 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| (Jason Masi) Crazy, busy, full of activity and change. I’ve had a great time in 2008 though. This year my band has traveled as far north as Boston, MA and as far west as Austin, TX. We’ve played some great venues like the 9: 30 Club and the National and have performed with some awesome bands |
| (The Richmond Buzz) Hey Jason, how has 2008 been going for you so far? |
| (The Richmond Buzz) Here are some of the comments listed out on the web: "dear jason,you are HOTT" "Dang Boy...you look good." "Flippin Gorgeous !!!!! " What is it like to get this kind of attention? |
| including Blind Melon, who I grew up listening to and singing along with. Our latest album was licensed out to MTV and Oxygen for use on some of their shows. I think we’ve written some of our best unreleased material this year as well. We’ve also had our first lineup change in years with a new drummer, Craig Sowby. He’s doing an awesome job and we’ve been having a great time getting to know him and are using his skills for some fresh creativity. All in all, it’s been an awesome year so far. |
| Go To www.myspace.com/jubeus |
| Want More Jason Masi?? |
| | | | | | | |
| (The Richmond Buzz) I really dig your vocal performances, you have such a distinctive voice. When did you realize you had the talent to sing? |
| (Jason Masi) Fronting a band is pretty awesome, I have to admit. I think depending on the situation, it’s pretty much like being anyone else in the band for the most part. The difference is I don’t stop running my mouth for hours on stage and if things go right or wrong, it comes back around to me by default. |
| (The Richmond Buzz) Whats your favorite part of making music-writing,recording, or performing? |
| (Jason Masi) Well, I’m not sure what to say about it really. I suppose it’s flattering. I definitely wouldn’t expect it and it’s better than the alternative. I’d prefer “you look good” to “you look bad, you should really do something about that unusual shaped head.” |
| (The Richmond Buzz) What is the wackiest thing that has ever happened to you while performing on stage? |
| Now, at the time, we were pretty musically inattentive, so we didn’ t actually finish the song that day, and it was just another unfinished idea. But later in the afternoon I took a jog and had the remnants of the tune still in my head - pretty catchy, as it turned out. I flopped down on my old tattered brown leather couch, still sweaty, and jotted down some words for a verse as soon as I got home. At the time, I was lyrically challenged and not all that confident about creative writing but thought this was a good start. I asked the guys I was jamming with to help finish out the lyrics over the next couple of days so we could finish the song. Everyone gathered again and racked their brains, throwing out different ideas. There were even people not in the band working on the song from other rooms on the hall. At one point, I sat down with a friend - John McLaughlin, a pre- med student who enjoyed poetry |
| (The Richmond Buzz) So tell me a little bit about yourself? What kind of music are you into? |
| (Jason Masi) I’m a pretty laid back guy. I do take my music seriously, but I try not to take anything too seriously. When I was 18, I was signed up to leave for Paris Island to start Marine Corps boot camp training but had a last minute change of heart. Instead, I took an offer to play soccer at Longwood College (now Longwood University) and did that for a couple of years. I was always a bit sidetracked with music so I kicked off my cleats and became determined to start a band. I was lucky enough to meet some really cool musicians and before long I had started a little musical creation now called Jubeus. As far as musical tastes, I’m really into anything that’s good, and I’ve found that can come in pretty much any style. Of course I have my favorites that I keep coming back to, but it’s usually a different flavor each week. I am a sucker for Motown, though, I must admit. It doesn’t get much better than Marvin Gaye or Bill Withers. |
| (The Richmond Buzz) How long has Jubeus been around now? |
| (Jason Masi) Eons ago, we wrote a song called Coquito Vino as a band. That was really the first original song that we kept as a Jubeus song. Up to that point, we just tried playing other people’s music without much success and had a bunch of unfinished ideas of our own. As I remember it, Seth came into my dorm room, as he frequently did, to show me a sleazy riff. This one went from A major to C9 and had a kind of Latin feel and was pretty fun to vamp on, but it didn’t have any changes. I threw a couple more chords on top of that for a chorus and started humming. A few more people came into the room to throw in their two cents and pretty soon we had a little jam session filled with melodies and countermelodies and the like. |
| (The Richmond Buzz) What is it like to front a band...you have many female fans that are quite vocal about how much they like you. |
| (Jason Masi) That process is pretty amazing, really. You start with nothing, a blank canvas if you will. Then, a prick of an idea and you’ve got some color. Then, one idea after another you keep layering colors until you have a picture. You can shape that picture any way you’d like until it’s ready to be shared with your audience and you spend night after night trying to repaint the picture with the same intensity as when it was originally created. It’s really a therapeutic routine for me anyway. My girlfriend recently showed me an awesome painting that read, “Without music, life wouldn’t be fair.” I believe that’s true. I think it’s a need for every person just like food, shelter, and love. The people that create it just have to go through something to bring it to surface. I’m grateful to have the opportunity to do that and I’m learning more about the process every day. |
| (The Richmond Buzz) Tell me about the first song Jubeus wrote and performed together. Do you remember the first night performing live on stage with the band, how would you say you have grown as an artist since then? |
| (Jason Masi) Well, Jubeus really started as MickyFinn back in 2000 at Longwood, but I’ m the only original member so I’m not sure I’ d really call it the same band. The songs and members took on many shapes and forms until it finally came together in late 2003 as Jubeus. In 2004, we took some old MickyFinn ideas and some new songs to the studio, gave them a different spin, and had our first album, “Two Tone Circles.” So I guess I’d put the official creation stamp as 2003. So, what’s that, 5 years now? Wow, time flies. |
| (The Richmond Buzz) We have a couple of fan questions: (Katherine from Virginia Beach) Jason, have you ever had voice lessons? |
| (Jason Masi) I’d like the biggest mansions, the flashiest cars, and the sharpest suits. Only kidding. I think, most importantly, I want to continue to create music I enjoy and if others appreciate it, that’s great too. I’m lucky to have been able to do what I’ve done thus far. In five years, I’d like to see a few more recordings under my belt. I’d like to have some mastery of the instruments I’m dabbling with and maybe some experience with other aspects of recording. I would love to see some of my songs used on soundtracks for movies or as background for TV shows. A theme song would be golden. Tours to new and exciting destinations are a definite must. I have many dreams I’ll continue to work toward making a reality. |
| (The Richmond Buzz) The music video for "Silence" is excellent and it was really well done, what was your favorite part of making that music video? |
| (Jason Masi) Thanks. We really couldn’t have done it without our friends and fans that came out to help put it together. Meanwhile, Mike Jarvis, our bass player, is responsible for the quality of that video. He’s a real technical geek. He wears an M2 adapter hat when he’s shooting video, for goodness’ sake. It’s ridiculous. But he’s good, very good. Much of that video was torture, quite honestly. It was mid-winter and I was freezing. Moving the set around all over the city was much more than I had bargained for when we started the project and there were so many obstacles that one would never expect. We carried a large organ, full light rig, generator, camera, guitar amps, instruments, stands, cables, extensions for those cables, props, outfits, and everything else you can imagine that we’d need for a music video all over Maymont Park and through downtown Richmond, up and down elevators and steps and into and out of studio apartments. It was truly difficult and I gained a lot of respect for what must go into movies that are hours long. Our video was approximately three and a half minutes. Favorite part - One late evening at about 2am, we were shooting the last TV scene near Gallery 5. A man popped his head out of his apartment window and asked if we wanted him to make us some hot coffee. It was about thirty-five degrees and I was in a pretty thin jacket, so yea, coffee sounded awesome and when it touched my lips it was like heaven. Thank you Man In the Window…you saved me from hypothermia. |
| (Jason Masi) Yes, actually I do get nervous. I think there is an appropriate amount of nervousness before any performance. It shows you care about how it turns out. But, it’s a challenge to keep that nervousness at the appropriate level regardless of the type of performance. A lot of performers will say you have to perform the same in front of 10 people as you do in front of 10,000 people. Well, that’s actually pretty tough because 10 people certainly doesn’t look the same as 10,000. But I try to stay focused enough so that I approach each performance with consistency. I want to enjoy the show and I want the crowd to enjoy the show, no matter how big or small. I think the most important thing is that you don’t let your nerves get in the way of having a great time. After all, that’s why we’re there. |
| (Laryssa) Also, as the group gets older, how does the band maintain keeping to a specific sound for their music without bumping heads on ideas? |
| (The Richmond Buzz) What instruments do you play, and which do you enjoy playing best? |
| (Jason Masi) Oh, geez. Well, we’ve butted heads on musical ideas since day one. That’s how it all started, really. Seth and I would argue about jammed out songs versus tight arrangements. After eight years of knowing him, we still have these kinds of arguments. No two people in this band have ever had the same musical tastes. Somehow, though, there has always been enough compromise to make it work. Maybe that’s the trick. |
| (The Richmond Buzz) What is your favorite song to sing and why? |
| (Jason Masi) Well, I wouldn’t call myself an instrumentalist by any means. I mainly use the acoustic guitar to back up the sound of my voice and come up with ideas. That’s usually how you’ll see me perform live because that’ s how I’m most comfortable. Lately, I’ve dabbled with a bit of piano and am at a point where I can play some things that are listenable enough to be called songs, potentially. I’m practicing with the hopes of getting |
| (The Richmond Buzz) Where would you like to see yourself with your music career five years from now? |
| better and possibly pulling that out live soon. Sometimes, I just like to sing. The guitar gets heavy after hours of holding it on a strap, and I’ll just put the thing down and start belting - especially when I’m singing Motown. |
| (Jason Masi) Recently, the band performed at the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics at the Robins Center (University of Richmond). It was probably one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had - not only as an artist, but in general. The way these athletes appreciated the music was unlike any show we’ve ever played. Faces were lighting up all over the arena and the athletes were up dancing even though it was a pretty formal event. They didn’t have any inhibitions and their appreciation was unmatched. After the show, we stuck around for at least an hour signing CDs and getting to know some of the participants. They had the most warm personalities and kind spirits. I think the entire band was taken aback and moved by the whole experience more than anticipated. I would highly encourage people to volunteer with the Special Olympics to help out or just be a fan. There is definitely something to learn from people who see the world differently. |
| (The Richmond Buzz) What is a night that you will never forget, share one of your best moments as an artist? |
| (Jason Masi) Thanks, Scott. I’m not sure if it was raw talent as much as it was something I found that I really enjoyed that I was determined to make work somehow. I learned that I loved, absolutely loved, music when I was just a small child. I remember sitting in the backseat of my parent’s Impala on the way to pre-school almost in tears from listening to George Michael. Say what you will, that man can sing. As I mentioned, I played college soccer and had been serious about the sport since I was young. So much so, that in high school, I traveled pretty far to play on a good team because there weren’t really any that I thought were good where I was growing up. When I got a driver’s license, I decked out my pickup truck with a pretty sizzling stereo system. It wasn’t until then, on those long trips on I-95 to practices in Northern Virginia, blasting tunes from my Ford Ranger, that I really let loose. Nobody could hear me. They could see me as they were driving by, but I didn’t care. I went pretty crazy at times, and I probably wasn’t the safest sixteen-year- old on the road, but I was finding my voice. |
| (Jason Masi) I don’t really have a favorite song to sing because every night is different. Some nights a song goes great and on other nights the same song might not feel quite right and I’m not sure why. It might just be the mood of the room or me or the resonation of the instruments in my ears or possibly the part of the song I’m focused on that evening. Anyhow, no song feels the same every night, even if it might sound the same. It just doesn’t. This makes it hard to pick a favorite one to sing, but I can say I really enjoy all of the songs from our two records. Some of my favorites right now (maybe because they haven’t been making it on the set lists that often) are: Burning Time, Blue Sky Morning, Good Girl, Natural Mood, Green Island Paradise and Gypsy Dancer. (So check them out and request to hear them live!) |
| (Jason Masi) One thing is for sure - Richmond is rich with talent. A few locals I enjoy are: Modern Groove Syndicate, Dean Fields, Copper Sails, Carbon Leaf, Pennyshaker, Prabir and the Substitutes, Brice Woodall (originally from Richmond), DJ Williams Projekt, and the Jangling Reinhardts. I’ ve also been a longtime fan of Agents of Good Roots and really miss their live performances. |
| (Laryssa) Jason is will you ever cut your hair? (not that I want you to, because it think it's absolutely gorgeous, lol). |
| (Jason Masi) No, but I did take a sight singing course in college. It’s a course more focused on reading music and hearing intervals. I received the worst grade in that class than any other class I had in college. I didn’t fail - mainly because the teacher was sweet and felt sorry enough for me to give me some encouragement near final exam time. Granted, I had never in my life read music at this point and I was in a class with all music majors. I was still responsible for learning this stuff, of course, but with soccer travels and such, it just didn’t happen until the very end. I pulled it together with a B on the final, bringing my previous failing grades in that class up to a passing score. Thank the Lord. |
| ("A Hot Blondie" from Richmond) When you are on stage singing, do you ever get nervous? Your voice is so warm and soothing, it's like a hug :) I could listen to you sing anytime. |
| (Jason Masi) Yes, maybe, no, I don’t know. Listen, I might. The thing is, I need a little scruff to feel comfortable. Not to mention – longer hair works with a starving musician’s budget. |
| (The Richmond Buzz) Have you ever considered a solo project or doing a duet with another artist locally? If yes, which artist(s) would consider collaborating with? |
| (The Richmond Buzz) Who are some of your favorite local Richmond solo artists or bands? |
| (Jason Masi) Something wacky happens almost every night. As much as you want everything to run smoothly, something always happens that you can say is pretty wacky. First thing that comes to mind: Like I said, I love Motown music. Well, we were covering an old Motown number a few months ago and I was getting into it, a lot. I had put my instrument down and I was belting out, hard. I was also moving my body in ways I had no business moving my body. |
| (Jason Masi) Funny you mention it. I’m actually working on a solo project right now. It’s for fun and to try out some new material, get some backburner stuff out, and arrange some songs in a different way. I’ve got a couple of gigs lined up, including one at Ham’s on West Broad Street on August 13 with my bass player, Mike. |
| and picked his brain for ideas. He was glad to help and together we ruthlessly all came up with some words to finish it up. That was all prior to any real gigs. But, conveniently, the 4th floor of our dorm was a social oasis called the Java Hut - outfitted with a stage, bar, and large floor space. We used it for practices until we were ready to invite some friends up to hear our dabblings. The first real gig we had, we invited a couple of the more established campus bands and decked the room out with lights. Actually, we were pretty terrible as I remember and I was a nervous wreck, but everyone enjoyed and appreciated our efforts. That was how it all started. Today, I’ve written a lot more songs and I’d like to think I’ve become somewhat better with each creation. I’m still a wreck I suppose, but I think my work grows with experience and direction. |
| I don’t know what it is sometimes, the music just takes over. Anyway, as we approached the bridge, I was going to take it to the bridge like James Brown often did, and really break it down. In the process of breaking it down, I actually went down on my knee - fast - at which time I felt a tear. The tear was followed by an excruciating pain through my entire upper right thigh. I thought I was going to faint for a moment, but somehow I regained composure and finished out the song and miraculously the set. The next couple of days were just rest, ice, compression and elevation. See the movie “Music and Lyrics,” it was kind of like Hugh Grant’s performance – without the limp off stage. |
| Check out the Jubeus song "Until I Get There" go to www.myspace.com/jubeus |
| To listen to the Jubeus song "Everyone Has A Ghost " go to www.myspace.com/jubeus |
