Toronto-based country-pop recording artist and singer-songwriter Jason Maxwell returns with his latest emotional and relatable tune, "For Now."
Jason Maxwell is no stranger to the music scene, having garnered over 70 million views across social media platforms. Maxwell's stylings have been featured in a whole wack of playlists, and he's had the chance to perform as a supporting act for familiar names like The Washboard Union, The Reklaws, Chad Brownlee, and J.J. Shiplett.
Now, Jason Maxwell asks some necessary and mind-boggling questions in his new single, "For Now." To Maxwell, the song is a straight-from-the-heart letter to his ex-girlfriend. It was recorded at the renowned Blackbird Studios in Nashville and featured vulnerable lyricism packed into a densely emotional country-pop soundscape.
"Even though we had been broken up for a long time, I felt that things weren't fully over between us," says Maxwell.
Listening to "For Now," the song peacefully opens with a warm country-pop acoustic guitar alongside steady drums and Jason Maxwell's tender country twang. As he begins expanding on how he sees straight through someone's lies, Maxwell asks a collection of necessary questions to either give him peace of mind or break his heart.
We love the relatable factor of this single, but it's nothing new to Maxwell's discography. He brings such inspiring perseverance in this sweet single, representing that second chances may be hard to find, but they're out there. However, the question stands, is this new lover good enough for her, or is he just good enough "For Now."
Experience the sonic, and lyrical vulnerability is Jason Maxwell's heartfelt new tune, "For Now," now available on all digital streaming platforms.
Welcome back to BuzzMusic, Jason Maxwell. We love the vulnerable and passionate energy in your new single, "For Now." What experiences with relationships led you to create this piece?
Thank you, I’m glad to hear that type of energy resonated with you! The song was inspired by a past relationship that ultimately failed - very much a case of ‘right girl, wrong time.’ A year or so after our relationship ended, I noticed she had moved on to someone new, and my initial reaction was to immediately question whether her new relationship was as serious or meaningful as her previous relationship with myself.
What was it like recording "For Now" at the renowned Blackbird Studios in Nashville? Who at the studio helped bring the song to life?
I’ve been lucky and fortunate to have had the opportunity to record at Blackbird on multiple occasions, and every time has been a surreal experience. To be honest with you, I feel very out of place there - it’s truly a humbling experience to record in the same space as some of the greatest artists and bands of today and of all time. Everyone at the studio constantly pitches in to provide top-notch hospitality and assistance, and that really helps to eliminate any potential distractions that could hinder the creative process. When it comes to bringing the song to life, my producer Shawn Moore always plays an integral role in shaping and engineering the soundscape I envision. In addition, having a tracking band of top-level session musicians really allows for creative flexibility in terms of trying out several different ideas in a timely manner while still maintaining flawless execution.
What was your songwriting process like for "For Now?" Was this a challenging process, or did your words flow with ease?
It sounds contradictory, but I’d say that it was a challenging process; however the words did really flow with ease. The challenging aspect was the unnerving awkwardness of opening up to my co-writers (Elias Edlund and Shawn Moore) on a subject that still stings and communicates the story in such a manner that’s more negative/toxic than it is positive/happy with respect to emotional health. Most writers/artists want to write/record songs that will perform well commercially, and there's an industry-wide unspoken assumption that negative/toxic songs are less likely to succeed in the commercial space. I want to write and record the best songs I can create. I'm less concerned with which boxes the songs will fit into - I want to create timeless music, so in the long run, I feel like it's better to create something genuine and relatable opposed to creating something that merely ticks the boxes of today's criteria checklist. Once Eli, Shawn, and I were in agreement on the song’s concept and writer/listener perspective, we were able to write the lyrics with relative ease.
How does "For Now" contrast your previous releases? How does this song stand out in terms of lyricism, sound, and concepts?
The song is lyrically-unique because it’s my only song with a significantly modified final chorus. In this case, the modified lyrics alter the entire direction and meaning behind the lyrics' message and, in turn, change the perspective of the listener. Sonically speaking, this song is quite a departure from my usual bright and happy sound, but I think it’s necessary to explore all areas of the spectrum in order to fully develop my artistry. From a conceptual standpoint, this is the first time I've told a story that shines a negative light to some degree and done so in a somewhat emotionally-unhealthy manner. I understand from a commercial perspective why most songs portray everything in a positive light, but I also know that I can’t be the only one who’s ever felt this type of way over a failed relationship. I know I’m not perfect, but for better or worse, I’m going to tell real and authentic stories from experience, and I hope there are people that can relate.
What's next for you?
I'll be back in the studio this Summer, so I'm currently attempting to narrow down which songs will make the final list. Meanwhile, I have a bunch of unreleased songs that are mixed, mastered, and ready for release this Summer and Fall. I've got some shows booked for this Summer, and I'm beyond excited to get back to performing live. Last but not least - it's not confirmed yet, but I'll put out the energy here to try and manifest another appearance, performance, or sync placement if Netflix's Full Out movie series returns for a third installment. I'm a big believer in putting out intentional and deliberate energy because you never know when the universe might be listening.