2012 Q & A

Q: Tell us about 2012. And be honest, was it the movie?
A: I started working on the album in 2008, way before I heard of the movie. I thought the whole Mayan Calendar and lore was interesting and would make for an interesting song. I conceptualized present day tensions and life spirals, then started writing and developing the song. The song kind of evolved from there into the album concept.

Q: The title track (2012) is very “Prince” like. How do you compare it to 1999?
A: I don’t quite compare to someone like Prince. ‘2012’ is methodical, mystical, and derives a certain amount of mythology. There are certainly similarities in 1999 and 2012 with the whole “End of the World” notion. We both just have our own style of party song to commemorate the occasion.

Q: How do you feel in regards to an end of the world scenario?
A: I don’t think that will be for a quite some time; at least not in my lifetime. I feel that any of our worlds can end at any moment. I’m extremely grateful and happy every day that I am Blessed with.

Q: It’s a very unique album, how would you describe the genre/style?
A: Interesting question. I didn’t want to the songs to sound the same or to get categorized into a sole genre. I didn’t want to sound like I was on anther artist coattails either. I went for a blend of rock, electronic, dance, a little house – whatever seemed to work for the song. The songs tend to evolve into a life of their own at some point. Listeners will notice some acoustic guitar on tracks, some break beats on others, interesting base lines and synths…

Q: There is a lot of spirituality in your lyrics. You write you own songs, correct?
A: Yes. I write all my own songs, do some of the instrumentation, and collaborate on additional instrumentation. Well, except for ‘Stairway to Heaven’ (Jimmy Paige/Robert Plant). Many of us have had long roads, painful times, stress, worries, tension…There’s just a lot going on in the world. I try to reach above and beyond through lyrics to try to lift listeners up a bit. Also, we are all truly blessed with such an amazing gift to even be alive. I honestly believe that a higher power has our best interests at heart.

Q: What made you decide to cover ‘Stairway to Heaven’?
A: I’ve always loved Led Zepplin and this particular classic song. Some of the album artwork came from as well with the gray skies. I wanted to reinvent the song and give it a bit of my own style. I was envisioning a “James Bond” meets electro-club kind of track. The song seemed to fit with the ‘2012’ concept. I know that I may get some backlash from die-hard fans of the original, but such is life.

Q: It’s always interesting when artists remake a cover song. Any other cover songs that you would want to do in the future?
A: I would LOVE to do an entire album of covering some of my favorite songs from some of my favorite artists.

Q: Can you name one or two in particular?
A: That would ruin the surprise now if I produced it! Okay, maybe one or two wouldn’t hurt. I would remake Tina Turner ‘What’s Love Got To Do With It’ and ‘Dust in the Wind’.

Q: The album cover does have an interesting look. What was the concept?
A: If the world was to end in some foretold catastrophe, I’d be doing exactly what I love – recording more songs and singing with close family and friends up until the very end.

Q: Tell us about a few of the other songs. Do you have any favorites?
A: Without a doubt, my favorite songs on the album are ‘Soar’, ‘Survivor’, and ‘Goner’. So far, everyone seems to like ‘Hot Mess’ which actually started out as a self-depricating joke. I wrote ‘Goner’ about 10 years ago during a low point in my life. I really wanted to record it for my last album, but ran out of time. ‘Soar’ just became this let’s forget the world problems and take flight song.

Q: You released another version of ‘Go-Go Boyz’. What was the thought behind that decision?
A: The song never really caught on from my last album. I think of the original track as version 1.0. The newer remix was created by Dan Matthews (Klubjumpers) and is definitely more robust and catchier. I really like his style. He’s worked with a lot of mainstream artists in the industry. I also thought the addition made for a nice bonus track.

Q: You reconnected with Talbot Snow (Co-Producer/Soundmasters) on this latest project. How was it working with Talbot again and what made you decide to go with Soundmasters?
A: Working with Talbot is always amazing. We tend to connect intuitively. Neither of us are afraid to experiment or try something new. There are many artists out there that become extremely demanding that a song must sound a certain way, losing a lot of originality. I would rather our sound be a little more distinct. A major role in this album has been a new direction, a new outlook on love and life. Talbot is a great sounding board and is very intuitive in the creative process.

Q: Your albums have been mainly self-produced. Is this your main gig? Are you currently pursuing label representation?
A: Self-Producing an album project or any proprietary venture is always a lot of hard work with challenge, risk, and discipline. I’ve been doing it for years part-time on the side, definitely stumbling through it as I go. I currently work with Entertainment in Las Vegas. I would love to find a supportive label and redirect; shoot more videos, tour, etc…I'm open to the realm of possibility.

Q: You haven’t performed much, why?
A: As mentioned, I self-produced these projects and work full-time. Honestly, I haven’t had the time or additional resources to really to put a performance together that I would be happy with.. If I were to perform, I would want a full well-rehearsed set with a live band, dancers, costumes, and the whole nine yards. If we're going to perform, let’s put on a show!

Q: You mentioned a fear of fame. Isn’t that strange for this type of career path?
A: Definitely. Fame sounds like an ultra-fabulous utopia, a grandiose and idealist Hell. I consider myself to be pretty average in a lot of ways. I value my privacy. This type of path can also attract people with poor intentions; only after what they think a person can do for them. After my last album, I started to feel the double-edged sword of becoming a little more known with a some fan mail, a little hate mail, a few positive and negative encounters. People can be extremely judgmental without taking the time to really to see past the looking glass. You can love me or hate me, but you can also be decent and respectful.

Q: Tell us about an encounter or two.
A: I remember a guy and his boyfriend walking up to me at a club. They were pretty catty in saying ‘Thinks he’s Madonna’, rolling their eyes, and just being Bitchez. Then again, I’ve also had people come up to me in public and say things like ‘Love your music’. I find it a little unnerving being identified from people I don’t know. I guess it’s all relative to the industry.

Q: Noticed a few love-themed songs on the album. Is there someone special in your life right now?
A: Not really. I’m completely available, but not really looking to get involved right now. The songs were more idealistic on my part, more so feeling the love of a higher power. I’m definitely open to the possibility of meeting someone and something more substancial developing. I really want the love of a lifetime, hence the song. I imagine being with someone completely amazing in mind, body, and soul.

Q: So what’s next for Jason Rylan?
A: I’m not exactly sure. I’m thinking of a small break to recoup a bit after the production and post process. This whole project was about 2-3 years in the making. I know a break sounds strange. Typically when an artist launches an album, they want to get out there and promote their new work, shop labels if unsigned, performances, etc…I might do some light promotion until the beginning next year (2011). Other than that, I'm thinking of heading towards new video projects and maybe another album.

To Listen to Sample Tracks and Order a copy of '2012', please click here 2012 Order Page.