Artist Jason Reeves is no stranger to music, though as a child it did take him awhile to become accustomed to the trade.
“When I was 5, my mom made me take piano lessons, and I just hated it,” Reeves said. “It wasn’t until I was 17 that I really started loving music, and that’s when I first got a guitar.”
Nearly 10 years later, the 26-year-old native of Iowa City, Iowa, is currently on his Helium Hearts tour. With nearly 30 cities down and 10 to go, Reeves will make a stop in Omaha on Oct. 11 to perform at 8 p.m. at the Slowdown.
This will be Reeves’ second performance in Omaha. Last July, he opened for Ingrid Michaelson at the Slowdown.
Students, including Arts & Sciences junior Katie Gill, attended the summer concert and became captivated by this up-and-coming artist’s songs.
“[Reeves] had a really great stage presence, and I was able to hear a large number of his songs, and I loved them,” Gill said. “So after the concert, I downloaded his newest CD and became obsessed.”
Reeves, who signed with Warner Brothers Records, attributes his contagious lyrics to the inspiration he draws from artists like Bob Dylan, James Taylor and Pink Floyd. Such inspiration assists him in the writing process, as Reeves writes or co-writes all of his songs.
This relentless hardwork Reeves invests in the song-writing process has provided him with opportunities to work with a variety of well-known artists, such as Kara DioGuardi and Colbie Caillat. In recent years, Reeves partnered with Caillat, helping write both her “Coco” and “Breakthrough” albums.
“I think Colbie and I really taught each other,” Reeves said. “Working with her taught me how to write with somebody else.”
Several years later, with valuable experience under Reeves’ belt, his latest single, “Helium Hearts,” is now gaining play on the airwaves and is also a popular download on iTunes.
“The song is about being in love – so in love that you are on fire,” Reeves explained.
Honest, feel-good songs such as “Helium Hearts” provide Reeves’ fans with music they can easily relate to.
“He is able to express his feelings in his lyrics and combine it with music,” said Gill, who plans on attending Reeves’ upcoming Omaha concert. “That makes his music addicting.”
Reactions like Gill’s are exactly what Reeves is aiming for. He says that without his fans, he would likely not be where he is today.
“Without [my fans] listening, there would be no point,” Reeves said.
As for his future plans, Reeves does not plan on parting with music any time soon. He acknowledges that hard work has gotten him to where he is today and knows that it will also bring him to where he wants to go in years to come.
“You can’t have a concept of how much time it will take you to get where you want to be,” Reeves said. “It’s just never predictable.”
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