Interview: Jason Zeeman
As front man in South African band Reason, Jason Zeeman won a SAMA (South African Music Award) and supported international acts such as Delirious? and Tree63. Now this talented singer/songwriter introduces his first solo album in this insightful interview with LTTM.
For those who haven't heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got involved in making music?
I started out years ago as a 'not so talented', 'wet behind the ears' utility musician in the church band. I used to get the keys from the Pastor and go into the church on a Saturday morning and just pound away at this vintage Ludwik drum kit they had. I was terrible at it, but it was a start. Around the same time I sort of picked up the acoustic guitar and started messing around.
I had a family friend who would come round after work and he’d teach me a few things. I’d then sit on stage at church behind the rest of the band where no one else could see me and try keep up with them all. A little while later, and at another church where I was the regular drummer, the worship leader gave a day’s notice and left. I found myself having to lead the congregation in song, with no band, just me, and (wait for it) backing tracks… I decided that this was way too uncomfortable for my liking and taught myself enough piano chords to be able to lead worship the following week from the piano. Absolutely everything was in C major and it was very, very questionable...
Fast forward a few years and I met the drummer from Reason who asked me to join the band. I had no idea at the time, but this was where I was to be schooled in all things musical. Playing with accomplished musicians was a good stretch for me and it pushed me to where I am now.
My first attempt at songwriting came when Andre Kempen (I lift my hands), invited me round to work on some songs. That was also a very important process and period for me to have experienced.
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There was definitely a sense after 7 years with Reason that new seasons were coming. Guys got older, had kids, kids got older, and we felt that we had accomplished quite a bit. We toured South Africa well, won a South African Music Award, and got to play with so many of our heroes. We’re great friends still and play together almost most Sundays at church. But there was always a feeling for me that newer things had to come. I fell in love, got engaged, (now married), and even walked away from it all for a while. It was around about last year this time that I started dreaming up “All Things New”, because with new seasons come new things.
Tell us a little bit about your new album 'All Things New' and what the inspiration behind it was?
Between 2009 and now, I had been in studio 3 times and recorded 3 full albums. Only the last of which (All Things New) was completed and released. I wrote so many songs. Tried so many things and walked away from it all. It just never felt right. It was always a struggle, things would always go wrong, and that’s just not how I wanted to experience or make music. My concern was always that if I forced it, and fought it, I would end up not liking it. And that’s why there are so many unreleased and unfinished tracks.
‘All Things New’ just felt right. The time seemed right, all the right doors opened and it was, for the most part, pretty seamless and downright enjoyable. I had learned so much about myself, my music, and my journey as a human being and God follower, that things came together at the right time in the right way.
I am extremely proud of what everyone involved in this project accomplished and I am absolutely thrilled with the end result.
There's a few special guests on the album - tell us about them.
There are 3 guest artists. All of which are people very, very close to my heart.
“All Things New”, the title track of the album, features John Ellis of Tree63.
Now, growing up as a South African, you would have had to be a very rare person not to have been a fan of Tree. I can remember my early days with Reason when we were starting out trying to cover Tree songs. We were absolutely start struck by them and so I was very honoured to have supported Tree with Reason where my relationship with John Ellis started all those years ago. He is now one of my closest friends and I love him unconditionally!
Mark Counihan appears on the albums only cover, “Guardian”. Mark is a talented singer - songwriter and was someone who stood by me when no one else would. I see Mark always everyday where we meet for coffee and solve the world’s problems. We’re not very good at it, but we try. Mark also heads up Worship Central South Africa. A movement totally worth believing in and does a great job at it. So when I decided to put “Guardian” on the album, I felt that Mark would be a good artist to have with me on it. Both from a personal and Worship central point of view.
The second last track on the album introduces my amazing wife as an artist. We had been through so much together over the last few years that it made loads of sense for her to sing about God’s faithfulness on the album with me. Cezanne is a super gifted singer and songwriter who is just starting off on her journey as an artist. We’ll be starting work on her debut EP later this year and I can’t wait to get her amazing skills out there. She also does some backing vocals on “Guardian” with Mark and I.
Which is your favourite track on the album and why?This is like asking a Father which of his kids is his favourite...
I would probably have to answer with “All Things New” given the reasons above. Everything in my life is currently new and the song just speaks about all of that to me.
What's your song writing process?
Every song has to start with inspiration. And that can come from so many different places for me as I try to look for God in everything. A movie, a billboard, a scripture, a book, a person, and of course, other music.
I sometimes end up feeling a certain way and something will flow out of that. “Not Over” was written exactly like that. I sat down to wrote a song about how terrible things can go and how terrible things were, but hope kept pushing it’s pretty little face in the way. This resulted in me writing myself a song telling myself that it’s not over.
On other songs, I will come up with musical ideas first. All poets are thieves and so I like to try and emulate what my heroes are doing and make it my own somehow.
If you could work with any song writer, who would it be and why?
This will probably come as a surprise to some, but I would LOVE to write with Brad Paisley. The guy is ridiculously talented and very, very clever. He can make you laugh and cry in the same song. Definitely outstanding in his field! His song “Those crazy Christians” is genius. It provokes, inspires and motivates all at the same time. There will always be a place in my songbook for the likes of Chris Martin and Bono, but Brad is the man for me right now.
How would you define success in your career as a singer?
I would really, really like to think that trying to define success in the industry I am in is a thing of the past for me. I have made this album. I am happy with this album. I am at peace, therefore to me, I have succeeded. Anything else is a bonus.
You're stuck on an island, it's hot, you only have enough battery life left to listen to one song on your mp3 player. What track is it?
“One Headlight” by The Wallflowers.
What does the next year hold for Jason Zeeman?
I truthfully have no idea and I have no definite plans, but I would like to tour this album as much as possible. I’d love to get to the UK for a few gigs if I can make that happen and do a US tour as well.
Find out more at JasonZeeman.com
