RS: How did you become a part of Junior Vasquez's record label JVM?
Jason Walker: Amanda Cee, who is one of the writers of "My Life," introduced me to Junior's camp.
RS: What about Junior's musicality inspires you?
Jason Walker: I have been a Junior fan forever. His interpretation of music is like no one else. He knows exactly what to do and where to do it, he is a genius. I still have to pinch myself when I am in a room with him. He is a legend
RS: Your first single "My Life" was released under the name Junior presents Jason. How important do you think having Junior's name on there as well as yours was for its success, especially as a new artist?
Jason Walker: I think that it was very important. To make a comparison it would be as important to a new artist who might have P.Diddy's name on their record. I believe that it made all the difference.
RS: Is "My Life" about a specific instance?
Jason Walker: Amanda Cee and Gary Brown wrote the song and I was told that there were events in both of their separate lives that led to its creation. When I was presented with the song, I listened to the words and applied them to my own life and went to that place mentally when I recorded it.
RS: Describe your songwriting process.
Jason Walker: For my album, I have written and cowritten many of the songs. I draw on my own life experiences. Pain is great to write about and I have found that some of the toughest times in my life have yielded great songs. Though great house tunes often come from writing about uplifting experiences in my life.
RS: I heard you were covering a Kristine W song. What about her inspires you as an artist?
Jason Walker: I covered "No More" (the intro to Junior's mix of "Sweet Mercy Me"). I will never do it as well as her but I gave it a shot. Everything about her inspires me as he is my favorite vocalist and my favorite artist. "Land of the Living" was the album that changed my life and it was one of the other things that made me want to move to NYC because I wanted to do something like it. I would lock myself in my room at home in Pittsburgh and sing that record, the whole thing, all day everyday. My mom even knows the words to the songs, that is how much I listened to it.
RS: That's one way of spreading the word about dance music. How about the internet, what role do you think its playing in starting your career?
Jason Walker: Well, the upside is that more people can find out about me and get to know my music. The downside, of course. is the illegal downloading.
RS: The accapella of "My Life" floated among the many internet DJs/producers. Have you heard any of the different mixes done by up-and-coming producers?
Jason Walker: No, I haven't but I would love to.
RS: Speaking of producers, how did you like working with Hani on "Foolish Mind Games?"
Jason Walker: I am a huge Hani fan. When I was approached with the song and told that Hani produced it and that if I recorded it I would have to go into the studio and record it with him, I freaked out. It was crazy and I was nervous because it was Hani. I was also a little starstruck around and he could not understand why.
RS: Aside from Junior and Hani, who are your favorite DJs/producers?
Jason Walker: Danny Tenaglia, Sasha, Digweed, Sander Kleinenberg, Lee Burridge, Anthony Pappa, Paul van Dyk, Mike Cruz, Billy Carroll, Peter Rauhofer, Darren Friedman, Rollo, The Scumfrog, Abel, Timo Maas, Gabriel and Dresden, Paul Oakenfold, Deep Dish, Eric Morillo, Hybrid, Danny Krivit, Joe Claussell, Francois K, Frankie Knuckles, BT, Bad Boy Bill, DJ 7up, Manny Lehman, Blue Six, Nick Muir, Angel Moraes, and that is just scratching the surface.
RS: Wow, your really know your music. Club music is perceived by many as mechanical and just "beats." Are you finding it challenging to add such a warm, soulful vibe to your music?
Jason Walker: Not at all, as I have always been obsessed with house music and soul music. If you put these two obsessions together, there you have it - soulful house. Granted, some types of house do not require a soulful vocal but that's fine, I love all kinds of house music.
