOMORROW - July 30th at 9:15 pm along with Jon McLaughlin. Go see a singer-songwriter who can actually write. Until then, feel free to check out the interview he was awesome enough to have with LA.CityZine.
Could you give a brief description of your music?
I would say it’s new folk. Or whatever you’d like to call it. It’s honest.
How many fans do you have on MySpace? How many of them to you actually know?
I’ve got about 60,000 friends on MySpace and I have no idea how many of them I actually know. Probably less than 1%.
Do you prefer gearing up for a tour or coming home from a tour?
I like both but I think I like being on tour better than either.
If you could play a different instrument in your band, what would it be?
I’d switch off between the bass and the banjo.
How long have you been playing music? How many instruments can you play?
I’ve been playing music since I was 5, and if you don’t mean well I can play guitar, drums, bass, piano, banjo, mandolin, and harmonica.
Where do you see your music in 10 years?
I have no idea where my music will be 10 years. I think that’s one of the my favorite parts. If I could go anywhere…
What would be the best compliment someone could give you about your music and why?
The best compliment from someone would probably be that the lyrics mean something to them. I write my songs for the words and I hope that’s why people listen most.
Whatâs the best piece of advice someone has ever given you and did you take notice?
The best piece of advice I’ve ever gotten has come from many people, and it is to have true patience and perseverance. It sounds overdone and obvious, but it’s too real to dismiss.
What would be the best piece of advice you could give someone trying to break into the music business?
As long as you don’t give up and can deal with the wait, you will get to where you’re going…
What would be the best piece of advice you could give someone trying to break into the music business?
Besides what I said above, the only thing I can say is that you have to be ready to give up everything else, and it must be done out of love and necessity…
Whatâs your most memorable experience on the road story?
My whole life has been on the road at this point, so it becomes very difficult to single out a moment. I guess the moment when you realize you’ve become a true gypsy vagabond, and that you’ve become completely disconnected is one of them. Other than that, everywhere I go is full of strange beauty…
Dead or alive. What 5 acts would you have play with you at a festival?
Bob Dylan, James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Jimi Hendrix, and Pink Floyd.
Whatâs your favorite song to play live? Why?
My favorite song to play live is possibly New Hampshire. That song seems to go somewhere slightly different every time we play it.
If you could rid the world of one song, what would it be?
I could do without “My Humps.”
What messages do you hope your songs send out to listeners? If any.
I hope my songs send an infinite number of messages somehow. At least that love is real and every bit of pain is worth while and beautiful…
What’s your favorite LA radio station and or DJ? Why?
I don’t really listen to the radio ever, but my favorite LA station is K-Earth 101. I don’t have a favorite DJ because they’re all cool.
Who do you play your music for?
I play music for myself and for everybody else - anybody who wants to listen.
Do you support any local charities? If so, who? If not, would you like to?
I support the Red Cross. We just did a benefit show for them in Iowa City because of the horrible floods this year. They are underfunded and overworked and they need help. I wish I could do more, for them and many others, but I’m still young.
Whatâs your guilty pleasure?
I don’t think I feel guilty about most of my pleasures. I’m obsessed with Whole Foods though. I take joy in being in that store than any other…
Whatâs the best cure for a hangover?
The best thing for a hangover is comfort food. A down-home country style breakfast. I’m not typically hung over though, fortunately.
What would be your perfect LA day?
Everyday is a perfect LA day, really. I think that’s the point. I guess to push the limits and get absurd. It’d be nice if there were no cars and no pollution for a day.
What three things could you not live without?
Nature, music and food.
If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be?
If I could change one thing in the world, it would be the way money and greed poison our hearts.
Tell us a fact about yourself we probably donât already know.
Subscribe to our RSS Feed And checkout our coffee competition to win a $30 gift voucher to your favourite coffee shop : click hereI like climbing trees…
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1 Music Tonight: White Lies, Paramore, Jack’s Mannequin | LA.CityZine.com - Los Angeles // Jul 30, 2008 at 12:00 pm
[...] would be the time to put it to use. Be sure to check out LA.CityZine’s latest interviewee, Jason Reeves. Our friends, theAbsolute, is also playing again this evening. Here is the music for [...]
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