Crimson Moon: How did the CROSSON get started?
Jason: I started the band 20 years with the concept of having 2 girls choreographed girls up front dressed in tailored costumes. After years of writing, demoing, and playing to small audiences, the first album was released in 2004. However, it took years of trial and error to get our sound, image and stage show to the level it is today. It really wasn’t until our 2016 album ‘Spreading The Rock ‘N Roll Disease’ when we engaged Duane Baron (Motley Crue, Poison, Alice Cooper etc) as our mixing engineer that we started to get recognized on an international level.
Paul Stanley from KISS said that they put together the band they wanted to see. I took these words of wisdom and constructed what you see today with CROSSON with respect to costumes, dancers and a thrilling stage show while delivering catchy rock tunes. I mean, everyone wants to see beautiful women on stage!!!
Crimson Moon: How would you describe CROSSON’s sound?
Jason: Crosson’s music can be described as catchy theatrical glam rock anthems. Our aim is that once you listen to a CROSSON songs, it stays in your head and wont go away. Like chlamydia 😊
Crimson Moon: How has the fan response been?
Jason: We each album release and each show our profile grows. Due to the nature of our show with the choreography, costume changes and theatrical element, we have been winning even the most skeptical people over and they leave with a smile on their face.
Crimson Moon: Where did the band name come from?
Jason: CROSSON is actually my surname. If its good enough for Van Halen, Dokken, DIO, Keel, Vandenberg etc, then I guess it ok if I do also. Plus, its really my baby. I came up with the name and logo at school and it didn’t come into fruition until many years later.
Crimson Moon: Introduce the band members.
The current lineup is
- Jason Crosson – Vocals / Guitar
- Libby Thirsk – Choreography / Backing Vocals
- Olivia Scanlan – Choreography / Backing Vocals
- Marco Rado – Lead & Rhythm Guitar
- Kyle Barr – Drums
- Jack Barret – Bass
Crimson Moon: How many albums/CD’s have you released?
Jason: Our LP discography to date is:
2004 – Head For Earth
2008 – We Are The Future
2016 – Spreading The Rock N Roll Disease
2018 – Invincible
2020 – Rock ‘n Roll Love Affair
2021 – CROSSON – Live At The Orpheum (also a concert video)
2022 – Ready Aim Rock – to be released late 2022
Crimson Moon: Tell me about some of the songs on the latest CD?
Jason: The new album will be titled ‘Ready Aim Rock’ and will be released towards mid – late 2022. It’ s currently being mixed in the USA by Duane Baron.
This will be the best CROSSON album date and is a huge leap in terms of song writing and production. I did have both my parents pass away during the writing of this album so there are a few songs which are more meaningful than usual. It’s still packed with the signature CROSSON catchy rock anthems, but on some tunes I have dug into my love for Jim Steinman’s songwriting ( Meat Loaf, Bonnie Tyler) so you can except a few epic songs on it.
Crimson Moon: Who writes the music? Lyrics?
Jason: I write all the music & lyrics and do most of the arrangements in my home studio in demo form. Sometimes if I’m stuck musically, I will pop round to see my friend John Katirtsides who is a musical genius and he’ll suggest a chneg her and there and he’ll steer me away from repeating myself. The whole demoing and writing process usually takes about 12 months.
Once the demos are finished, I give them to the musicians to learn and then we head into the studio record it all professionally. I give the musicians and engineer reign to come with any ideas that they think will add to the tracks.
Crimson Moon: And where do the lyric ideas come from?
Jason: CROSSON’s lyrics are usually fun and uplifting with a positive “You can achieve anything” message to them. On the other hand, songs like Rest In Peace is a tribute to my late mother or We All Need An Enemy is a poke at the greed of going to war.
Life is too short to write dark and depressing lyrics. We are about being fun and giving out a positive message.
Crimson Moon: Has the Covid Pandemic impacted the band at all?
Jason: Over the last few years we’ve had many of shows canceled and also there was a delay in recording our new album as the Government wouldn’t allow three people in a 100 m2 room as it wasn’t considered an essential service! Crazy right??. But we have forged ahead and continue to keep going through all obstacles.
Crimson Moon: Do you have any side projects?
Jason: As far a music goes, I give CROSSON 100% of my creative focus. It not only takes up a lot of time overseeing everything, but in order for things to grow you really need to focus your energies on one thing.
I own a national company that undertakes compliance testing, but I have great staff that run that for me which allows me time to work on CROSSON.
Crimson Moon: What is the music scene like where you guys are from?
Jason: There is a live music scene, however most of the clubs are dominated by tribute shows or nostalgia acts. Plus with our small population and the distance between major cities (9 hour drive), there are limited venues for originals bands. There is some great talent, but most Aussie artists want to break out of Australia and show the world what they can do. With CROSSON, we receive a lot more press and publicity in Europe than we do in Australia.
Crimson Moon: Who are some of your musical influences?
Jason: Well, my first love as a young kid was ABBA and to this day when songwriting, I will try and add counter melodies like Benny and Bjorn used to but with a hard rock edge to it.
That being said, if there was no KISS, then there would definitely be no CROSSON. At the end of the day, I’m an 80s rock child. Hence, I have been influenced by a plethora of 80s bands such as, Motley Crue, Scorpions, Def Leppard, Dokken, Iron Maiden, Dio, Stryper, Vandenberg, Cheap Trick, Ozzy, Poison, WASP (the list just goes on !!!)
Crimson Moon: What is the band like when you play live?
Jason: A CROSSON live stage show can be described as a high energy, theatrical choreographed, fun rock n roll roller coaster. Here is the link to CROSSON – Live At The Orpheum and you’ll see what we are about.
Crimson Moon: Do you do anything special warm-ups you do before you play live?
Jason: Most of the time I am also the promoter so I’m running around from the afternoon. An hour before we go on, I disappear and start putting on the regalia. I will stretch, do some breathing to calm myself down ( which sometimes is hard with everyone in the dressing room) do some vocal warm ups, drink some herbal tea with honey and suck on a few lozenges to loosen the throat. I’m also checking with my stage manager to ensure everything is ok.
Crimson Moon: What made you want to form the band?
Jason: Being stung by the Rock N Roll Disease as a kid after discovering KISS, then a few years later Motley Crue and the whole 80s glam metal scene, topped off with seeing Iron Maiden on the World Slavery Tour, I was hooked and knew I wanted to write songs and perform them in a flamboyant visual way.
Crimson Moon: If you weren’t in CROSSON would you still be involved in the music industry?
Jason: Probably not. Id probably be making films and acting. I was trying to do both but a few years back I decided that I needed to give CROSSON 100% of my creative energy or it wouldn’t grow. So I emailed my acting agent and advised her I’ve got to ride the rock n roll train and ever since that day the CROSSON train has been steaming down the tracks.
Crimson Moon: As a musician what advice can you give to fellow musicians just starting out?
Jason: As a songwriter, it would be keep on writing. Listen to how the masters do it, develop your own style and always push yourself to write better songs. Also learn a music program like Protools as it makes the writing and recording process much easier. Even though I play guitar and piano, I don’t classify myself as a musician, but if its an instrument (or voice) you want to master, I’ve got three words “ Practice, Practice Practice”. Also surround yourself with talented people and don’t be afraid to knock on doors as that’s the only way they will open. If something isn’t working, stop, reassess and try again until it does work.
Crimson Moon: What does the future hold for the band?
Jason: You mean apart from World Domination? 😊 Just to continue making good music and delivering our stage show to as many people as possible around the globe.
We have literary just finished recording a new album which is currently being mixed in the USA by Duane Baron. The album will be titled ‘Ready Aim Rock’ and will be released towards mid – late 2022. Next month May we shoot the music videos for the album and are currently in pre-production. So the next few months is going to be filled with making videos, completing artwork, preparing for the release, listening to mixes, organizing distribution & press and doing shows.
Then in a few months its back to the studio to start writing and repeat the whole process again.
Contact them at:
https://www.facebook.com/CrossonRock/
https://www.youtube.com/crossonrock
https://www.instagram.com/crossonrock/
https://www.reverbnation.com/crosson
https://www.facebook.com/galaxyrecordsAUS
