Jason Myles Goss On the Making Of “Misfit”
Can you tell us about the inspiration behind "Misfit" and the story it tells?
“Misfit” is the title track to my most recent EP. The inspiration came from watching my kids getting older, seeing myself in them and knowing especially as they get older that there is only so much you will be able to watch over and protect them, and that your job is to prepare them for adulthood—with all its confusion, its joys, and its unknowns; to support them in their successes and in their mistakes, and to love them. As I see my kids getting older, doing and learning things I never could have imagined when they were babies, that letting go can be hard, and it can feel like a loss. This was a song I wrote to cope with that feeling, and with the idea that we are all trying to make our way in this world, and that we all make mistakes and, even as adults, we sometimes need someone to carry us home.
How did you work with the producer or engineers to bring your vision for "Misfit" to life?
I was fortunate to work with some amazing musicians who gave this story a world to live in. Michael Bellar who recorded some gorgeous synths, piano as well as "magic balls" (I kid you not!)—an idea out of left field that I loved. JP Ruggieri brought this elegiac/nostalgic atmosphere with pedal steel and guitar and the song was expertly engineered and mixed by Joel Arnow.
What was your favorite moment in making the video?
The video was shot in the beautiful city of Chicago and I was thrilled to be able to work with Kyle Dunleavy again, who produced music videos for three prior songs many years ago. We had a few chats about the song and the imagery in the lyrics and Kyle turned it into a beautiful story entirely its own. I am very excited about how it came together and it is solely due to Kyle's storytelling ability, his keen eye, and also the great work of Avery Cole who stars in the video. My favorite moments are the texting scenes, Kyle and I had a few discussions to fine tune these and get them just right and that was a lot of fun.
How has your music evolved since you started as a singer-songwriter? What have been some key milestones in your artistic journey?
I think I am still trying to reach for the same things when writing now as I did when I first started, but these days I am a bit more at peace with the process, and am approaching songwriting as something fun again, as something that I love, but with a healthier perspective and less ego. I can more easily tell if something is right or if it going to bother me forever, I can recognize when I get close to the mark or when I am way off, but I feel less tied up with it, and see it more as part of the ebb and flow of trying to do creative work—which is also something that is a lot harder to create time for. So I try to enjoy it, even when I know the writing is not good, I can smile at it and say "We'll get 'em the next time we tackle this," and that is better.
How do you approach collaborations with other musicians and maintain creative synergy?
I don't have much experience co-writing, and most of my shows (with rare exceptions) are solo. So possibilities are very limited but I like how some exciting things can happen within those limitations. With recording, I find it’s helpful to collaborate with folks who have likeminded interests in what they love about music. I have been very lucky to have worked with some dear friends who are truly amazing musicians. The recording of “Misfit” has been the most enjoyable project for me, and it was great to focus on how we want the songs to feel and how we want to dress them up, without having to be so prescriptive. Songs are little misfits in themselves, they need guidance and support but they also need a little breathing room to become what they are going to become. Our job is to try to bring 'em on home :)
