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ARTIST PROFILE - JASON DIDNER RRL: Who is Jason Didner? JD: I make Jersey rock with Jersey humor - and heart. My songs are conversations, meant for listeners who stream the tracks, watch the videos, come out to shows and live with the albums. The Asbury Park Press picked up on that spirit when it included "You Can't Get There in Jersey" in its 10 Best NJ Songs of 2022. Montclair's Outpost in the Burbs selected me to open for Willie Nile in 2023. When you hear my music, my goal is simple: I want you to feel seen, recognized and invited into the story.
Jason Didner - Photo by Holly Didner. (Used with persmission courtesy of the artist) RRL: Jason, we love to get feedback on our recordings from fellow musicians who are also out there working the digital marketplace. We would love to get your thoughts and opinions on a few Rockin' Rich Lynch songs. Jason Didner on Jersey Heart Mersey Beat: "A joyous, rockin' romp where E Street meets Abbey Road. A double love letter to Bruce Springsteen and the Beatles, all in one catchy tune."
Jason Didner on Pickleball at the Mall: "This fun, driving tune brings the energy of early MTV while supplying a tongue-in-cheek taunt of trendiness and consumerism."
Jason Didner on I Want to Live in a Dome: "This energetic, upbeat song features a whimsical lyrical concept and a tight arrangement with first-rate rock piano licks sprinkled throughout."
RRL: As a long-time member of the independent music community, what lessons have you learned? What have you discovered about yourself? JD: I've learned that making music independently requires sustained internal conviction. You have to believe your songs need to exist, even when there's little external validation. You never know who will stumble upon a song at exactly the moment they need it. The modern era gives us powerful studios in our laptops - something that once required labels or big budgets. But that access comes with a trade-off: more than 60,000 new songs are released every day. Most of us won't attract mass attention, but we can find our tribe - those few people who truly connect and form a meaningful bond with the music. RRL: What's a decision you're grateful your past self made? JD: Learning to self-produce. When paying for producers and studio time stopped being viable, self-production allowed me to stay on a sustainable creative path. Each project has made me better at it, and I genuinely enjoy the process now. And if these recordings eventually reach an audience that makes collaboration with outside producers possible again, I'd welcome that too - it feels like an expansion, not a contradiction. RRL: What are you currently working on? What's on the horizon? JD: I'm releasing singles that will live on an upcoming album called Asbury Heart - a love letter to the Jersey Shore city whose music and cultural history mean a great deal to me. Many tracks feature my band, Jason Didner and the Drive, along with duet partners from across New Jersey's independent music scene. My latest single - "Come Across the Tracks" - tells the true story of Garry Tallent as a teenager in Asbury Park - the only white musician playing soul music on the city's predominantly Black west side because, as he said, "It didn't make sense not to." The next single, "Dear Faye," arrives February 13, with the full album expected in mid-May. Related Links: For more information on JASON DIDNER please visit the following links - Jason Didner | Come Across the Tracks (feat. ROSTAFA) Originally published on 2026-02-02
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