A few weeks ago, I received an email from a musician who read (and apparently enjoyed) my September Art Scene column. How wild is it that someone actually reads my writing?! The email asked if I’d be interested in reviewing a new album recorded in Evergreen. I responded excitedly with a request for the album link and an afternoon coffee as soon as possible. Here’s the result:
One of the first things I learned about Jason Koski, “Grandpa J,” is that it takes him about five minutes to write lyrics over any melody. He records whatever comes to mind and never changes a word after that. A skill like that is a rarity; not only has he developed a fluid method of verbal processing, speaking his thoughts in real time, but he is also devoted to the sincere and unfiltered truth. His latest album, Subconscious Retribution, is jam-packed with stream-of-consciousness-style dialogue that reads almost like a diary. “It’s being able to pull the subconscious out into a tangible form of creation,” Jason explained. In contrast to some of his previous work, Jason played every instrument on this project. Many of the songs were recorded on the spot, including “Books & Lines” and “In The Shadows.” Lyrics and melody are written almost simultaneously in these instances, resulting in a unique snapshot of a singular creative moment. “That it happened so quickly and organically astonished me,” he confessed. Filled with idiosyncrasies that aren’t subjected to rounds of edits and manipulations, the album feels fleeting and unstable—like an attempt to preserve specific mindsets that pass before they can be fully processed.
“That it happened so quickly and organically astonished me.”
I sense this in conversation with Jason. He’s a little squirrely in the way that “ideas’ people” often are. His brain moves fast. He jumps from one thing to the next very quickly, occasionally even interrupting himself as something more exciting or relevant comes to mind. These kinds of conversations are always most enriching for me—I love being pulled along by someone following a thread that leads us to something unexpected. Ideas, references, and memories bounce around in constant motion. Perhaps it makes sense that Jason’s favorite lyric on the project is: “And all these things float around like a one-wing bird trying to reach the clouds.”
Jason moved to Evergreen from Minnesota in 2012. He chased his passion for songwriting up into a far-flung cabin in Brook Forest. He spent one year recording music in this cozy, remote home studio before traveling to record across the country. Now, Jason is back in Evergreen building his forever home, which will incorporate a 360-degree open room studio designed for optimal recording sound. His work is scattered with the voices and influences of neighbors, friends, and fellow local musicians who join him to jam and enjoy music together. On “In The Shadows,” there are “probably 15 voices,” he estimated. “Some are friends, some play music, some enjoy music.” As a result of the friendly atmosphere within which this song came to life, the melody has a very inviting and organic feel to it. Many other songs sound romantic, but Jason clarified that they aren’t. “Some songs have nothing to do with the relational,” he divulged, even though they might appear to be; take “You Were My First,” for example. Others draw inspiration from the complicated lives of close friends. “Pictures In Window Frames” plays with narrative voice in a unique manner, adopting the perspective of a friend going through something very painful.
When asked about his musical inspirations, Jason handed me an abundance of artists. While Wilco may be an unsurprising influence for his rough, folk-rock style (Jason’s seen them in concert over 50 times), there are many under-rhythms, baselines, and guitar riffs that pull from the likes of Megadeath and Metallica. “You can’t really hear them,” he said, “but you can subtly feel it.” Jason also credits the Minneapolis DIY and punk scene, attributing his interest in loud overlapping vocals to that landscape in the ’90s.
Give Subconscious Retribution a listen here: grandpajmusic.com, and let Jason know what you think at [email protected].
There’s one last thing I’d like to mention before closing out, which was a question Jason posed in his initial email to me: I see in your bio in the Serenity that it says you have a deep passion for human connection. What do you mean by that and in what way do you strive to create these connections?
To which I responded: I try to approach my interviews with curiosity and an interest in discovery. I love meeting passionate, creative people who love what they do. In short, I’m interested in who you are and why you make what you make!
So, if you’re reading this and you have something to show the world… I’d love to connect.
