Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with Jason Andrew Griffith
What is your earliest memory connected to music?
My earliest musical memory is probably singing in church as a young child. I remember being given a song to learn, so that I could sing it in front of the whole church. The song was called “Violet in the snow” and I can still remember part of the melody. I forgot the words part way through and I had to stop, pull a scrap of paper from my pocket, unfold it, and read the words before continuing. I was young enough that all the church goers just found it adorable:)
How did your passion for creating music begin?
Even as a child learning piano, I used to come up with little bits of melody and lyrics. When I was a teenager, I formed a rock band with some friends. I was the singer and I had to come up with all the melodies and lyrics (we played all originals). The process of creating new songs with my friends was so awesome, we all loved it. I’ve been songwriting ever since.
What’s the story behind your current music project?
In the past few years, I’ve been releasing singles, an EP, and even a live “bootleg” album. But I still have a lot of songs that I haven’t recorded and I want to create an entire cohesive album project. Something that combines everything I’ve learned about recording and music in the past few years, where each song flows into the next. It will be the kind of album you put on during a road trip on a summer’s day, full of movement and rhythm.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?
I have a wide variety of musical influences and they are all distilled through my main instrument which is an acoustic guitar. The end result is something that can sound like old-school western country music, 70’s folk music, 80’s roots rock, or contemporary roots/Americana depending on the song. Everything is strung together by nostalgic themes and sounds, with basic instruments like guitar, bass, and drums.
What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?
The biggest thing I learned is to have faith and belief in myself, how I sound, and the songs I write. Once I figured that out, I realized that the more I lean into what makes me unique, the better I will get.
What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?
My main instrument is a Martin acoustic guitar, but I sometimes write on piano or acapella. I use a voice memo app to record every little idea that comes to me, and a simple notes app to write down any lyrical ideas. When I want to get more creative, I will use Garageband on my computer to mess around with multi-track ideas.
Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?
Lately I have been listening to Boy Golden’s records and loving them. He writes great lyrics and melodies, and uses interesting sounds to create songs that I can really connect with. And his albums are complete and cohesive from start to finish.
How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?
When I had kids, life got so busy that I stopped playing music altogether for years. It wasn’t until shortly after covid that I realized I needed to restart my musical work, and really see what I was capable of. That launched me into connecting with a whole new musical community in Calgary, Alberta, which led to me doing performances at venues I never dreamed of before as well as releasing some music I am very proud of.
What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?
My music is mostly centered around themes of family, nostalgia, and gratitude. I hope that listeners connect with stories of family and messages about appreciating the life you are given and finding happy ways to live your life.
What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?
The most important lesson that music has taught me is about connection. I truly believe that music and dance are universal languages and people from any walk of life can connect with each other through music. This connection gets especially amplified at live performances and it can be so incredibly powerful, sometimes it overwhelms me.
What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?
I would love to perform in my hometown Calgary Folk Festival. It has a long and storied history of great acts coming to perform, with wonderful audiences that really appreciate the music.
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
That is a tough one! It would either be Tom Petty or Paul Simon. They are both a couple of my favourite songwriters and I could learn so much from them. Tom Petty’s songs are so simple and beautiful, but they can really get you moving too. And Paul Simon’s lyrics are just unbelievable and I would love to brainstorm a song with him.
Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links)
My website is https://jasonagmusic.com/ and you can find my music at https://open.spotify.com/artist/3cQi05UjI2CJYIQUGyPB9A?si=A9ZqH37BS3iQ-UW4in9czQ or https://music.apple.com/ca/artist/jason-andrew-griffith/1668494211 or https://jasonagmusic.bandcamp.com/. You can also find me on social media by searching for my username jasonagmusic.
Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?
I hope to release a full album in the next few years, and do a tour to support it. My dream would be if the album can get some good radio support, and maybe an award nomination or two.
What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?
I hope they discover a connection to my music!
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