Interviews

Jason Lindner has never been an artist who fits neatly into a single lane. A pianist, producer, bandleader and sonic explorer, his career has stretched from bebop to beat-making, from jazz institutions to underground dancefloors, always with the same guiding force: a deep commitment to connection and transformation through sound. As he steps into a new chapter with his Real Ones project alongside JKriv, we caught up with him en route to Big Ears to talk roots, evolution, inspiration and the creative impulses that continue to shape his ever-expanding musical universe.

Thanks for talking to us. Where are you this moment and how are you spending the day?

This moment I am at LaGuardia Airport waiting to depart for Knoxville, TN for the Big Ears festival.

Where were you born? Where are you based now?

My mom's family is from the Bay Ridge area of Brooklyn and that's where I grew up, but I was actually born in the military hospital at West Point, NY while my father was serving his mandatory military term. I'm currently living in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

What do you love most about where you are living? What keeps you where you are today?

I love being near the East River. Greenpoint has more of a town feel — it's cute, it's chill, it’s centrally located and close to wherever you wanna go, but it’s a bit off the beaten path.

If money was no object, and you could choose anywhere in the world to live, where would that be and why?

I’m very lucky being from NYC doing what I do because the music community here is so amazing and is constantly evolving and replenishing itself. So in a way, for what I do in life, NYC is exciting and fulfilling. But when I think of a beautiful place to live, not necessarily connected to a local music community, having a home in Italy — either around Naples, Cinque Terre or Puglia — or Kalamata, Greece, would be my vibe.

How long have you been making music? What was your first step as a musician?

I’ve been making music since I was a baby in my crib — I would sing freely when I was alone and my parents would sneak a tape recorder in the room and leave. My father was a pianist and I grew up following in his finger steps, figuring out songs by ear and improvising. My giant step toward becoming a musician, though, was while attending Music and Art HS, and my first gigs were at that time. That was when I felt full dedication and commitment to the craft.

You haven’t always worked in the house/dance lane. Tell us a little about the stuff you’ve worked on in your career.

I was obsessed with bebop as a teenager and I was obsessed with Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie and other creators of that music. Then I did my research to understand the history of the music — I studied piano styles from ragtime to the present and tried to connect all the dots, listening to as many musicians as I could in different styles. Eventually I found that I resonated a lot with a certain feeling in the music and artists like John and Alice Coltrane, Mary Lou Williams, Randy Weston and others. I was composing more and more and putting together my own ensembles. This led to a long-term residency at Smalls with an 11-piece band and my first released music on Chick Corea’s label. During that time I also recorded and toured with other artists, like Chilean vocalist Claudia Acuña and others. I was also playing salsa gigs and organizing improvised groove gigs.

In the early 2000s I was learning how to make beats and electronic production, but I didn’t know anyone in that world, so I experimented with live projects influenced by electronic music, and my project Now Vs Now eventually was born — and three albums followed with a fourth on the way. Our first album was brilliantly produced by Meshell Ndegeocello, with whom I played at that time. But in my own music, I always aimed to get into a flow state and play for extended periods of time, as opposed to playing song, song, song… for me it’s more about the experience and practice of going deeper and expanding that immersive space. So I think in that way my music has always been connected to house and techno and music which can induce a meditative, elevated state and a transformative experience.

This EP is most certainly for the dancefloor and the club. What kind of artists, DJs, genres were you into growing up?

Michael Jackson’s Thriller album was my first memory of being on the dancefloor as a kid. I also loved 80s Madonna, 80s new wave — Duran Duran, etc. I was obsessed with Busta Rhymes and the producers he worked with, including Jay Dee / Dilla. I remember hearing freestyle music and thinking how minimal and futuristic it sounded. And lots of jazz — John and Alice Coltrane, Bird, Monk, Mary Lou Williams, Miles, so many others. Blues: B.B. King. Funk: lots of James Brown, P-Funk, Prince. D’Angelo after that.

Who are the artists that you follow right now?

To name just a few: Yuka Honda, Currency Audio, Laurie Anderson, Caterina Barbieri, Deerhoof, Dbridge, Paranoid London, Legowelt, A. Fruit, Machine Girl, L’Rain, Traxx, Kill Alters, Chuquimamani Condori, Ex Wiish, Nikki Nair, Toribio, JKriv, Reggie Watts, Little Snake, Photay, Sadnoise, Nu Jazz…

What is the most recent album you purchased?

Los Thunthunaca.

If you could choose a few words to describe the vibe of Jason Lindner musically, what would they be?

I care about connecting deeply and selflessly. Let’s lose ourselves together in this moment.

Talk to us about the new collaboration with JKriv. How did the initial idea come about? How did you both connect?

I believe we were introduced by Domenica of Underground System back during the summer of 2021 at the Hot Honey Sundays party in Brooklyn. Then when Jason was putting the band together for the Razor-N-Tape: A Joyful Noise residency at Public Records, Jason asked if I’d join. We really enjoyed working together and Jason invited me to play synth live to his DJ set at Good Room and it went off like crazy, so we felt like the next step would be to make tracks and develop playing hybrid sets together.

Have you been a fan of the Razor-N-Tape label over the years?

I was aware of the label mostly because some of my friends had releases with them, like Underground System for example.

What was your original intention with this project Real Ones?

Just to explore and have fun and make good tracks.

What was most important for you both to convey through these tracks?

We were just following the process and seeing where it organically led.

Do you feel that you were able to accomplish all of your intentions?

I love where the tracks ended up. Jason really put it all together superbly well.

What are you most proud of with Real Ones?

All of it!

What has been one of your favorite moments from the past year?

Playing and attending the Dripping festival.

Where do you find the most inspiration when it comes to discovering new music?

Hearing something I haven’t heard before. Feeling something I haven’t felt before.

Is there anything that you would like to tell us about you?

I’m grateful for my life.

What can we hope to see next from Jason Lindner?

1. Forthcoming releases by Moment Machine (collab with Currency Audio)

2. Forthcoming 4th album release of my long-time project, Now Vs Now

3. Releases of my solo meditative music

Check out the latest release from Jason Lindner.