Jason Castro releases EP and announces new tour dates

January 19th, 2010

Grant Trimboli

Atlantic recording artist Jason Castro has unveiled details of his much-anticipated new EP. “THE LOVE UNCOMPROMISED EP” immediately shot to the Top 5 on the iTunes album chart upon release and is available at all DSPs now.

The five track EP heralds the forthcoming release of Castro’s self-titled debut album. “THE LOVE UNCOMPROMISED EP” features an exclusive acoustic rendition of the album’s buoyant lead single, “Let’s Just Fall In Love Again,” as well as three of the album’s brightest moments. Among them is “You Can Always Come Home,” a tender duet featuring Castro’s acclaimed Atlantic labelmate Serena Ryder. As if all that weren’t enough, the EP includes a further bonus track, “Sweet Medicine,” exclusive to this release.

The Texas-based tunesmith – best known as the third runner-up on the 2008 season of Fox’s American Idol – is set to embark on a major US tour, his first full-fledged trek in support of his own music. Jason will accompany F-Stop Music/Atlantic recording artist Matt Hires on his upcoming “State Lines Tour 2010,” due to kick off on January 20th at Jacksonville, Florida’s Jack Rabbits, with dates then continuing through late February (see attached itinerary). To make the tour even more special, Castro plans to perform at local high schools in many of the markets along the way – for details, please visit www.jasoncastromusic.com.

Slated to arrive in Spring 2010, “JASON CASTRO” brims with toe-tapping pop, strummy folk, and electrifying rock (“Closer,” “Heart of Stone”) — all cleverly balanced, rooted in the classic, melody-minded singer-songwriter tradition, with heart-on-sleeve lyrics and acoustic guitar-driven arrangements. Featured alongside unabashedly emotional tunes like “Love Uncompromised” and the lilting “If I Were You” is a stunning version of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” (which Castro performed on American Idol, citing Jeff Buckley’s version as a huge inspiration to him as an artist).

To fully capture the moods he wanted, Castro collaborated with producer Eric Rosse (Sara Bareilles, Tori Amos) and a host of top-notch songwriters — including Marc Roberge of O.A.R., Gregg Wattenberg (Five For Fighting), Zac Maloy (David Cook), and Espionage (Train) — all of whom helped make “JASON CASTRO” an ideal showcase for his considerable gifts as a vocalist, songwriter, and musician.

“I feel like the album really captures my personality,” Jason says. “People got to know me a bit on the show, so I wanted to build on that by including all these songs I’ve written about my life. I wanted to share with people the things that are meaningful to me.”

“Let’s Just Fall In Love Again” is already garnering tremendous feedback, having recently been included on Entertainment Weekly’s influential “Must List,” which praised Jason’s “signature warble, jaunty whistles and claps, and affectionate lyrics,” noting that the single “ makes falling in love with (Castro) again oh-so-easy.” “Let’s Just Fall In Love Again” is available now via iTunes, while its companion video clip – directed by Travis Kopach (Panic At The Disco, All Time Low) –can be viewed online HERE.

Pre-orders for “JASON CASTRO” are available now through Jason’s webstore. In addition to instantly receiving the “Let’s Just Fall In Love Again” digital single, fans can also choose from a variety of packages that include bonus content ranging from a special fan plaque or an autographed limited edition poster to the opportunity to personally connect with Jason at either a special “Meet N Greet” or on a one-of-a-kind five-minute phone call. For complete details, please visit www.jasoncastromusic.com/store.

A multi-talented singer and guitarist, Castro was among the most popular and talented artists in American Idol history, entering the record books as the first contestant ever to play an instrument on the show. His performance of the Leonard Cohen-penned classic “Hallelujah” proved such an audience favorite that cult hero Jeff Buckley’s rendition of the song hit #1 on the iTunes chart the following week, and sold an astonishing 178,000 digital singles. Jason scored a chart-topping single of his own a few weeks later, when his interpretation of “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” also hit #1 on iTunes after a show-stopping performance of the song on American Idol. Upon the season’s conclusion, Castro was among the stars of the hugely successful “American Idols LIVE! Tour 2008.”

For up-to-the-minute news and information, please visit www.jasoncastromusic.com.

All Dates w/Matt Hires’ “State Lines Tour 2010”

JANUARY
20 Jacksonville, FL Jack Rabbits
21 Decatur, GA Eddie’s Attic
22 Charlotte, NC The Evening Muse
23 Chapel Hill, NC Local 506
25 Vienna, VA Jammin’ Java
26 Philadelphia, PA World Café Live
27 New York, NY Joe’s Pub
28 Boston, MA Café 939
29 Pittsburgh, PA Club Café
31 Cleveland, OH Beachland Ballroom & Tavern

FEBRUARY
1 Columbus, OH The Basement
3 Ann Arbor, MI The Ark
4 Chicago, IL Schubas Tavern
5 Madison, WI Der Rathskeller
6 Minneapolis, MN 7th Street Entry
8 Lawrence, KS The Bottleneck
9 Denver, CO The Soiled Dove Underground
10 Salt Lake City, UT Kilby Court Gallery
11 Boise, ID Reef Boise
12 Seattle, WA The High Dive
13 Portland, OR Mississippi Studios
16 San Francisco, CA Bottom Of The Hill
17 Los Angeles, CA Hotel Café
19 San Diego, CA The Casbah
20 Tucson, AZ Solar Culture
21 Phoenix, AZ Rhythm Room
22 Santa Fe, NM Santa Fe Brewing Company
24 Dallas, TX The Loft
25 Austin, TX Stubb’s BBQ
26 Houston, TX House of Blues
28 Birmingham, AL WorkPlay Theater