By: Michael Bragg
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Jason Hartless may only be 24yrs old but he’s been doing big things in music for a long while. He’s been playing live shows as a drummer since he was 5yrs olds and is involved with running 4 businesses. He’s earned a reputation amongst notable names in the business nearly three times his age. Personally mentored by Corky Laing of Mountain he put out his debut album “First Division“ at age 8, has went on to tour with Mitch Ryder and currently is the drummer for Detroit legend Ted Nugent. Jason has done session work for multiple artists as well across various genres. In between touring, recording and running businesses he also graduated from Berklee College of Music. Staying focused on goals and achieving them keeps Jason on top of his game as a sought-after drummer who is highly respected.
Behind the Pic was able to speak with Jason before the show tonight in Simpsonville, SC to learn more about the man who does it all.
First off, I just want to say thanks for taking time to speak with me this evening. Let’s starts from the beginning for a moment….
Behind The Pic – You’ve had a career drumming that starts at 5yrs old. What’s a little background on that and if you were to do anything other than drums for a living what might that be? Any other interests or idea what that might would be?
Jason Hartless – Well its weird because my whole life and career revolves around music. I graduated with Bachelor’s Degree from Berklee College of Music with a music business degree so every single aspect of the industry I’ve tried to put my hands in to at some point or another. Obviously my main gig is a touring studio musician but you know I’m partners in a record label so I handle day to day operations with two labels with projects like that but on the opposite end of the industry and on top of being an artist I’m also an assistant engineer at a studio in Detroit. I’ve tried to do a little bit of it all because I know that one day my phone will stop ringing as a player or physically I won’t be able to do it anymore so it’s like ok how am I setting myself up to be in a position to where I can just step into another part of the industry and not waste all of my years of experience on a resume that leads me to selling cars or something like that later on.
BTP – With the businesses you mentioned I know you have a couple record labels and a publishing company under Prudential Music Group. You also do the vinyl redistribution through Jack White’splace in Detroit…
JH – Yeah, we’ve got a good partnership with Jack White’s facility in Detroit so we manufacture all of our vinyl products down there. We were actually one of the first third party companies to start manufacturing being that we are already local in Detroit. We’ve also got Sony Orchard distribution on board as well. The last two record store days we’ve had releases put out that have done pretty well.
BTP – The vinyl stuff is something that’s come back around the last few years…what is your take on that and why do you think it’s become trendy compared to the digital streaming platforms that are easier for consumers but not as lucrative for the artist themselves?
JH – Well…I’ve always been a vinyl lover. I was listening to it before it had the big resurgence. I feel like vinyl has a major kinesthetic value to it in that it’s something you physically have to do. Now I’m the first to admit I love how I’ve got every single recorded song on my phone at my finger tip and can listen to it instantly…I love it… but you know if I’m at home I’m going to put on vinyl. I’ve got a surround sound system with my turn tables and it just sounds phenomenal and I’d rather do that than listen to a digitized version. I find it’s an interesting thing though because it’s a combination of the older generation that was around when vinyl was at its peak wanting to rekindle their childhood on top of my age group, where I fall at the end of the millennial generation being born in 1994, and my generation wants to live in that old time of vinyl. It’s an interesting combination being in the industry as someone who runs a vinyl label I’ve already seen, in the three years that we’ve been doing this, that every major label has gone through and reissued pretty much anything that might be able to sell so now we’re at a point to where everyone is scrounging for the crumbs and the small gems. The ones no one really wants until it’s actually on vinyl and then everyone has to have it. Now more and more new stuff is being released on it and I know the video game industry with vinyl is starting to become a thing. Unfortunately, I personally see it starting to take a down turn pretty soon because again all the major records that have sold or had some sort of want have already been reissued and we’ve dealt with some major labels trying to obtain licenses and they’ve turned down everything we’ve offered. To me that means that if they have small independent businesses like myself coming to them trying to obtain licenses then they think if that product might be profitable then they will just keep it and do it themselves.
BTP – You mentioned being a studio musician as well…I grew up listening to a variety of musical genres myself from rock and country to gospel and Motown that have influenced me as a musician also….Looking at your session work I see you play a variety of genres as well from jazz to rock and more. Is that something you picked up from your dad and his musical endeavors or did you take it upon yourself to broaden your abilities like you have with the business end of things?
JH – My dad, he was an 80’s show drummer. That was his style and kind of his forte. He always told me he regretted not doing that stuff you know getting into school classes like marching band or jazz band so I, at a young age, kind of gravitated toward that. Now, even as a music consumer I pretty much listen to everything. I love all different kinds of music and that helps tremendously and also at a young age I was told to be successful in this field, to be a hired gun musician, you’ve got to be able to play anything that you’re asked to do. In the last year and half alone I’ve done a big band Christmas album, a Hip-Hop album, a Funk album, a smooth jazz album and a metal record on top of the newest Ted Nugent record (The Music Made Me Do It). Being pulled in different directions it keeps everything new and fresh, you’re not playing the same stuff over and over.
BTP – Speaking of the Ted Nugent album, I know you’ve played with a lot of notable artists already in your career who have hit their prime before you were born but you still listened to and drew influence from…so what is it like to actually play on an album from someone you grew up listening to that also happens to be from your hometown?
JH – It’s kind of funny because Ted in Detroit is kind of like a folk hero per say and the joke kind of is that you’re not from Michigan if you don’t say that you’ve hunted with Ted Nugent at some point…even though 99 percent of them have never even met him. Me and Ted were actually just talking about this last week. As for the record though it’s an absolute honor to work with such a legend like Ted. Not just a Detroit legend but a guitar legend as well and in my opinion one of the top 5 if not 3 greatest guitar players of all time. He turns 71 in December and I honestly think he’s playing better now than he ever has.
BTP – Having already played with a list of reputable older generation artist…who would be your pick to play with that you haven’t been able to yet?
JH – I’m the type of guy I’d love to play with everybody, it doesn’t matter who I’m playing with. However, two of my favorite bands of all time are The Who and ToToso those two gigs would be dream gigs for me.
BTP – You’re known for not being a party type of guy despite the young age where others have fallen in to the stereotypical lifestyle and ruined lives and careers. That being said a lot of young artists could look up to you. Have any younger artists approached you about this for advice and what have or would you tell them?
JH – Absolutely, I’ve had younger people and even veterans of the business approach me about this. Growing up in this business I’ve seen a lot of phenomenal musicians that I’ve looked up to and ones I didn’t know all that well just waste their life away from drugs and alcohol and seeing that at a young age and growing up playing in bars seeing people just out of their mind it kind of was something that just stuck out as not being for me. When I’m out on the road I need to be able to show up and do my job and give 110 percent and then go home clear minded to start the next adventure.
BTP – You’ve been out touring for many years despite your young age and it’s just about show time here in Simpsonville, SC at CCNB Amphitheater tonight. What’s one of the craziest situations or things that you’ve seen on stage while playing?
JH – There is always the quirky small things that happen. Last week we were playing up in Long Island and we were about half way through the set in the middle of a song and all of a sudden my in ear monitors go out and without them I can’t hear anything so I start freaking out. Come to find out the smoke detectors detected smoke and all the stage power went dead. So were mid show and there was about 25mins that we had no power on stage. It was quite an interesting situation. Luckily the fire department showed up, cleared everything and gave us the ok so we went back to playing and were able to finish the show.
BTP – Let’s hope that doesn’t happen tonight…
Jason, I thank you again for taking time to speak with me this evening and I look forward to seeing you out here on stage in just a little while beating those Pearl Drums with the nice shiny Groove Juice cleaned Sabian cymbals.
