Singer, songwriter, and actor Jason Gould has returned with a brand new album. ‘Where We Fall ‘- out now. It’s a soul-stirring eclectic collection that bridges contemporary dance-pop with a fresh take on timeless classics. In his latest album, he skilfully weaves ethereal textures with soaring vocal performances that captures him at his most vulnerable and expansive.
Gould who is the only child of Barbra Streisand and Elliott Gould, has steadily carved out his own artistic identity, earning acclaim for his emotional honesty, vocal warmth, and lyrical depth. With Where We Fall he fully embraces the duality of his musical heritage: pulsing, modern pop compositions that speak to today’s soundscape and timeless classics that honour the legacy he was born into.
“My mother was recording music when I was still in her belly,” Gould reflects. “The vibration of music has always been part of me. This album is about embracing all sides of myself; the standards I grew up with, and the music I feel compelled to create today.” The album is a meditation on contrast and connection, between past and present, tradition and innovation. “It’s a collection of songs I’ve loved, that have inspired me, and songs I’ve written that contain some of the lessons I’ve learned in this life,” he says. We were delighted when Jason Gould took the time to sit down with GIITTV and tell us more.
Congratulations on your superb album, ‘Where We Fall‘.
Thank you so much!
The album seems to move between contemporary pop textures and timeless classics. How do you see those two worlds speaking to each other in your music?
Well, good music is timeless, and the themes of love, longing and loss are universal, so I thought it was interesting to interweave some classics with some contemporary songs. I just found them all timely and relevant to the world we are living in now.
How did you choose which tracks to use on the album?
They’re all songs I love. Songs that have inspired me, and songs that I wrote and that I care about. I think we’re in a moment in history where we have to reevaluate our priorities and how we treat one another. These songs are all connected by the need to find love in all its forms.
Your music has been described as both soothing and soaring. Do you consciously lean into that duality, or does it come naturally?
I think I’m just reflecting the beauty of vulnerability, and the willingness to be vulnerable. It’s how we connect. Recognizing the humanity in each other. Music is feeling, and feelings are like waves that are always changing.
How has the musical world that you grew up in influenced your current album?
In ways I probably don’t even realize. I’ve always been a music lover, I would sit at a keyboard in my youth and make up melodies. I’m sure seeing and hearing my mother interpret some of the greatest songs of all time didn’t hurt either.
In previous interviews you have described yourself as ‘A Seeker.’ Did you seek or discover anything whilst creating this album?
How songs from the past can be reinterpreted for the present. It’s challenging to find a new way to cover classics like this.
You have an incredible voice. Did it take a while to emerge?
Thank you, you’re very kind. I never sang until I was in my 40’s. I was scared to use my voice when I was younger since my mother is such an icon.
Do you feel like you got your talent from nature or nurture or both? You said “The Vibration of music has always been a part of me.” It must be an intrinsic part of your DNA as well as a constant in your life . Can you tell us more about that?
I think it’s both! I don’t think you can teach someone to have great musical instincts and make good musical choices, but there are certainly ways to develop the muscles and techniques that make for good singing.
Did you consciously step away from the spotlight as you were growing up?
As much as I could, yes. I’ve never felt comfortable in it, it sort of embarrasses me. I’m really very private, and like my anonymity.
How does your acting experience compliment or inform your singing?
When you are interpreting someone else’s lyric, you have to personalize it, and so that is part of the actor’s and the singer’s job.
Do you think acting gave you a deeper emotional vocabulary for your songwriting?
I think living and learning about myself and the world does that.
Do you feel like there is a form of intimacy when you have sung with your mom on stage in the past?
Oh yeah – singing with someone is very intimate. It’s a delicate dance of trust and respect.
Was there any key piece of advice that she gave you that you have carried with you?
Honestly, my mother never gave me advice about singing but I know she approaches it from the actor’s perspective, and I’ve learned from that.
If you had to capture the essence of ‘Where We Fall’ in one or two sentences, what would they be?
I guess that accepting each other in our imperfect humanity with all of its feelings and pain can open the heart to more love.
Was there a particular song that unlocked the emotional direction of the album?
Probably ‘Where We Fall‘ as it was the last song I wrote for the album with Guy Roche and Liz Vidal. It’s a very spiritual song, and a hopeful song. I realized that the album was an emotional journey.
‘It’s Only a Paper Moon‘ reimagines a 1933 classic in the age of misinformation. How important is it for you to connect timeless songs to contemporary issues?
I just saw it from the perspective of how much fakery; fake stories and fake images we all have to contend with on a daily basis. It’s sometimes hard to see beyond the bullshit.
The closing track, ‘I Found a Place in My Heart,’ feels like a resolution. Did you always know the record would end there?
Yeah I did. Because it kind of sums it up, the theme of the album – which is about the healing that comes from opening one’s own heart.
What do you hope listeners carry with them after hearing the album in full?
Maybe just a reminder that we’re all basically the same, and that Love is what gives meaning to Life more than anything else.
100%.
Where We Fall is out now via Backwards Dog Records and is available on all streaming platforms, CD and vinyl. Check it out!
Jason Gould (@jasongouldmusic) • Instagram photos and videos
