Jason Reeves (songwriter)
Jason Bradford Reeves (born July 1, 1984) is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He is best known for his songwriting work for Colbie Caillat, with whom he formed the acoustic pop band Gone West in 2018.
Jason Reeves
Jason Bradford Reeves
July 1, 1984
Arlington, Texas, U.S.
Iowa City, Iowa, U.S.
- Singer-songwriter
- guitarist
Vocals, guitar
2003–present
- abeautifularmyoftrees
- Warner Bros.
Born in Arlington, Texas and raised in Iowa City, Iowa, he relocated to California in 2005 in pursuit of a musical career. Here, he met Caillat and record producer Mikal Blue, and co-wrote the former's 2007 single "Bubbly". The song peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100, and he subsequently co-wrote her single "Realize" the following year, as well her 2010 single "I Never Told You", which peaked at numbers 28 and 40 on the chart respectively.[1][2] Apart from Callat, Reeves has worked with Australian singer Lenka to co-wrote her 2008 single "The Show".
As a recording artist himself, he released four albums and an EP before being led by Kara DioGuardi to sign with Warner Bros. Records in 2008.[3] His fourth album, The Magnificent Adventures of Heartache (2008) was re-released commercially by the label, and followed by his fifth, Patience for the Waiting (2009). His sixth, The Lovesick (2011) was released independently.[4] His work has led to being named one of the Top Indie Singer-Songwriters by iTunes in 2007 and a No. 1 Folk Artist by Myspace in 2011.[5] His accolades include three ASCAP Awards and a Latin Grammy Award nomination.[6]
Early life[edit]
Jason Reeves was born in Arlington, Texas and relocated to Iowa City, Iowa when he was around 3 years old with his father, a worker at Maytag/Whirlpool, and his mother, a food stylist/ice skating teacher.[7] When Reeves was five years old his mother started him on piano lessons, lessons that he continued for five years before quitting.[8] After the piano, he began to take drum lessons for a few years, before eventually settling on the guitar at 17 and teaching himself how to play.[9][10] Around this time he began listening to artists such as Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin[11] and James Taylor, which he'd later cite as personal influences.[10][12]
Attending Iowa City High School, Reeves was involved with various choirs and vocal groups,[13] even touring Europe with the Midwest Honor Choir in 2002.[14] During this time he also performed in a band with friends and recorded his own full-length album with a local community music program.
Music career[edit]
Early career in Iowa[edit]
Reeves began to get into musical recording at the end of high school, with his first CD being a self-produced album with a run of about 200 copies. After graduating high school, he went on to attend college at the nearby University of Iowa but quickly dropped out due to a lack of interest.[15][16] He continued on with music, playing at local venues and bars.[17][18] For the next two years he continued to play around Iowa City and self-released two albums with a local producer, Ken Heaton. These two albums, Makeshift Aircraft (2003) and Nervous Mind of Love (2004), were sold at his shows as well as on independent, online music seller cdbaby.com.[19]
Around late 2004/early 2005 he was contacted by California producer Mikal Blue who was interested in working together. Blue became aware of Reeves through his own manager, Anna Rambeau, who herself became aware of Reeves through cdbaby.com.[19][20] Blue offered to have Reeves come out to his California studio, Revolver, to record some tracks together. Reeves accepted and flew out to Los Angeles, California, with the intention of recording and coming back to Iowa.[21]
Personal life[edit]
Reeves is mainly interested in the arts and besides music is into writing, photography and illustration.[10][12] He has done the artwork for his own albums and is passionate about taking photos.[28] After years of living in Los Angeles,[39] Reeves currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee.[22][29] He married his musical collaborator Nelly Joy.[40]