Jason Scavone’s single, “Old Friend”, hit streaming services on April 22, 2022. The North Carolina based singer-songwriter and producer crosses and blends the genres of pop, rock, and Americana. “Old Friend” lands in the Americana genre with its new country vibe meshed with the likes of Bob Dylan.
“Old Friend, you keep me in your heart the way I keep you in mine” the song goes. We open with a beautiful guitar riff before Scavone sings the opening: “I drive through these streets that I don’t recognize.” It’s slow. Reminiscing. Thoughtful. Purposeful. The pacing is perfectly matched from music to lyrics. As someone who grew up in rural towns and small cities, it hit home. Everything changes so quickly. One minute you’re at Mom and Pop’s feed store and the next, there are two Walmarts and a Tractor Supply to go to. That Mom and Pop shop you visited so much will disappear.
But let’s talk about these gorgeous vocals. Jason Scavone has such a calming, pleasant voice. And the female backup vocals are absolute perfection. The harmonizing is truly spot on. Everything about this track is wonderfully done.
Jason Scavone has an undeniable musical gift–everything from writing music, to singing it, to producing it. The artist has had quite the musical journey as the frontman and songwriter for The Noises 10 and even performed with Jason Isbell and Derek Trucks Band. He has had songs featured on One Tree Hill and Criminal Minds. “Old Friend” is the first single off his upcoming self-produced album, mixed at Wilco’s Chicago studio by Tom Schick and mastered by Bob Ludwig. Stay tuned to Jason Scavone’s updates by following his socials linked below.
Q&A with Jason Scavone
Q: We absolutely love “Old Friend” and it hits home for me as someone from a small town that keeps changing. What inspired this track?
JASON SCAVONE: The city I live in is rapidly changing. I grew up here, and sometimes I get lost and don’t recognize where I am. I was taking my regular drive to the recording studio where I work, and was overcome by just how unrecognizable this area really is. Feelings of nostalgia flooded in, along with memories of a dear old friend who is no longer with us. We spent a lot of time in our younger years kicking around this part of town, and as I looked around at the ever-changing landscape, I saw that those places which had long evoked fond memories, were being taken away. Lost in the memories, I pulled off to the side of the road and wrote the lyrics to “Old Friend”.
Q: Can you tell us a little about your creative process?
JASON SCAVONE: I often start with a feeling that I want to convey. I may not know how to articulate it, but I feel it. I grab a guitar or sit down at the piano, and feel around for some changes and sing the melodies I’m hearing over top. I like to invite the song in. I ask it what we’re trying to say, or how we want to say it. I’ll record myself singing something – often just gibberish, and then later I’ll sift through the ideas and allow the words to take shape. I’m lucky to be surrounded by many amazing musicians, and I work in a recording studio, so I can bring these ideas to my bandmates and together we can arrange the piece.
Q: Was there a pivotal moment in your life where you were like “Yeah, I’m going to be a musician”?
JASON SCAVONE: There were a few, but the one that stands out most was when my dad gave me his Bob Dylan records to listen to. I sat down with the album The Times They Are A-Changin’ and by the time I got to “One Too Many Mornings”, I knew that I wanted to be able to do that.
Q: Who would you absolutely love to collaborate with?
JASON SCAVONE: Daniel Lanois
Q: What are your top three road trip songs?
JASON SCAVONE:
“Like A Vibration” – The Whigs
“Higher Love” – Steve Winwood
“Fruits Of Our Labor” – Lucinda Williams
Q: What’s next for you and your music?
JASON SCAVONE: My next single, Wildfire comes out on June 24. I’ll be releasing a handful more singles leading up to the full album which should be out this September.
Reviewed & Interviewed by Dana L. Sullivan
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