After the dissolution of the group, he formed his record label with Aaron Bieler and over the last decade has worked with such artists as Will Haven and Soil. Owl Stretching sees Bieler experimenting with various different genres, and most recently he released two brand new tracks online, All at Once and Satellite.
Jason Bieler discusses running a company and the inspiration behind Owl Stretching.
Having fronted Bieler Bros. Records over the last decade, how has your work as a businessman prepared you for your return to performing with Owl Stretching?
The great thing about it is having built all these systems for developing bands has allowed me the freedom to do whatever I want with Owl Stretching and not have any concerns about the business side at all. So really the exact opposite of what it used to be, right now I just make the music I want and whatever happens happens… really the most fun I have ever had.
Is the name of your new project a reference to the classic Monty Python episode Owl Stretching Time?
Absolutely, it was actually a name we were going to use a few years back, but the reference is all about Python, kinda of a second religion around our house!
You are most known to metal fans for your work with Saigon Kick, yet your new music bares little resemblance to your earlier band. For those fans who are unsure whether or not they will like your new sound, what would you say to convince them?
I really am not worried about convincing anyone of anything. Not from an ego standpoint, and of course I hope people like it. I really am doing this to make music that I like and that is it. If three people like it or a million, it is all good. I love the Saigon fans and the support has been amazing so far, so it really is just an added bonus.
Having produced several artists, do you feel that you have more control over every aspect of your music than you did when you were signed to a major label and do you feel you have enough resources to bring Owl Stretching to the masses?
I guess I have more control for sure, but really it is just about executing whatever twisted vision I am having at that time, and in hindsight a lot of what Saigon Kick did wasn’t suited for a major label system anyway. As for the masses, I am not concerned with that really. I have been very fortunate, toured the world multiple times, had a few hits, lived the dream, etc. At this point it is all icing on an already amazing cake.
Are you still in contact with your former Saigon Kick bandmates and have you invited any of them to collaborate with you on your new project?
Yes we are in contact; every few months there is a new offer or idea for a reunion show or two. I am open to anything at this point, I am really just distilling this down to what it was about when I started… making music and having fun. So far… so good!
You once described Own Stretching as “a constantly morphing project with different guests that I use as a vehicle to release new music.” This sounds similar to what Maynard James Keenan has been doing of late with Puscifer, refusing to settle in one genre by bringing in various different artists. Would you say you have always tried to avoid being formulaic and easy to categorise?
I wouldn’t say I have consciously tried to do it, I just love all types of music, so it is really natural for me to mess around in different styles. It would be really difficult to do one thing for me. I dig Deadmau5, Barry Manilow, Beatles, SikTh, Queen, Tom Waits, Jane’s Addiction. So Owl Stretching will probably live somewhere in those cracks of influences.
Are you concerned that you will always be referred to as the “former singer of Saigon Kick” and have you found this label restrictive when you have tried to pursue other projects?
Doesn’t bother me at all. We accomplished a lot of great stuff, did and saw things most people only dream of. Any perception or problem is really on someone else’s side and how can I waste time worrying about that?
What is the current status of Owl Stretching; are you the only permanent member and would you describe this as a solo project? Is there an album in the works and what kind of distribution are you hoping to achieve with this music?
I guess I am the only permanent member, but Ricky Sanders has played drums on a few tracks so far, including All At Once and Satellite, Chris McLernon played bass on the revamp of The Lizard. Hopefully, the list of collaborators will continue to grow, should be a lot of fun! Right now the plan is to release new music every four-six weeks. Other than that, who knows?
Will you still have time to produce other artists if you are preoccupied with your own material and do you still play an active role in the running of Bieler Bros. Records?
I still co-run the label; it is something I am very passionate about and will continue to produce things I feel I need to be a part of and that I am humbled by. Really love teaming up on music creation with people whose talent I am in awe of.
- Official Site
- Bieler. Bros Records
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