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5 Questions with Jason Carter

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Jason Carter is a harp-guitarist and world traveller, having brought his unique sounds to some of the most far-flung regions of the globe he is blazing a trail through Dubai and we had a chance to sit down and catch up with him ahead of his performance on February 20th closing off our 9th Concert Series.

THE FRIDGE: You seem to be managing your artist career with no agent and no particular record label. Was it your first choice from the beginning of your career or did it happen after working with agents and records labels and that led you to handle your career yourself?

JASON CARTER: In my early 20s, i tried so many times to get an agent, and in the end decided that it was better to put the energy into mu own career. I have built up a mailing list of over 6000 people, of whom i have met every single person, and this is the base of my market. For me, music is about people, not record companies or 'business'. I am proud that i have been able to sustain a living playing my own music as a solo guitarist.

TF: A number of your new tracks were created using a loops; how did you arrive at using a looping station in your work?

JC: I am using a computer base setup now which is more portable than the Loop Station. I have had friends doing this for years, and when i began playing Harp Guitar, i thought it interesting to experiment, seeing as the Harp Guitar was semi acoustic. And it is GREAT FUN!

TF: Rumour has it that you're working with Jesser Al Wadi on a peace project based out of Abu Dhabi. Where are you at with the project?

JC: WOW. An idea that has been growing for 2 years, something that brings together my life's work (as it were) as a global musician, building bridges through music, bringing people together. The Business plan for the first year is in place as of today! Coming to meet various members of the Abu Dhabi ruling family and others, to seek funding for it.

TF: Your music takes you all over the globe - was this a conscious decision on your part to seek out the roads less travelled by other touring musicians? what are some of the more interesting places you have visited on your travels?

JC: Being a curious soul, this has led me to places such as North Korea, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Uzbekistan. And in my experience, the more closed the country, the more difference one tends to make as a musician. For instance, in N Korea, i played to 3000 people per night, 5 nights in a row. Not even a Diplomat or Ambassador would be allowed to perform to any number of N Koreans in public, but as a musician this is possible.

TF: The harp-guitar is such a unique instrument boasting a centuries long history - with the advent of electric harp-guitars (and yourself a pioneer in this medium) how do you find the breadth and scope of performance on the instrument has grown over the last 10-15 years?

JC: The Harp Guitar is more like a piano to me. I began playing the piano before the guitar, when i was about 6, so it was like coming home. I have the sustain in the bass notes, which gives much more time and space to play with. Currently, the general Harp Guitar style is very American with regards to how people play it, and it is in the US that the main popularity lies, but more guitar makers are becoming curious about the instrument, therefore making it more accessible to more people, and the price is coming down.

Article comments

  1. And thanks to Paul Thuysbaert for the photos!

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