Interview: Jason Crosson from CROSSON
Discover more from Volatile Weekly
Interview: Jason Crosson from CROSSON
Interview with Jason Crosson from Aussie Theatrical Glam rockers CROSSON
What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?
My first love was ABBA at a tender young age, howeverr after being stung by the Rock N Roll Disease as a kid after discovering KISS, then a few years later Motley Crue and the whole 80s glam metal scene, topped off with seeing Iron Maiden on the World Slavery Tour, I was hooked and know this is what I wanted to do.
As for first own work, Ive been writing songs since I was 14. It was actually by mistake as I didnt have a very good ear to work out songs ( and still don’t to this day) so I ended up on a different tangent writing music instead of playing other people’s songs.
If I didn’t hop on the rock and roll train, Id probably be making films and acting as I was doing that in the past, but needed to put it to one side and focus on CROSSON to make it grow.
What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?
I live near the beach so surfing, yoga and Pilates plus watching movies with kids is how I spend my time when im not running CROSSON or my other business interests. I love discovering new bands also.
I used to listen to a lot of inspirational speakers, so I guess that has rubbed off on the uplifting messages CROSSON delivers in its lyrics.
How long has your band been around?
I started the band 20 years with the concept of having 2 girls choreographed girls up front dressed in tailored costumes. After years of writing, demoing, and playing to small audiences, the first album was released in 2004. However, it took years of trial and error to get our sound, image and stage show to the level it is today. It really wasn’t until our 2016 album ‘Spreading The Rock ‘N Roll Disease’ when we engaged Duane Baron (Motley Crue, Poison, Alice Cooper etc) as our mixing engineer that we started to get recognized on an international level.
Where are you based and how did that influence your music?
Born and bred in Sydney, Australia. When KISS first hit our shores is was absolute hysteria or should I say KISSTERIA) and that has never gone away. Also growing up seeing local metal / rock bands do their thing was inspiring. If its in your blood, then its in your blood, no matter where you live.
How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you?
CROSSON is actually my surname. If its good enough for Van Halen, Dokken, DIO, Keel, Vandenberg etc, then I guess it ok if I do it also. Even at school I knew I’d have a band called CROSSON one day and we still use the logo I designed back then.
Tell me about your most memorable shows.
Our first show after the recent Covid breakout in Sydney was crazy . It was our first show in 13 months and the crowd were like a pack of animals that had been caged up for 6 months (Well, that’s sort of true isn’t it ??) . Also being asked by Ron Keel to join him onstage for The Right To Rock was a highlight.
What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?
We’ll play anywhere where there is a decent crowd. The crowd is more important than the venue. That being said, we get a great response at Frankie’s in Sydney.
Venues Id like to play…. There are plenty!! Lets start with Madison Square Garden , Tokyo Dome, and Wembly
If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?
Hopping on a KISS, Bon Jovi, Scorpions tour would be very cool, though we’d probably never meet them !!
What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into playing in a band and some advice that you would give to your younger self?
Build it and they will come!!” Yes its from ‘Field Of Dreams’ but it applies to everything. What If you love what you do and you are passionate about it, then the building is not a chore. It’s a step to get to the next level.
This is a business, so treat it as one. Keep networking and hussling and ensure your product is the best it can be and most importantly NEVER GIVE UP. Be in the moment and always make plans for your next step.
Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?
I love ‘Everyone’s A Star’ as my son come up with the intro when I was stuck!! ‘Rest In Peace’ is also an ode to my mother so that means a lot.
Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?
We do a heavy version of Money Money Money and the crowd always goes nuts. I guess it helps that our dancers come out in red 1920s flapper outfits.
What is the creative process for the band, and what inspires you to write your music?
I write all the music & lyrics and do most of the arrangements in my home studio in demo form. Sometimes if I’m stuck musically, I will pop round to see my friend John Katirtsides who is a musical genius and he’ll suggest a change here and there and he’ll steer me away from repeating myself. The whole demoing and writing process usually takes about 12 months.
Once the demos are finished, I give them to the musicians to learn and then we head into the studio record it all professionally. I give the musicians and engineer reign to come with any ideas that they think will add to the tracks.
This process repeats itself every 2 years.
What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?
Most of our lyrical content is about achieving your goals and dreams, so it’s very inspirational. Of course we have fund tracks like ‘I Wanna Be Japanese’ and ‘Weak At The Knees (for a Hot Brunette), but overall, CROSSON gives off a very positive message.
Do you ever have disagreements in your band, and how do you get past them?
I am always open to advice from the other members, however at the end of the day, I will make the final call on something.
What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?
You mean apart from World Domination? Just to continue making good music and delivering our stage show to as many people as possible around the globe.
We have literary just finished recording a new album which is currently being mixed in the USA by Duane Baron. The album will be titled ‘Ready Aim Rock’ and will be released towards mid – late 2022. Next month May we shoot the music videos for the album and are currently in pre-production. So the next few months is going to be filled with making videos, completing artwork, preparing for the release, listening to mixes, organizing distribution & press and doing shows.
Then in a few months its back to the studio to start writing and repeat the whole process again.
www.facebook.com/galaxyrecordsAUS
CROSSON - Weak at the Knees (For a Hot Brunette!!) (Music Video)
CROSSON - Rest In Peace (Official Music Video)
CROSSON - Everyone's A Star (Official Music Video)