INTERVIEW: Chords of Truth On the Methods That Guide “Valley of Shadows”

For the past decade, Jason Garriotte (aka “Chords of Truth”) has been writing, recording, and performing his original music along with acoustic covers of classic folk songs at venues all over the United States.

In 2012 he released his debut acoustic EP “Reflections of Reality” followed by the critically acclaimed “Reflections of Reality (Remixed Double LP)” involving collaboration with 14 producers that generated 57 EDM Folktronica remixes spanning the genres of Dubstep, House, Trance, Hip Hop, and more — all from the 7 original acoustic folk songs.

After a string of singles released over the past several years, Jason has recorded a new album using just his voice, his words, and his acoustic guitar.

“Shadows Sessions” consists of both new, unreleased songs and new recordings of previous releases. Creating an existential and reflective musical journey over the course of 10 acoustic folk songs.

In his interview with Adobe & Teardrops, Jason tells us more about his influences and the process that went into making Shadows Sessions.

Who are some of your musical influences?
Growing up I listened to my Dad play songs on the classical acoustic guitar by folk singer/songwriters like Bob Dylan, Simon & Garfunkel, and Peter, Paul & Mary. Then in the 90s when I was in high school and college, I listened to a lot of grunge like Alice In Chains and Pearl Jam and classic rock. So when I started playing guitar and then eventually writing songs. The style turned out to be a sort of combination of those genres.

Name a perfect song and tell us why you feel that way.

“Stairway to Heaven.” As I discovered classic rock in my teenage years, Led Zeppelin blew me away. And this song is just on another level. It’s an epic adventure in one song… the way it starts out as a ballad, then slides into a smooth groove, then transforms into mind blowing rock-n-roll… all with an amazing lyrical story. Along with when it came out in history. This one is tough to top for me.

Explain the title of your album Shadows Sessions.
When everything locked down last year, I decided I was going to take advantage of the time, space, and equipment I had to get some new music recorded and released. I also wanted to learn more about production so I would have more options moving forward.

As I recorded and re-recorded, then edited, then re-recorded all of my original songs haha. I tried to add other instruments and dug deeper into the complexities of music arrangements, MIDI, beats, etc… then I was reminded that I strum and pick the simplest chords there are and change keys with a capo. Then write and sing words to those melodies. It seems that since that’s what I actually know how to do, then I really have no business trying to do all that advanced musicianship without the training. So I isolated the original guitar and vocal and turned some of those recordings into my new album Shadows Sessions.

Does your album have an overarching theme?
It does. I’ve always been a fan of “albums” like they used to be… where consideration is given to which songs and in what order the melodies, tempos, lyrical content, etc… flow as a full experience.

So after going through everything I had recorded, there were a few new unreleased songs that had to be on it. But then I needed to figure out what all I was going to actually release. A few of my favorite songs actually didn’t make it on because they didn’t fit the theme and flow of the album. Shadows Sessions is an existential and reflective musical journey over the course of 10 acoustic folk songs that is intended to inspire us all to experience a life full of freedom, happiness, beauty, and love.

Do you start off with the music or lyrics first? Why?
Generally I start off with the music. I always turn on a recording device of some kind, because songs are like dreams where they show up and then you can forget them immediately. I’ve lost way too many songs that way haha.
But I start playing rhythms and moving the capo around while searching my mind, or a list of ideas, for words and melodies. Then once something starts to flow I just roll with it saying whatever comes to mind. Then I go back and work it out. I always know I have a new song once I’ve found a chord progression with a melody… and a subject matter. Then it’s just a matter of filling it out.

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