Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how your childhood impacted your
musical direction?
A: One of my first childhood memories was playing with my Fisher Price record player that my parents bought me. I had a steady rotation of Men At Work’s ‘Business as Usual’ (my first ever LP), M’s ‘Pop Muzik’ (first single), and Blondie’s ‘Heart of Glass’. Fitting, perhaps, that I was a college radio station DJ for multiple years, spinning everything from 80’s music to rock, classic rock, and alt rock. The moment that I connected music to expressing romantic feelings is when Lane performed a saxophone serenade to Monique in the movie “Better Off Dead”. I knew then that I wanted to learn how to play an instrument. Turns out, I wasn’t very good at it. ��
Q: Can you describe the musical style of Jason Schoellen in three words?
A: Heartfelt. Upbeat. Uplifting.
Q: How do you stay connected with your fans, and what role do they play in shaping your musical journey?
A: I had never released an album – and had no plans to. As such, I could fit my fanbase in a phone booth. �� My biggest fan – and the one I wrote this for – is my bride. And she IS my musical journey. Her love and her beauty are woven into every song.
Q: You have just released your new album, ‘Ballads For My Bride’. Is there a story behind it?
A: It started out as a single love song that I wrote for my wife while she was away on a work trip to a neighboring state. She broke something in my mindset a week or so prior that took my love for her to a whole new level. While she was gone, I was experiencing a longing to have her near unlike anything I’d ever experienced before. Perhaps I leaned into my connection between music and emotion, but… I started writing lyrics for a song that tried to capture how she operates with such beauty and grace as a loving wife… all with apparent ease. When the lyrics were done, I pondered how I could make a song from it – despite not having played an instrument in more than 35 years. I stumbled upon an AI platform that allowed me to input my lyrics – and the sounds and feelings I wanted to wrap around them – and generate a song. After much musical massaging, ‘You Make It Look So Easy’ was born. The creative process was cathartic… and the crack I created in what I held back for so long became a dam burst. I tried to capture the ache I was experiencing in ‘One More Sleep’ as I was counting down the nights until I could be reunited with my wife (‘Until I see you again, I’ll see you in my dreams’ / ‘One state away, but it feels like a million miles tonight’). I delivered the song as an MP3 e-mail attachment titled “Play Me.mp3” to her on the final day of her work trip. I asked that she not to open it until later that evening when we would do a FaceTime call. It didn’t take long for her to realize that it was for – and about – her. Her reaction to being sweetly ambushed by a personal love song is still beautifully etched in my mind. By the time she got home, there was a total of four songs waiting for her. Over the coming days, my wife and I had deep discussions about my “expressive pendulum” and how far to one side it had swung. This inspired a couple of additional songs. At this point, I was hearing song titles, hooks, lyrics, and choruses in almost everything. I’d jot them down at sporting events. I’d set reminders while at stoplights. I’d wake up – sometimes twice – in the middle of the night with song ideas in my head that I’d roll over and e-mail to myself to flesh out later. Shortly after I put the finishing touches on the tenth track (‘Just the Start’), my wife and I almost jokingly asked each other – what if we released these to the public? The songs were never intended to be out in the wild – it was just a personal musical love letter that I kept penning as feelings continued to surface. We agreed that if even one person could reflect on the love they have for their “one” — and perhaps rekindle a fire — it would all be worth it. If people thought the tunes were catchy or made their commute better or brought a smile to their face, that was just gravy. Just days after releasing the album, a friend asked if I could help them write a love song for their spouse that would express how much they love and appreciate them. That nearly broke me.
Q: What is your favorite track from the album and why?
A: That’s like picking a favorite kid. Ha! I’d say that the album’s core 10 songs are bookended by my two favorites – but for different reasons. I love the upbeat, driving energy of ‘You Have No Idea’, and it captures what I’m feeling in the now. Through my wife’s naïveté or my lack of communication — or both — I don’t think she’s keen to how graceful and lovely she is. How just the little things she does makes my heart flutter… and that I’m falling in love with her more every day. ‘Just the Start’ is a retrospective of our love journey of 23 years since our first date… a date that almost fell apart as I feared I was getting stood up due to her late arrival (unbeknownst to me, she was caught up in rainy rush hour traffic). It includes the moment I knew with all my being that she was the one, and also my proposal to her on my 28 th birthday. We went from nearly being over before we even began to being in love now more than ever… all while raising two amazing girls. As much as I love the story we’ve written thus far, I’m really excited about what the future has in store. I’m not gonna lie… I still get teary-eyed listening to this one. The onion ninjas sneak up at the end.
Q: Can you walk us through the creative process of producing the album, “Ballads For My Bride”?
A: It often started with a theme that I’d summarize in a song title, often with a slight unexpected twist on words. Choruses quickly hit. The rest was a raw dump of emotions and feelings… putting into words what my heart was saying. Then organizing them and tweaking for flow, rhyme and rhythm. With the lyrics locked in, I’d dive deeper into the instruments and tempo. Should it be synth with delays that hauntingly echo to capture the ache? A simple guitar that is almost naked, leaving the vocalist exposed? Or are we going for more of a playful strum and slap for a bit more pop to capture the joy? Does the song shift in emotion as it progresses – one of regret to one of determination? In that case, constructing a progression of musical and vocal energy throughout with a build- up at key moments. Should the instruments disappear briefly only to come back in for a crescendo? Then I’d ponder what the vocals should sound like. Are they raw? Vulnerable? Soaring? Playful? After inputting my lyrics and detailed musical direction, I’d generate a version and listen. Did the output capture the vibe? Does the emotion come through? Do I FEEL it? Does the rhythm of the song get choked off… or does it flow, allowing the listener to stay in a “zone”? I’d tweak until each section of the song felt right. I’d often find myself getting amped up during playback, fist pumping and yelling “let’s gooo!” as the song was delivering on key moments. It was a pure creative rush unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before.
Q: Who has been the most supportive person in your life and musical career?
A: My bride. It’s why I wrote a love song (and then nine more) for her. She haspulled me out of some doozies. She is stronger than she realizes.
Q: Reflecting on your body of work, each song holding its unique significance, could you share a particular track that stands out to you personally? What makes that specific tune special, and why does it hold a place of pride in your musical journey?
A: “Just the Start” was the most challenging to get right. I was struggling to get the feel in the tune and the flow wasn’t there. I had to strip it down to the foundation and take a few different approaches to it before the “a ha” happened. I also incorporated “the moment I knew she was the one” into the song. The big musical breakthrough happened when I tweaked the lyrics to the bridge going into the final chorus. It brings the song home beautifully. When I started crying at my desk, I knew the song was done. It is such a personal telling of our love story… one that is not fully written yet. I think it was the perfect way to wrap up the album – reflecting on the beauty of our past yet eyes ahead with wonder and hope.
Q: Exploring the diverse creative processes within the music industry is always fascinating. Could you provide insight into Jason Schoellen’s unique approach to crafting music? From the initial spark of an idea to the finished song, how do you navigate the creative journey and bring its musical concepts to life?
A: I used to tinker with multi-track editing software and made bedroom remixes of U2 songs. I have always been fascinated by the subtle details a producer works into their craft – whether it be panning or light background synth loops or effects that often go unnoticed. So I’ve had – at a basic level – an appreciation for the craft… but never the talent to play instruments or the tools to produce music.
When I stumbled upon the AI platform after writing the first song, it changed everything. It bridged the very large gap between concept and creation. I’m grateful for it as I was able to take a firehose of feelings and put them into songs when I otherwise wouldn’t have been able to do so. I look back at the process as creative therapy. I truly believe my wife and I will look back fondly on this album decades from now and reminisce about this moment in our lives – and our time together as a whole.
Q: As we wrap up our conversation, looking ahead, what aspirations or dreams do you have for Jason Schoellen, and what message would you like to share with your fans as they continue to accompany you on this musical journey?
A: My dream is to be the best husband and father I can be. To be more than just present. Time is in short supply… and you don’t get any of it back.
The message I would share is this: if you have a significant other, ponder how open and honest you are. Do you tell your “one” how you love them? How you appreciate them? Let them know you savor the simple things – how you adore their sweet smile or their playful quirks. Live in the moment. Love in the moment. That’s my dream for you.
