Questions for J. Martin, part 6

[lucky strike]

Was there more or less collaboration with other people on this album compared to others? Do you like working with others or by yourself? Who are some people you'd like to work with on future Starflyer albums or other projects?

[Metaphizzle]

Alright, I have emailed the following questions to Jason. Any further questions should go in the new thread.

1. Would you ever consider making a dvd with live footage on?

2. How do you like being signed to T&N?

3. Do you think the music industry treats you fairly?

4. Have you ever felt like your association to CCM has restricted you artistically? IE do you ever feel like there's certain things you'd like to say in your music but feel like you can't?

5. Any idea about how many copies of each album have you sold?

6. Are your kids going to continue the Martin tradition (i.e. make music, not run the trucking business)?

7. Of all the albums you've released, which is your favorite and which one do you like the least?

8. How has you guitar amp/rig/set up evolved over the years? Are you still using a Fender Jazzmaster?

9. Read any good books lately?

10. In response to a prior question, you'd mentioned that your goal for Starflyer 59 is to make twenty albums and then quit.  Would you consider (as the last hurrah) releasing all of the unpublished songs and demos that you've made throughout Starflyer's history?

11. Do you ever plan on recording an instrumental album or EP? I'd buy it!

12. Compared to previous albums, was there more collaboration with other people on this album or less? Do you like working with others or by yourself?

13. How amazing do you and Ronnie look in the Dancehouse Children video for "Old Oak Tree"?

I omitted the question about Jason's kids, because I think we should respect his family's privacy.

Lucky Strike, your question about who Jason would like to work with has already been asked and answered: #11 here.

r_drew, I'm saving your question about the "Starflyer sound" until we get an answer about Jason's equipment. If he says he hasn't changed equipment, then I'll ask.

Again, any further questions should go in the new thread.

[Metaphizzle]

Below are Jason's replies:

    1. Would you ever consider making a dvd with live footage on?

1. No, wouldn't really have much interest in that. I'm always more excited to hear new material from a band than hear them replay songs I already have.

    2. How do you like being signed to T&N?

2. It's been a good run. The label owner Brandon Ebel is a good friend of mine and has always given me the freedom to make whatever records I have wanted to make, and has been putting them out for 15 years...I have no complaints.

    3. Do you think the music industry treats you fairly?

3. As fair as anybody else, sometimes you get bad reviews which are never fun to read, sometimes you get good ones that are...But to realize that you are never gonna be U2 and to be thankful that after all these years I still get to release records, I would say I have been treated fairly.

    4. Have you ever felt like your association to CCM has restricted you artistically? IE do you ever feel like there's certain things you'd like to say in your music but feel like you can't?

5. No, obviously I think that there is some goofy stuff associated in the extreme CCM scene...But I don't feel held back because I can't say the F word in my songs. To me the whole I'm a christian in a band, not a christian band argument is very tiring / boring. So to be precise I'm a christian, I am currently writing songs, so I guess that means I write Contemporary Christian Music.

    5. Any idea about how many copies of each album have you sold?

6. Not sure exactly, our earlier albums have sold better than out later records...a lifetime average would probably be close to 10,000

    6. Are your kids going to continue the Martin tradition (i.e. make music, not run the trucking business)?

7. I hope not...might make them happier if they don't waste their youth on rock and roll :)

    7. Of all the albums you've released, which is your favorite and which one do you like the least?

8. I like the Fashion Focus the most, and the Silver album the least.

    8. How has you guitar amp/rig/set up evolved over the years? Are you still using a Fender Jazzmaster?

8.  My guitar sounds on the records has always been similar with the layering...I will use a Les Paul underneath, with my jazzmaster / telecaster over the top..That way I get the depth of the Gibson to cover some space, but it still has the Fender hi end riding over the top.

    9. Read any good books lately?

9. No, don't really read to much lately...too busy with music, family, etc.

    10. In response to a prior question, you'd mentioned that your goal for Starflyer 59 is to make twenty albums and then quit.  Would you consider (as the last hurrah) releasing all of the unpublished songs and demos that you've made throughout Starflyer's history?

10. I can't...that would be 21 !

    11. Do you ever plan on recording an instrumental album or EP? I'd buy it!

11. I love instrumental music...maybe someday.

    12. Compared to previous albums, was there more collaboration with other people on this album or less? Do you like working with others or by yourself?

12. Absolutely...it is nice to have people that you trust to bounce ideas off of. I have made a couple of albums without much input and I think they have suffered a bit from that..not to say I run a democracy, if I really don't like something it is not going on the record, but it definately makes for a better album when you have people to go over ideas with.

    13. How amazing do you and Ronnie look in the Dancehouse Children video for "Old Oak Tree"?

13. Yikes!
Thanks for the interview,

[PlaneRidesToTokyo]

always fun and interesting to read. 

[r_drew]

    10. In response to a prior question, you'd mentioned that your goal for Starflyer 59 is to make twenty albums and then quit.  Would you consider (as the last hurrah) releasing all of the unpublished songs and demos that you've made throughout Starflyer's history?

10. I can't...that would be 21 !

I was hoping for a different answer.  It could have been the 20th release or not have been an "official" release at all, just mp3 tracks.

[Zelönka 22]

Awesome.. prepare the detour to an instrumental album.

Yes, I'm taking the "maybe" as a "yes".  Deal with it.

[Skelton]

[zerkalo]

Awesome.. prepare the detour to an instrumental album.

Yes, I'm taking the "maybe" as a "yes".  Deal with it.

too great a voice, despite the modesty. i would rather hear some vocals!

[Zelönka 22]

Mmm.. but just think of all the guitar solos!

[zerkalo]

yeah i love a nice guitar solo (americana is my favorite album) but none of these really have guitar solos:

traffic jam
prepare to detour
spooky

blanking on the other instrumentals right now...

i just love the way vocals are used to add another layer of sound/melody that counteracts the music and creates a synergy. also, i'm not arguing your point, its just fun to talk about.

[Jono]

The more I hear it, the more I love "Gangs of Riverside." I'd enjoy hearing Jason record more instrumentals like that, and maybe even pepper his full-lengths with some of these instrumentals.

I remember reading the recording journal for Old, when I found it in the Internet Archive, and being actually disappointed after learning of all the neat-sounding things the guys tried in the studio which never made it to the final record, not the least of which being, I think, as many as three instrumental tracks.

[zerkalo]

gangs of riverside is really cool. i still wish it had some standard vocals. heh

but i like it the way it is as well.

[Zelönka 22]

I remember reading the recording journal for Old, when I found it in the Internet Archive, and being actually disappointed after learning of all the neat-sounding things the guys tried in the studio which never made it to the final record, not the least of which being, I think, as many as three instrumental tracks.

Seriously. Next Time Around, Goodbyes Are Sad, and Prepare The Detour are some of my top favorites. Yet somehow they only got on the rarities album... Are there any release notes for the songs on Easy Come, Easy Go? Like what year the tracks were produced, etc.  Do we know that info?

but none of these really have guitar solos:

True. Spooky, I think is a good example. Everytime I hear it I automatically expect Jason's new vocals.
Traffic Jam on the other hand seems to me like a guitar solo would ruin it. (unless it's the loooong studio version )

Also, Prepare The Detour does in fact have vocals.. lol

[zerkalo]

eh, i always regard prepare to detour as an instrumental but i guess there is a voice, i didn't even think about it.

i don't know what the liner notes are for traffic jam and dont have them around, but prepare to detour was supposed to be a companion to it and both of them were around fashion focus era.

as far as the ECEG notes, the information provided is the players and the album the songs were from or intended for, no dates/locations though. its worth picking up the set for the booklet and stuff if you don't have it.

[Jono]

If I recall correctly, "Goodbyes Are Sad"/"Next Time Around" were recorded during the Gold sessions, but obviously weren't included, and ended up being a seven-inch single of their own. The song "Le Vainqueur" might have the same history. Not sure about "When No One Calls (It Will Be Alright)"...