Meet Jason Vaughn

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jason Vaughn and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jason, let’s start by talking about what inspires you?
I’m inspired by my family. My current project under the moniker Bear Goes North is a set of instrumental compositions focused around the birth of my first son. We have two now, so I’ve sat on these tunes for almost 7 years. Not unusual, I suppose, but it took time to get the right personnel for the record as well as hustling on gigs to get money to finance my studio. I wrote these songs on a sleepless night shortly after my son was born and the duo of my wife and I became a trio. They mostly came in one long stream of conscious writing and then certain sections were developed over time to become their own pieces. My first attempt at self-production was an EP during covid that I played all of the instruments on except drums. My drummer and I bounced files back and forth via Google Drive. That was a steep learning curve cutting my teeth on mixing a record, mastering a record, and getting the product out to streaming platforms. All of that culminated into this “new” project. New is in quotes as these songs are several years old now, as is my son. My definition of new in this sense is that I learned what I can and cannot do or maybe shouldn’t. Bear Goes North invited a dear friend to play bass, we’re outsourcing the mastering process to a studio in Denver and I’m excited to get these compositions out into the world. The last piece on the album is a reflection on coming home from the hospital with this new life to care for. My wife asleep on the couch, my son in his bassinet by the window and me walking down the stairs to this view was the catalyst for what this album is. It’s a love song to my family. It starts with sounds, womb-like sounds that are non-descript, weird and maybe what it’s like to hear through fluid and skin. The rest of the album is the emotional roller coaster of going to the hospital, the waiting, the doubt and fear, the weariness and finally the arrival of this unique human.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I started writing my own music when I was a teenager, but now in my mid-forties, it hits a little different. Imposter syndrome is real and after a time in my life of wondering if I was good enough, as a human and an artist, I decided that regardless of how the public may interpret my art, I needed it out of me. I’ve never been afraid to perform or play in front of people as a musician, but I spent a number of years worrying about whether or not they’d like MY music versus playing my instrument on a gig. Writing music is personal. Art is personal. It’s hard not to be anxious about whether something you pull out of yourself and put in front of others is going to be “good”. Maybe some artists don’t care. Maybe they all care. And it’s not that I don’t care. I care very much. But the imposter behind the “caring” has diminished and now the desire to create has become the dominant voice. One of the big differences about this current record and my previous EP is that I’ve learned my limits. I know now what I’m good at or better at on the production side of recording an album than my first outing. I have better equipment to create the sounds I need and the quality of those sounds has grown exponentially. I have the right people on the right instruments. Though I played all the guitars and basses on my EP, I knew I needed a bass-minded person on this new album to hear what I don’t since I moonlight as a guitarist and a bassist and my brain is great at both, I needed someone who hears the instrument in their head first thing in the morning. I have been fortunate that the other two band members in Bear Goes North have given of their time freely to get my current project up and running. We recorded the 8 tunes in two days in my drummer’s basement in Castle Rock. It was a great time. It’s definitely a grassroots operation.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I live in Colorado Springs, so hopefully their visiting in the spring or summer so we can enjoy the outdoors! First things first is dinner at Little Nepal. The best Indian/Nepalese cuisine in the Springs. The lamb Korma is out of sight and never gets old. Garden of the Gods for some hiking and views of Pikes Peak, drop into Rudy’s on Highway 24 for some BBQ for lunch and then to the Olympic/Paralympic village and museum. Dinner is downtown at Jack Quinn’s Irish pub for a solid pint of Guinness and the best corned beef sandwich around. We have to do the incline in Manitou Springs and take in the views. Let’s catch our breath and head down the hill and hit Shuga’s downtown for lunch and a beverage refresh. Seriously, just the best mixed drinks. Dinner is just up the street at Skirted Heifer for some quality burgers. Snooze is on order for breakfast. Don’t sleep on the bloody mary’s and they have great corned beef hash. And pancakes. The Margarita at Pine Creek makes for an really nice, upscale, multi-course dinner experience with live music on occasion and tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the city in an adobe style hacienda just west of I-25. 3 carrots mark the entrance. Blink and you’ll miss it.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to recognize my wife, Alannah. Throughout my life with her, she has never balked at a single musical idea I’ve had. When I told her about the concept for the album she was 100% on board. We discussed studio purchases (microphones, cables, plugins, etc.) and every note on the album radiates her support. And she also brought my son, the inspiration for this particular project, into this world. I held her hand and that was about it. She is an amazing partner, teacher, educator and mother and this album is dedicated to my whole family, but especially the woman who made me a father.

Website: https://beargoesnorth.com/

Instagram: @beargoesnorth

Other: Covid Takes EP streaming links can be found on the website. We’re also on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, Amazon, etc.