All Photos: Alan Mercer
Amarillo-born Cody Jasper may wear boots covered with Texas soil, but his rock ’n’ roll passions stretch way beyond its boundaries, influenced by characters named Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Otis Redding, Sam Cooke and Waylon Jennings. In fact, Jasper’s love for Waylon led him directly to Waylon’s son, who showed him how to graft outlaw country together with rock and turn it into audio dynamite.
On 'Cody Jasper,' his debut album that came out in 2014, the then 24-year-old singer and guitarist delivers a hot mix of southern-infused rock, blues and soul, peppered with outlaw country, fanned by guitar-god flames and impassioned by the gospel heart of Stax’s finest. This is honestly one of the best first albums I've ever heard by any artist.
Cody, who is now 29, moved to Colorado while still in his teens to join rock band The Wildbills. He toured the states as their vocalist and lead guitarist before moving to Austin. The album track “Someday” dates back to that period; all but two of the album’s cuts are his own.
Cody's new single titled, 'Run' was recently released. It's appropriate as he's been running around the country the past few months moving from Texas to California to Florida and touring at the same time. Be looking for another full length album coming later this year!
Alan Mercer: Let’s start off by talking about your latest single, ‘Run.’ How did it come about?
Cody Jasper: I was going through a break up and moving to LA. It was a song about maybe having her come with me. It’s about both of us getting out of town and all the drama. If you want to run, I’ll run with you. That’s what it’s about.
AM: It’s beautiful.
CJ: Thank you.
AM: What is your songwriting process like?
CJ: I never sit down and say I’m going to write a song. Ever. Either I’m noodling on the guitar or more typically I just pick it up and start. I like to just make up stuff. That’s what I do. I have the guitar and I’m playing, and something sticks. I’ll sing along to it. It really depends on how I feel. I can usually write a sad love song when I’m actually in love and sad and I get a funky, happy song when I’m feeling funky and happy. I never sit down and try.
AM: So, you wouldn’t embrace a nine to five songwriting job?
CJ: I would because everybody needs money and I have done jingles before.
AM: Cody, I have to talk about your first album from a few years ago. It’s a modern-day classic. I say it’s brilliant.
CJ: Thank you.
AM: It blows my mind how young you must have been.
CJ: I was twenty and twenty-one. (smiling)
AM: It does not sound like a twenty-year-old writer and player. It sounds like the perspective of someone who’s lived a while. Where did the inspiration come from?
CJ: I’ve had an interesting upbringing.
AM: Did either of your parents get into music?
CJ: My dad loves music. My love for music came from my dad. He introduced me to the Allman Brothers and Stevie Ray Vaughn.
AM: Those must be some good memories.
CJ: One memory I will never forget is asking my dad for a new guitar. All I had was a crappy one. I remember telling my dad, ‘I’m getting pretty good at playing guitar dad. I’m really getting pretty good.” We were driving home from school and he told me, “You aren’t good until you can play ‘One Way Out’ like Duane Allman.
AM: Did you know that song?
CJ: No, that was the first time I heard it. I went home and learned it. He woke me up for school the next morning and I go, “Check this out!” I played it for him, and he didn’t make me go to school that day. He took me to Tarpley Music in Amarillo and bought me my first real Fender and Fender amp.
AM: Wow! That is so great. Your father was fully convinced you had something special.
CJ: He started taking me to sit in with a band called The Texas Blues Rangers every Thursday at this bar and restaurant. They were these older Blues guys that I looked up to.
AM: There is a heavy Blues element to your music, and I think that adds to the timeless quality.
CJ: Oh yeah, Blues is my thing.
AM: How do you balance the love of the Blues with commercial appeal?
CJ: I don’t know, I listen to all kinds of stuff. With ‘Run’ I wanted to make something commercial and I wanted to use modern tools. It wasn’t about making money because I know you don’t make money with music anymore. I wanted to make something modern to be involved in the modern world of music. Again, it was really what I was feeling at the time. Now, I’m going back in the direction of my first record. All the songs on the next record are different.
AM: You really do have a range in your musical abilities. Your song, ‘Something Special’ is so brilliant. I LOVE it!
CJ: I recorded that one by myself. That song is going on the next album.
AM: Why do I love it so much!?!
CJ: Wait until you hear it with a band.
AM: You also have a couple of Country music cuts.
CJ: I put some songs on Spotify, but I didn’t promote them because they were already three years old. I was living in Texas and feeling Country at the time. (Laughing)
AM: Why not? I think every style of music is worthy.
CJ: Exactly.
AM: So, what are we getting from you next?
CJ: I’m trying to decide what to do next. I’ve got five songs ready for release, but I’ve got a manager now. I just put out ‘Run’ and I had to convince him to let me do it. I hadn’t put anything out in so long. He wanted me to wait and shop it around, but I have songs for days. I wanted something out so I could be back in the saddle. I’ve got about twenty songs I’m working on.
AM: I just love all that. You will work forever. I don’t see you doing anything else.
CJ: I can’t do anything else. I’ve tried. (Laughing)
AM: You moved to LA for a few weeks but now you are in Florida. How did that happen?
CJ: I met a girl who is from Florida and I was born in Florida so there is a sentimental thing there. So, we kind of just moved there. I was always looking for something different since we lived in Hollywood and didn’t love it.
AM: It doesn’t really matter where you live.
CJ: That’s what everybody is saying. Florida has been good to me but I’m not sure I’m staying out there. I may even move back to Dallas. I have a lot of friends here and family is close. I can play all the time and earn a living. I do have to record in Florida because I met some legends.
AM: Who did you meet?
CJ: Jim DeVito and Stan Lynch, who is playing drums on some of my songs. He was the drummer for Tom Petty. He produced some Eagles and Don Henley stuff. Jim DeVito roadied for the Allman Brothers for forty years. He’s made a bunch of great records that I love and he’s my neighbor.
AM: Are you and your manager looking to set up a tour for you?
CJ: Yes, he’s got a lot of connections. The problem is I have so many different styles of music, it can be hard to place me.
AM: You are the real deal Cody! I say explore all the music you want.
CJ: That’s always been a no-no. You are supposed to brand yourself, but look, I’m not a brand. I’m a songwriter and I change styles.
To learn more about Cody Jasper visit his web site http://codyjasper.com