Home Interviews Artists Veteran Singer-Songwriter Kyle Jason: Class, Elegance & Sophistication

[INTERVIEW] Veteran Singer-Songwriter Kyle Jason: Class, Elegance & Sophistication

Kyle Jason interview
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What do former professional basketball players; Julius “Dr. J” Erving and David Ancrum, NFL Hall of Famer John Mackey [RIP], actors; Sandra Dee [RIP], Steve White and Gabriel Casseus, instrumentalists; Arvell Shaw [RIP], Roy Haynes [RIP] and Miff Mole [RIP], radio personality Howard Stern, comedian siblings; Charlie [RIP] and Eddie Murphy, Hip Hop artists; Flavor Flav and Chuck D, and bonafide quintuple threat; veteran singer-songwriter-musician-actor-videographer Kyle Jason all have in common? The answer is rather simple; they hail from Roosevelt, New York, originally known as Rum Point and Greenwich.

Kyle Jason On:

“Amsterdam Cool” Single:

One of my favorite places in the world is the Netherlands. My time in Amsterdam was nothing short of magical. My first time there was when I was on the road with Funkadelic. It left me with sooo much inspiration. I marveled at the people, the scenery and the energy. I remember I kept saying, “This place is so cool!” With that, I started referring to everything I thought was cool as “Amsterdam Cool.” I finally put it into a song, (Laughs).

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EUROPA Album:

Another opportunity to push the needle forward. I’ve never liked repeating myself, as an artist or as a human. While on the road promoting, The Right Place, I started feeling a new energy. An eclectic, 4 on the floor pulse that was the birth of Europa. Not sure how that works, I’ve just learned to accept The Muse when she calls. The Right Place feels warm, seductive and something that handles you with care. Europa is definitely a departure from that. Well, maybe not the seductive part…lol. With Europa, I was moved in the direction of Dance, Space and Time Travel, Self reflection, Finding Freedom and The Loss of Love. It’s a lot, I know…but we found a way to put it all together.

EUROPA vs. Other Kyle Jason Efforts:

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Again, I’ve never liked repeating myself… wow, I just did it, (Laughs!) If you listen to my body of work, no two projects are alike. It’s actually not an intentional thing. It’s simply this…I’ve been making records for over 30 years now. I’ve learned to stop questioning and / or worrying about the end result of a project. I trust The Muse and every direction she moves me. Europa, as well as all my other projects, are prime examples of that.

Singer Songwriter Kyle JasonSongwriting Influence(s):

People…I’ve always been a people watcher. Sit down at a coffee shop, or go for a stroll in the park. People give you so much, if you simply pay attention. Watch, listen and experience people, your creativity will expand exponentially.

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Musical Inception:

It begins with my mother and father. Both were singers. My father was a Doo-wop singer named Frankie Love. My mother was in a group called The Cotillions, kind of like a Diana Ross & The Supremes type group. Growing up with my mother, I learned to appreciate All kinds of music. She played everything from Motown and Stevie to Aretha and Marvin, to Hendrix and Led Zeppelin, to Otis Redding and Nina Simone…on and on and on…you get the picture. That created my love for, not only music, but diversity in music.

Roosevelt, NY:

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Roosevelt is actually on Long Island, NY. It’s about 40 minutes from NYC. More of a suburb. However, Roosevelt was an incredibly competitive place to grow up in. We were all driven by the best of the best. Fighters, boxing, karate, singers, musicians, etcetera etcetera. For me, what started it all was James Brown. My mother took me to the Apollo Theater when I was 5 years old to see James Brown. It changed my life. The soul, the pocket, the sweat, the energy. It absolutely lit the fuse. Stevie and Marvin were also very big influences`. I would say the strongest influences that resonate, to this very day, are Sly, Funkadelic and Prince. They always fearlessly cracked the code. Heroes all…

THE MARTINI SWING:

TMS is a concept I came up with in 2015. The ultimate night out on the town. Being a big Sinatra fan, I’ve always loved the way they enjoyed themselves. Gentlemen with pinky rings and sharkskin suits. Ladies with pearls and nylons. Dinner and a show…steak and bourbon. A night cap with friends. What a marvelous time it was. I captured that energy with modern music and style, and took the show along the East Coast from NY to Florida. We had a lot of momentum, then Covid hit. I still get people asking when TMS is coming back to town. We might get back to it.

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Chuck D:

I played Pee-Wee League football with Chuck’s younger brother, Eric, so we met a loooong time ago, lol. As we grew, we would reconnect through honing our crafts. Chuck was in Spectrum City, and I had my band. We rehearsed in the same studios at the legendary 510 South Franklin Street in Hempstead, NY. Even after Public Enemy became what we now know them as, Chuck, Griff, and the entire group remained close to me, being respectful and supportive of my talent. Chuck got a small imprint through Columbia Records, and offered me a deal with his label in the hopes Columbia would take me directly, which they did. That led me to touring with the late Frankie Beverly & Maze, and also introduced me to George Clinton and got me on the road with Funkadelic. It was a pretty good run.

Wish List Collabo(s):

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This is a good one. Sinatra and the Rat Pack: To share those on stage, impromptu magical moments, and see if I can hang with those cats. Van Hunt: Because he is, without question, pen to pad, the absolute best of my contemporaries. Bilal Oliver: Because his freedom moves my spirit. Every time I see him live, I simply can’t stop smiling. The brother is truly connected to the other side. Alex Isley: Because she and her art is the equivalent of heaven on earth. She is ethereal, she is the air I breathe. Nothing comes close. Chaka: Because she is simply the pinnacle. Plus, I’ve had a crush on her since I was a kid.

Dream Venue:

Well, the answer is the Apollo. (As a solo artist) I have played there, but it was for a tribute for George Clinton. There were a lot of us up there…LOL. For my name to be on the marquee and me to sweat on the same stage where JB did his thing, man, that’s a dream come true.

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Current State of Music:

Not with the music that is being promoted, and pushed on the masses. I do, however, think there are some amazing artists out there, making art that pushes the needle forward and will carry art where it needs to go, if given the chance. THAT music, we have to search a little harder for.

Longevity:

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Being honest.

Outside / Additional (Future) Aspirations:

Simply to stretch to boundaries, attack my desires with passion and truth, and continue to let the Muse lead the way.

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Acting:

I haven’t auditioned for anything in years. My chops aren’t sharp anymore, for that game. I’d have to study and workout a bit, before I even considered it. I respect the craft too much to disrespect it.

Biggest Career Moment(s):

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Being able to meet, work with, perform with, write with, and record with legends such as Prince, Issac Hayes, Mavis Staples, Curtis Mayfield, George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, Bernie Worrell, Chuck D and more. I cherish every moment I get to share space with someone who is better at this than I am. I’ve learned so much. I’ve been very fortunate thus far.

Fan-base:

If someone wants to engage with me, I’m honored. I take the time and meet them where they stand or sit. I listen to what they are saying and engage honestly. If there are questions, I respond truthfully.

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Most / Least Fave Part Of Biz:

Favorite part: Seeing the expression on people’s faces when my art touches their soul. Least favorite: Sweating so much. I’ve destroyed some pretty nice outfits performing on stage…LOL.

Career Advice:

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First I would say, “Don’t follow MY footsteps!” Just take a piece of me, and then take more pieces from all the other artists you like. Put it all together, and walk your own path. Create your own truth, and forever hold yourself accountable in that truth.

Five to Ten Year Game Plan:

Much more performing. I would love to take the next ten years and really work the globe.

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What’s Next:

Much more music. I’m dropping 4 albums in 2025. I’ve got way too much product I’ve been sitting on, for waaaay too long. It’s gonna be a fun year.

Confrontation Camp [Kyle Jason, Mistachuck, Professor Griff & DJ Lord]:

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CC was a one off. We had planned to do some touring, but there were so many conflicts with Chuck’s schedule, we never really got it off the ground. Unfortunately, one and done.

Closing Thoughts:

No matter what you do, Don’t be afraid to step into the light.

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Todd Davis
Veteran music journalist and indie publicist Todd Davis, who hails from the San Francisco Bay Area, and has contributed to a variety of national, regional, online, weekly and daily media outlets; including The Source, XXL & Billboard, to name a few, is happy to report that he has recently joined the Parlé Magazine family. Looking forward to many great things to come...