Jason Gatz

I CAUGHT UP WITH GENRE-BENDING
Chicago native Jason Gatz just after midnight,
driving north on Humbolt.
Can you tell us a little about your new release?
The album’s been a year in the works. It’s an
EP. Little short joint called The Indescribable
Description. Basically it just embodies what I am. If
you described me, I’d be indescribable, in the sense
of my style and I guess even me as a person. It’s a
reflection of that, giving people that eclectic feel I
try to exude in my music.
This is my first solo effort, so you’re getting just
Jason Gatz here. You’re getting that raw hip-hop, but
on top of that you’re getting pop and club joints, and
then on top of that you’re getting the rock and roll.
What the hip-hop heads are gonna appreciate is that
I come from a hip-hop background. All of my lyrics,
everything is solid. It’s not like I’m just on there skittin’
and spittin’ and shit.
What’s it like working on a project all by yourself?
I’ve done solo work before, so it’s really nothing
new. It’s a little weird in the sense that everything’s
on me, with the exception of “So Focused.” That track
made it onto the EP because I really wanted to have
The Mechanic on there. He was originally on “Lush,”
but the verse that he did wasn’t complete, so I had to
complete it. The Mechanic is my dude. He’s always
going to be a part of anything I do musically.
Your first video is out. How does that go toward
describing/not describing you? Well, the first video,
featuring yourself, you look at it like, “Oh, another rap
video. He’s rapping around the neighborhood. Okay
cool.” But we decided to do a spin on it. If you took the
cartoon characters out, it would be just an average,
whack-ass video. But something as simple as these
crazy characters takes it to another level. People that
know me appreciate it because they know my mindset.
I think crazy. I think outside of the box. It’s a good
introduction to me.
Interview conducted by Jack M Silverstein - Performer Magazine