RS: So running your own label, how difficult is that being both
the artist and the label person?
Jason Antone: I wear so many hats here - right now I'm sitting in my
office putting some CDs together to send out to a radio promoter. I
have to remember that show business is about having fun, giving people
a show, yet it's very easy to get caught up in the business. There's
so many opportunities and different things that you can do with your
music and your material. I'm constantly trying new avenues with
MySpace, my website and performances, and there's so many people that
can help you in so many different ways. Time is a challenge. I get
really caught up with it and try and do everything as best as I can,
so it's very challenging to find the right amount of time to devote to
it, but I'm doing it.
RS: Was there a reason you started your own label rather than
trying to sign to a bigger label?
Jason Antone: Yes, I like to do things my way and I really don't
like it when people tell me what to do with my music and my life, so
starting my own label just kind of evolved. I didn't realize that it
was as easy as it is to start your own label. Running it is a
different story, but I felt that no one would devote as much time to
me as myself so I figured I'd be the boss and give myself one hundred
percent. I'm the only artist on my label, so I'm priority number one.
RS: Nice, nice. Do you see an album in the future?
Jason Antone: I definitely would like to do an album in the future.
I'm going to work on another single next and I think after that I'd
like to do a full-length album. I just want to get myself up there a
little bit more. I'm doing a video for this single and want to get my
face out there, expand my fan base and definitely give people
something to listen to a little bit longer than a single.
RS: With the house music scene and Music Plant, why do you think
Chicago has such a burgeoning dance music scene?
Jason Antone: You know, I don't know that answer except when I
travel outside of Chicago. There's just a feeling you get when you go
to the clubs here and there's always some club that's playing some
good music that you want to dance to. Sometimes when I'm traveling
elsewhere it's hard to find that place. I don't know, people have
just got the groove here.
RS: How do you prepare for a performance?
Jason Antone: A shot of Jack Daniels. Just kidding. I always
vocalize, I like to give a great live performance, so one thing about
being a singer is I hate when singers don't sing, so I definitely like
to sing live. It doesn't have to be quite exactly the same as your
recoded performance but it definitely has to be live for that
experience for the audience, I know no other way than that. So I get
myself in the zone, I definitely study other singers and other artists
that I look up to and admire and try to imitate them while updating
myself.
RS: Who are some of the other singers that you admire?
Jason Antone: You know, I admire different qualities about different
people. I definitely admire Georgie Porgie for what he does with the
live performance, if you ever see him perform, he definitely picks up
the energy. Pepper Mashay definitely gets the audience going as well.
Outside of dance music exclusively, I like a good show - more of a
performance for people to look at, and not just a singer getting up
there and singer. When I go to a concert I'm entertained by a Madonna
or Janet Jackson concert where there's dancing, and movement, and
there's a story. It doesn't have to be just about the song but
there's something that you leave there and you think 'wow, I just went
on this incredible journey and I don't want to get off.'
RS: What would you like to say to all your new fans out there?
Jason Antone: I would like to say thank you for the support you've
given me so far and for standing behind me. My song is climbing the
Billboard Club charts and I can honestly say that this is just the
beginning. There's a lot more to come, so stay tuned and I look
forward to giving you a lot of creativity and inspiration.
