Following the release of his brand new single You Should Have Known, and indeed his earlier EP When You Fall, we caught an interview with artist and songwriter Jason Bembry to find out more about his songwriting process and his hopes for the future. Here’s the conversation in full.
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Hi Jason – thanks for the interview, how has 2019 been for you so far?
This year has been really amazing. After releasing my debut EP, the Walls music video, and my new single, I’ve had such momentum guiding me forward. And the year isn’t even half over.
What can you tell us about the song You Should Have Known – how did it come to be, and what does it mean to you?
You Should Have Known is really a love letter to the one who left before any meaningful words could be exchanged. I felt that in order to move on I needed to write the words I was never able to say. It’s become a very genuine and personal song for me.
It’s not been long since we wrote about your debut EP When You Fall – how do you keep yourself on track to write and record so consistently?
I find that I always have songs in my head that need to be written down. I always have thoughts building up. Writing them down and recording them is almost cathartic in a way.
Your voice is stunning on this release – how have you honed your ability over time?
Oh, thank you. I grew up singing in choirs and in performing on stage in musicals so I have that aspect behind me. Singing was always something I loved to do, and there was rarely a time when you couldn’t find me singing: in the car or in the shower.
Who features on backing vocals?
My backup singers for the song are Erica Bigelow, Alissa Jackman, and Sarian Sankoh. I study music with them at NYU, and I love their voices on the track. They add a lot of feeling and emotion to the song, which in turn, makes it that much easier to sing.
Do you think it’s easier to sing well when the song means so much to you personally?
I always find it easier to sing when the song has a lot of meaning to me. It goes along with the idea of catharsis through each performance.
What are your plans and hopes as an artist throughout the coming months?
I’m looking to continue finding my sound and reaching a wider audience. It’s about connecting with listeners and building a fan-base. So not only am I planning more performances, but I’m also working on some exciting collaborations as well.
Is there anything else we should know?
There’s always more on the way. The summer is looking pretty bright!
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Find & follow Jason Bembry on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram or visit his Website. Check out his previous EP release When You Fall here.
