Jason Aldean
(Q)-Please state your name,date of birth and place of birth.
Jason Aldean- Jason Aldean. Born February 28,1977. Macon Georgia.
(Q)-Musically,you are not too rock for country nor are you too country to rock and roll. The lyrics to the music on your self-titled debut album, especially the single “Hicktown” exhibit a strong sense of pride in living a “country lifestyle”. How did you fuse the country and rock genres together within the mix of your music and still make a record that is accepted by the country audience?
Jason Aldean- I think the influences are more important than anything else. I grew up as a huge country music fan. My dad was a huge country music fan so he turned me on to traditional country music at an early age. Traditional country music has always been in my life. Being from Georgia,there was a huge southern rock(music)influence in my life as well. So for this album,I wanted to not stray too far from country music,because that’s who I am. But,at the same time,I don’t think there’s anything wrong with putting in a little bit of,”rock flair”,into my music.
(Q)-What was your attitude regarding the songs you selected to represent you,as an individual and as a recording artist?
Jason Aldean- My deal is this. The songs that I put onto the record are all songs that have meaning for me.
(Q)-What does the phrase,”country lifestyle”, mean to you?
Jason Aldean- I think that being,”country”, is more of a state of mind then anything. Years ago,I used to spend a lot of time on a three hundred acre farm and there’s not a whole lot to do when you’re living out there other then work. So,you just kind of find ways of entertaining yourself. Now,that’s often simply by riding four-wheelers(ATV),riding down dirt roads and doing things that people in the city,don’t really know about. If the people in the city do know about those kinds of things,they don’t really experience those experiences everyday. There’s a lot of people out there,living in the country, who love living in the country and who like to have fun.
(Q)-Your use of the phrase “Hick”, in the lyrics to your current single “Hicktown” is interesting.
Jason Aldean- For the longest time the term,”Hick”,was kind of considered a slap in the face. What I’ve always said is,that (phrase) coming from somebody who is not a Hick,then that (phrase)probably is still a slap in the face. But,I’m a Hick myself. So coming from me,it’s kind of me calling myself that. So I’m kind of one of the crowd. That way,it’s not taken out of context.
(Q)-You have worked virtually your entire life to arrive at this moment. What is the experience like for you to finally,after many years of work,see the dream you’ve held so close become a reality?
Jason Aldean- The past five years I have spent in Nashville trying to get a record deal was a very interesting process. At times,it was frustrating. Now,I’m believing in what I’m doing and I’ve finally got a shot at making it and I’ve got a team of people who believe in what I’m doing.It’s a very exciting time.
(Q)-How long have you been playing and entertaining?
Jason Aldean- I started playing honky-tonks when I was fourteen years old.
(Q)-Really?
Jason Aldean- I starting playing that young and that was one of the smartest things I ever did.
(Q)-Why?
Jason Aldean- Once I turned about eighteen,I put a band together and went out on the road. So I was playing for different crowds in different towns every night. I wasn’t playing for just family and friends every night. I was playing for people who did not know me and in that situation,you’ve got to go out onstage every night and you’ve got to impress them. Then,the next night, in the next town,the audience you’re playing to may not like what you did the previous night. So you have to decide right there onstage,how to draw that audience into what you’re doing and how to hold their attention. I learned how to do that at an early age and now that is one thing that’s really helped me as far as my live show goes. I’m most comfortable playing onstage and had I not started playing live at an early age,I don’t know if it would be that way today. But I’ve been at it now for fourteen years and playing live is second nature to me. I think that is a big feather in my cap.
(Q)-Do you have to personally be able to relate to the material that you sing,before you will consider the songs for a recording project?
Jason Aldean- Things that I feel I can relate to,I feel the average person can relate to those same things too.
(Q)-Why?
Jason Aldean- Because I’m an average person like everybody else. I’m not any different then everybody else. So I feel that if I can relate to something then there’s a lot of people who can relate to that same thing too.If it ever gets to the point where I’m just recording songs just to record them and it’s not really songs that I like and that I enjoy playing and the songs no longer mean anything to me,then that’s probably the point when my career is going downhill.
(Q)-Do you realize that the times have changed in country music genre and your unique fusion of country and rock music seems to fit perfectly within the country music format?
Jason Aldean- Yeah. That’s exactly it. The times certainly have changed. Five years ago I don’t know if I’d be doing as good as I’m doing. The times have changed and it’s kind of changed for my favor. So I guess it is the right timing.
(Q)-Do you take anything for granted now that you have a popular single and your career is in high gear?
Jason Aldean- I take nothing for granted. I’m working and I’m staying busy and that means that things are going good. I’ve worked for years to get here so now that I’m here,I want to make the most out of it that I can. The success of the single has been incredible. You know,a lot of people move to Nashville and it’s a one in a million shot to get that first single. So,I keep in mind that everyday brings along something different. I’m enjoying this and working hard because I’m not here to be a one hit wonder. I’m here to have a career. Hopefully, I’ve got the songs on the album to back the first single up and hopefully that’s what will happen.