Jason Reischel
Jason Reischel is that rare breed of true musician who can combine the art of songwriting with the talent of singing. Having discovered his talent at a young age, Jason has gone onto perform in front of live audiences in several states, bringing the crowd to that twilight between elation and intense self-reflection. Riffin' caught up with Jason to discuss the Beatles, songwriting and cramming your talent into 45 minute live performances.
Riffin': How did you first get into performing music?
Jason: Well, I first started working with music after listening to a Beatle's tape. I took guitar lessons for a few years when I was a kid, and then I started writing songs when I was 12. From then on I found out pretty quickly that I really enjoyed writing, and if you give me an hour alone I can write one.
Riffin': How do you get that focus to write a song in an hour?
Jason: Songs kind of just come to me in a complete form. It's like I have the third eye. But there is a time limit to the inspiration. It comes to me in one shot, and that is usually an hour, and I work fast. The lyrics, the beat, the tempo all come at once. My lyrics are very conversational, and they just come. It is the one thing that would make me believe in God. It's like I am channeling. But it's like any other muscle: the more you exercise it, the easier it becomes.
Riffin': How would you describe your style?
Jason: I am calling it country rhythm and blues…not R. Kelley more like early 60's R&B with a country twist. The Beatles also consider themselves an R&B band, even though no one thinks they have that type of sound.
Riffin': How does the county get thrown in there?
Jason: I grew up in North Carolina. One day when I was writing I realized that I could play bluegrass and country music. I don't consider myself country, but you don't always hear what other people hear.
Songs kind of just come to me in a complete form. It’s like I have the third eye.
Riffin': Whom would you cite as your musical influences?
Jason: Nat King Cole, Buddy Holly, Beatles, Bob Dylan, Grateful Dead, Mozart. Really I am so into opera right now. I just feel that when you are a music person, and once I hear something I like, I want every record, need to know every song. Would hate to ever claim to be a fan of a band and to not know one of their songs. Recently I have started branching into classical and opera. It is a new frontier for me to discover. Not really sure if it will influence my music.
Riffin': What is the trend in music in the New York music scene?
Jason: There is a market for every style, and they all exist somewhere. I feel like I see everything, so not sure what is catching on. I like good music regardless of genre.
Riffin': What's it like to be a performer in the highly competitive world of New York City?
Jason: The biggest shock is how they give 4 performers each 45 minute gigs. In North Carolina I would play for 3 or 4 hours. It is hard to represent your breadth in that short amount of time. When you write so much, there are lots of songs that you can do, so I just play what comes to mind.
Riffin': What are some of the challenges you have a faced as an independent musician?
Jason: Well, aside from the music labels dying (laughs). I just do what I have to do. Keep channeling these songs and playing them for people. Have been posted onto Amie Street, and that is getting me some good exposure, and also have stuff on iTunes, but people don't always want to pay 99 cents for a song. I would pay a dollar for Hey Jude, but wouldn't pay that much for a song by the Killers.
Check out these links:
Jason on sonicbids
Jason on MySpace
Jason on Amie Street