ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — After 15 years of touring, recording and singing his heart out at countless gigs across the country, Jason Greeley felt tired and unmotivated, and had lost hope he would accomplish much else in his music career.
“I thought I was done,” the country singer-songwriter from Upper Island Cove told The Telegram Thursday, noting he took a step back and played minor gigs for the past four years.
“It’s a struggle and the ups and downs can sometimes take a toll on you. … It can take the energy and the life out of (you) — pushing and pushing and seeming to not get through at a higher level.”
But all that changed when Greeley was introduced to award-winning songwriter and producer Peter Daniel Newman — a Newfoundlander who honed his talents in Nashville with the likes of country legend Clint Black.
With Newman’s help, Greeley found the creative spark he needed.
“If you asked me 12 months ago, I’d be talking to The Telegram about my new music, I would’ve said no way." — Jason Greeley
Suddenly, the 41-year-old had a new lease on his music, with a desire to write songs like never before.
“You never think things are going to go the way they do,” Greeley said. “In life, you can make a plan, but it can turn upside down. That wasn’t my plan (to get back to songwriting). I didn’t expect meeting Pete would inflict such inspiration so fast.”
Together, they pumped out plenty of tunes, which they will eventually compile in an album, Greeley said.
His first single, “Love Hangover,” is a powerful, emotional tune, with catchy lyrics, like, “I got a love hangover, I don’t want to get over, I’ve been drinking you in with every Heineken,” along with, “I’m so drunk on you, I’m spilling over,” and, “I tried to be the man I thought you thought I could be.”
He went on to tell viewers, “I told my girlfriend you best not fight with me because a songwriter always gets the last say.”
Greeley said writing with Newman came easy
“'Love Hangover’ is just the tip of the iceberg,” said Greeley, who has written with Grammy award-winning writers in the past. “The first week we got together, we didn’t stop writing. As soon as the tune could come out of me, I’d come to the studio, he’d have the song finished. And they’re still coming.
“The chemistry has been nothing I’ve ever experienced before. … I hope we’ll be friends for life.”
The next release, he said, will be “My Heart’s in the Right Place.”
A lot has changed since Greeley first burst onto the national music scene in 2004, when he made the final in the second season of Canadian Idol.
He still gets fan mail and is often recognized.
“I’m so thankful people still love hearing my music and have shown me so much support,” said Greeley, a four-time Music NL award winner and East Music Award nominee for country album of the year in 2006, who released his first album, “Live … Love … Sing,” in 2005.
“I’ve gotten so many messages from people, telling me they’re so glad I’m back to doing my own music again. People are awesome.”
Greeley — who has lived in Alberta for the past 13 years — has also changed physically. He’s lost weight by developing a healthy lifestyle of eating better and running. He even plans to run his first Tely 10 road race this year.
“It helps the mind, body and spirit,” said Greeley, who, at 179 pounds, is 110 pounds lighter than he was in his high school days. “I’m definitely a different person than I was.”
Greeley will be back in his home province today and hopes to schedule a few shows.
“I’m really feeling great and it feels good to be back (to songwriting),” said Greeley, whose last music release was “Wasn’t that a Party” in 2013. “If you asked me 12 months ago, I’d be talking to The Telegram about my new music, I would’ve said no way.
“In life, we need to expect the unexpected and that’s the way to go a lot of times.”
Twitter: @TelyRosie
