Jason Sinkhorn: Demonstrations 2009-2015
After my first conversation with Jason Sinkhorn, it didn’t surprise me to learn that all of the tracks of his new release, Demonstrations: 2009-2015 were recorded by him alone. He used old analog equipment and the early “Garage Band” app for iPhone wherever he could find the space and time over a 7-year period. Some were recorded in a bedroom and one track even had the vocals recorded in a car in a parking lot while Jason was waiting to go into a job! He is a guy who wants things done his way, on his time and the tracks on this release show it. Jason plays everything on every track of every song; each of which he wrote and produced.
The seven tracks on Demonstrations are songs you would like to hear while enjoying some quiet time. These are not big singalong songs about trucks and tailgates and beer drinking, pasture parties. These are tunes that encourage you to look inside yourself and maybe put yourself in a different place. These are songs that just might make you think! I talked with Jason about the background of the songs on this new release of old songs:
Photo Courtesy of Jonathan Newsome of Capture Kentucky
“Old Poseidon’s Daughter” started as a screenplay for a short movie. One of Jason’s friends had always wanted to make movies and they would write up scripts for future projects. The song was inspired by the Hans Christian Andersen “Little Mermaid” story, but from the male perspective and married to the 1972 hit song, “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl).” This time Ariel takes a bar job to sit back and observe people. It features a fine guitar solo from Jason. He says he hadn’t played lead in a long time, but always had an ear for it and enjoyed the chance to record some fretwork here. Jason also created the “whale song” effects at the end of the track where he takes the song underwater. He says this was recorded around the time Sturgill Simpson released his Sailor’s Guide to Earth record and used that as a bit of inspiration.
“Evelyn Moontower” is built around the line “the stars out there are dying/ but the light is just arriving.” A lyric Jason says he had for a long time and needed to create a story around. He used the romance of an unattainable girl on a mountain being sung to from down in the valley.
“What the Valley Taught You” is another appearance of the song Jason released earlier as a single. This version is one of the old analog tracks that he built on with layered vocals and a guitar capoed really high to simulate the sound of a mandolin. You really notice the “youth” in his voice compared to the later works.
“Jericho” is my personal favorite on the record. I was happy to hear that, lyrically, Jason considers it his favorite song that he has written so far. He grew up around a lot of people who also grew up with Kentucky neighbor, Eddie Montgomery (of Montgomery Gentry fame), when he was at the top of the country music world. The song deals with the mixed emotions that these folks have with the local “fame figure” coming back home. While there is a lot of pride associated with their success, there is also a certain amount of jealousy among those who were also trying to have their own success but haven’t made it. He sees a lot of the same feelings today from the people who have known Tyler Childers and Sturgill Simpson as they were coming up. The message here is that you can be happy as long as you give it your best shot.
“My Name is No One” comes from the idea of the extended family lineage of a “Boy Named Sue.,” a tune penned by Shel Silverstein and made popular by Johnny Cash. ”My Name is No One” is a fun song that takes the side of a kid who doesn’t even know his own back story and is just living a rough life, but is still able to carry on. This track really helps break up some of the heavier themes of other songs on the record. I’ll bet it’s a lot of fun performed live, as well.
“On My Knees” is a heartbreak song about losing someone prematurely; a song that Jason says still affects him emotionally when he performs it live. He remembers recording the track on a rainy day, hoping to capture that melancholy vibe and shaping the song to recreate the mood. The excellent “lump in the throat” piano solo is actually Jason working the “Garage Band” app to mimic the keyboard.
“Cover Myself” is built around the lyrics, “The only outlaws anymore are just guilty of petty theft/ I’m gonna write my own songs and cover myself.” Jason likes the fact that the track doesn’t really have any linear story, but just “crams three or four puzzle pieces together to write a song.” He calls this one a “songwriter’s song;” remembering staying up all night trying to write a great one and thinking you’ve done it only to realize, “in morning’s blazing glory/ it’s just another walk of shame.”
Now that Jason Sinkhorn has had a chance to clear out that old notebook of songs he’s been carrying around since he was a kid, it will be exciting to hear what new songs will come from this talented Kentuckian. In the meantime, we can enjoy the introspection he offers on Demonstrations 2009-2015.
Jason Sinkhorn:
https://www.facebook.com/jasonsinkhornmusic/
Demonstrations: 2009-2015
Photo Courtesy of Jonathan Newsome: