Video Premiere: Jason Erie "Some Kind of Way"

Americana artist Jason Erie was born and raised in New Jersey singing folk songs as his father played guitar in their basement. After his parents’ divorce, while watching his mother struggle with addiction and his father cope with depression, he began writing songs. 

His teen years were molded by the two-bedroom apartment that he shared with his mother. After getting sober, she turned their home into a halfway house, helping others in recovery. The tragic nature of addiction and sobriety was inescapable. Jason started using music as a daily coping mechanism, writing about the people he grew to love but lost.

After spending five years fronting New-York-based rock band "Waking Up East," Erie decided to take a break from music altogether. Now, the Nashville-based Erie has reignited his love for songwriting and performing. His new album, The Art of Letting Go, paints a beautifully dark picture of suburban America in decay with songs composed in a marriage of structure and chaos, he mixes Americana storytelling with a punk-rock attitude. 

Today, TDC is pleased to premiere the gut-wrenching video for "Some Kind of Way," a roots rocker that nods to the greats, a la Petty and Mellencamp, with its well-crafted tale of two lovers through happiness and devastation.

Enjoy, and share, the video below then read on as Erie answers his Essential 8 where he talks songwriting, the story behind The Art of Letting Go, David Ramirez, and more!
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​Is there a story behind your album’s title?
​The record really is about addiction, love, loss, and letting go. Whether it be of the past, someone else’s, or down to your own ego. I believe it takes time to develop the ability to “let go.” It truly is an art, hence the name.

Where do you draw inspiration from when writing?
I get inspiration mostly from the small things in life, like pumping gas or seeing bloated roadkill at the side of the road—but it’s people that really fascinate me. I find that the most seemingly ordinary people are usually the most pent up. I don’t know why we, as humans, judge one another on how well kept we appear to be because for the most part it’s bullshit. I like to poke the bear in my songs and find out what the characters are hiding behind the façade. 

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Where do you do your best writing?
I would have to say that the places I write are very important to me. I have an old wooden desk that I bought off of craigslist years ago that I wrote this record on. I started songwriting with my mom’s 1970-something couch. I loved that thing. My twenties were at a coffee table, and now the desk. I get attached to pieces of furniture. I’d like to think the feeling’s mutual. 

Do you write about personal experience, the experience of others, observations, made-up stories, something else or a combination?
I think it’s all personal to me. Even if you are writing an observational piece, I think it’s led by empathy. I don’t think there is such thing as a “made-up story” per se, at least to me, those characters seem the most real. I think, after a while, it’s hard for a songwriter because there is always a part of you somewhere in the song. It truly becomes a balancing act between how far you want to let the listener in and how comfortable you are with the real you.  

What’s the best advice to give to a musician just starting out?
Everyone who is worth listening to in the music industry cut their teeth while playing to two people in the crowd—enjoy it. The beginning of your career is the most pure artistic time for any artist. Savor the art you are making and the people you are making it with, because in the end we all end up rotting in the ground, you might as well appreciate the time you spend up here.

What are your “must have” albums for the road?
Springsteen’s Born to Run to start the tour and Nebraska while coming home. In between, definitely Dylan, Blood on the Tracks, maybe some Jimmy Eat World and Manchester Orchestra for fun.

What’s your dream venue and why?
The Ryman because it’s the Ryman. Not a bad seat in that place and such history. All my heroes have played there.
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Who would you love to collaborate with?
If we are talking dead or alive, definitely Lead Belly, he was the real deal. Alive, I would say David Ramirez—if you haven’t heard of him, look him up!

www.jasoneriemusic.com
​Videography by Anana Kaye and Irakli Gabriel www.duendevision.com