Aaron Lee Tasjan got his musical break when he caught the eye of Drivin’ n Cryin’s Kevin Kinney, who invited Tasjan to play guitar in the band. Tasjan also opened the shows with his own band. From there he went on to play with the New York Dolls before launching a solo career.
Tasjan started playing as an 11-year-old, teaching himself and by 16 won a guitar competition at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Offered a scholarship to Berklee School of Music, he turned it down to move to Brooklyn and continue his music career.
After several years in Brooklyn, Tasjan moved on the Nashville where he launched his successful solo career. From his first record in 2014 through last years’ latest Tasjan! Tasjan! Tasjan! he has held on to the advice Kevin Kinney from Drivin’ and Cryin’ had given him that no artist should be defined by one sound or genre.
That has proven to be the case with Tasjans’ records which have all had their own distinctive sound. It was a point of conflict between the artist and his record label. When signed he was performing as a solo acoustic artist and more of the same is what the label expected. Tasjan compares his sonic variety to the tradition established in the 60s by artists like Bob Dylan and the Byrds.
