Jason Walker
Photo credit: Nick Brier
Jason Walker is a singer/songwriter based in Nashville, Tennessee.
His latest single “One Foot” was released on August 7th. Co-written with Rick Seibold and Elizabeth Bennett, the uplifing record is about moving forward through heartbreak one day at a time.
"One Foot” is a song about determination in the midst of defeat. When I wrote this song, it was for someone else, but now I’m in a season of life where it directly speaks to me. I love the universality of music in that way,” explains Walker.
The Nashville-based artist collaborated with various DJs like Steve Aoki, Sick Individuals, Gattuso, and DJ Antoine.
His 2016 single with Norwegian artist/producer Kygo, “Sunrise,” landed him a spot on his 2017 Kids in Love Tour, playing 26 shows in North America and Europe alongside Parson James, J-Hart, Bonnie McKee, Conrad Sewell and more.
“One Foot” is now available worldwide.
His new single “Enemies” will be available on all platforms this Friday. Pre-save the new single here.
Photo credit: Nick Brier
Introduce yourself. What’s your story?
I grew up in Illinois in a large family. I’m the second oldest of 7 kids: 6 boys and 1 girl. My parents worked at a church growing up, doing music. I started saying at age 8 that I wanted to go into music and began filling notebooks with chords and melodies. When I was 14, my parents got a divorce and it became public that my father, who was a Southern Baptist music minister, had been hiding the fact that he was gay. He ended up moving out of state and, from that point on, the 7 of us were raised by my mom. I was very angry at my father for leaving. I was raised in a culture that frowned on homosexuality, but I was never really upset about finding that out. I was angry that my family had been torn apart and that my father had just left the picture. It took a long time to understand that life is full of complexities that you cannot understand sometimes until later. This is when I began really writing songs. I used music as therapy. We had an unfinished basement in the farm house we were living in, and I would go down and play the piano and get all of my emotions out. I wrote songs about forgiveness, songs about never being able to move on, and anything that I felt. I had a 4-track tape recorded and started recording some of them.
Do you remember your earliest musical memories?
I remember starting to play piano at age 6. Not all kids enjoy piano lessons, but I, for some reason, loved it. I began playing every day and would try to play things as fast as I possibly could. I ended up taking piano lessons for 10 years and then taught lessons to a few kids for about a year.
When did you start writing songs? What made you want to write in the first place?
I started writing songs when I was 8. Me and my best friend would write songs in the back of the church can on the way to Cardinals games in St. Louis. I started playing piano when I was 6 and fell in love with the endless ways you can use those notes.
What gave you the confidence to be an artist and release your original music?
I never even really considered the possibility of not releasing music. I remember growing up, one of my friends dads wanted to talk to me about why I was going into music. He said I needed to have an ‘A’ plan, a ’B’ plan, and a ‘C’ plan. I remember asking him ‘Why would I ever settle for the B or C plan?’
Who was the first person to ever believe in you?
My mother. She has been the absolute rock in my life. She raised 7 kids on her own. And I wasn’t an easy one to raise.
How would you define Jason Walker, the artist?
Jason Walker is an emotive pop singer/songwriter who is trying to be as honest as possible with his life.
"One Foot" is your latest single. What’s the story/inspiration behind this song?
I wrote ‘One Foot’ with my friends Rick Seibold and Elizabeth Bennett. We were writing in from a place of looking out at the world and feeling what people need to hear. It was meant to be a song of inspiration for people. Then, a few months ago, tragedy struck my life and my younger brother was killed by a drunk driver. Eerily, ‘One Foot’ was the next song slated to be released. It now feels like it was written for me and I was just a passenger in the journey of getting this song into the world.
What do you like the most about this single?
I really love the feel of ‘One Foot’. I love songs that feel like a crescendo where it starts small and ends big. I also feel it matches the emotion of this song. When you are in pain, sometimes it feels like you can’t move. This is a song of hope to turn the wheels, even if it’s just one step, one day at a time. Action spurs action.
What can you tell us about the artwork?
I worked with photographer Nick Brier in Nashville, TN for the artwork. I don’t even think we knew we were shooting the cover that day. We were shooting a bunch of different shots and looks and this just happened to be one we threw in. I was like, ‘What if we threw on this big green jacket and then I jumped around’. He was like, ‘Yes’.
What is your goal for this single?
That it would inspire hope for one person. Even if that one person is me. I needed this song.
What does it mean for you to be an artist?
Responsibility. There are different kinds of artists. For me, I want to add to the amazing cloud of creativity that is on this earth. I want to do some for me and some for them. I want to write a song that gets a billion streams and I want to write a song that only one person hears but it means everything to them.
What is the proudest moment of your career so far?
Probably when I initially signed my publishing deal. I was 21. It felt so surreal and almost like I knew it was going to happen at the same time. There have been many highs and lows along the way, but that was probably the proudest I felt.
What major life lesson have you learned so far?
To be flexible. Sometimes I realized I was trying to fit a square peg in a round hole and I needed to shave the sides off or switch pieces instead of trying to force it. There is an ebb and flow to every part of life. I have realized how everything with life is balance.
What are your thoughts on today's global situation and the Black Lives Matter movement?
I think that climate change is a very real thing. I have 2 kids now and it gets scary to think about the future but also frustrating not really knowing what to do to combat the situation. I have hope, but it seems we need to make some massive adjustments to our daily lives and the way that corporations operate.
As far as BLM, I have certainly realized my ignorance, in that, I don’t know at all what it’s like to grow up Black or to be Black in this country. I grew up in an area where I saw a bit of racism, but it wasn’t blatant. I feel that all I can do right now is listen and stand with those that need a voice. I grew up in a culture that taught me that Jesus was for the ‘least of these,’ and it truly has been shocking to see that same culture turn their backs on the ones in need.
In your opinion, what would make the world a better place?
Same answer as above: flexibility. I think everyone should realize we can have a conversation, love each other, be friends, and have debates without it having to be ‘my way or the highway’. I think we have started isolating ourselves with only likeminded people and that only creates division and tension. We truly should be ok with the differences we all have and be flexible with the ways we think or accept others.
What message do you want to give to the world?
That it is ok to feel exactly the way you do right now. Everything is ok. If you feel it, it is real. You are not bad.
Connect with Jason: