We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jason Moon. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jason below.

Jason, appreciate you joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

Warrior Songs story to song is a project where the stories of US veterans are transformed into songs. Matching veterans with creative songwriters to create a song from the veterans experience and then recording these songs with top tier musicians in studios around the world. The songs are then released on themed compilation cd’s and distributed free of charge to US veterans and to people and organizations who work with veterans. Warrior Songs has released three volumes to date. “If You Have to Ask… Warrior Songs Vol. 1” was nondescript and featured mostly white male veterans. After receiving meaningful criticism and input Warrior Songs released the first ever in the history of modern music collection of Women Veterans Stories – “Women at War: Warrior Songs Vol. 2”. Women at War received numerous awards and honors and remains our most requested compilation CD. “The Last Thing We Ever Do: Warrior Songs Vol. 3” is our latest creation, featuring the stories of Vietnam Era Veterans.

Warrior Songs founder had traveled to Vietnam in 2019 for research and to gather testimony from Vietnam Veterans who returned to Vietnam post war. On this trip Moon wrote the song “Seeds of Peace” about these Veterans and the reconciliation work they were doing to recover from moral injury. The 15 day trip was so moving that Moon planned to return for an entire year to create artist in residency opportunities for post 9/11 Veterans seeking similar recovery and reconciliation opportunists. He intended to travel the entire country creating a song with many voices along with an accompanying music video. Each verse a new community, swapping back and forth with Vietnam residents who survived or were still effected by the war and US Veterans doing working in Vietnam and at VA hospitals back in the USA. Everything was set to go until Covid-19 shut down the world.

The trip was canceled and WSv3, which was originally slated to be a double CD became a single CD. Group songwriting projects were all shelved and many songs were pushed to future volumes. “Seeds of Peace” was almost shelved until a chance connection introduced Moon long distance to Son Mach, renowned conductor of The United Saigon Orchestra. Son arranged to record traditional Vietnamese instruments on the song and coordinated with Warrior Songs Vietnam assistant Khánh Trinh Lê. who organized a singing competition with the English Language club at Cua Tung High School in Cua Tung Town, Vinh Linh District Vietnam. 6 Vietnamese high school students from one of the poorest regions of Vietnam received scholarships and the once in a life time chance to record on an international recording project. The final song and video became one of the most celebrated songs on “The Last Thing We Ever Do’ garnering US and international press. A testament of cross cultural cooperation and that not even Covid-19 could stop good people with like minded purpose.

Watch the music video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjhFMln_TYs

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

Warrior Songs was founded by Jason Moon, singer/songwriter and Iraq War veteran. Jason served in Iraq in 2003 and 2004 as a General Construction Equipment Operator in a combat engineer battalion. He was honorably discharged from the Wisconsin Army National Guard in August 2004.
After returning home, Jason struggled with the challenge of reintegrating into civilian life. Prior to his deployment he had been a singer/songwriter, but, overcome with strong emotions about his combat experience, Jason was unable to finish a single song.

Jason became plagued with insomnia, depression, hyper-vigilance, nightmares, and numerous other symptoms. Troubled by the changes in himself, Jason sought treatment and was diagnosed with PTSD.

His road to healing was extremely difficult, culminating in hospitalization after a failed suicide attempt in 2008. After being released from the hospital, Jason vowed to no longer allow PTSD to control his life. He took a more vigorous approach in his healing and began connecting with other veterans who struggled with similar challenges.

In 2009, Jason was interviewed for the feature film documentary “On the Bridge”, and was asked to record an original song for the credits roll. The experience energized him to begin to write music in earnest again, and led to the release in 2010 of his album “Trying to Find My Way Home”, which chronicles Jason’s journey in overcoming the difficulties of living with PTSD.

Jason toured the country over the next year, meeting a huge number of veterans who testified to the power and positive effect of his music in their own journey to recovery. He learned he had the ability to turn his pain and struggles into something they could relate to – music.

Believing that other veterans could benefit from the cathartic process
of creating music, Jason took steps to form Warrior Songs, a non-profit organization bringing hope and healing to veterans through music!

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Warrior Songs is a non-profit organization committed to facilitating veterans’ healing through music and the creative arts.

Our mission is to help veterans to more fully understand and integrate all aspects of their military experience by transforming their traumatic experiences and struggles into an art form which both inspires and is life affirming, thus motivating their continued healing.

We also provide educational opportunities for non military community members to learn more about veteran issues (Post Traumatic Stress, Military Sexual Trauma, and Traumatic Brain Injury).

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the free-form approach to problem solving it develops in us. Where others see roadblock we see opportunity. Dead ends become canvases to paint on, and after some time, without fail, a path is found. I’ve been working in songwriting for over thirty years and assisting veterans with songwriting and the creative arts for over twelve. It’s become almost second nature to think out of the box and creatively problem solve. It’s gotten to the point where i see people throwing their hands up at some perceived impasse and can simply walk over, mutter a few suggestions, and watch their eyes light up. That this is second nature to me and comes without effort often amazes people. The downside is that thinking in the box has become very hard. Watching people wallow step-by-step through systematized problem solving efforts just to check boxes seems impossible to me. Why go through twenty steps to open the door when there is a window right there.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.warriorsongs.org
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WarriorSongs
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/warriorsongs
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkT0t376bIbVj5Nr1H0PiOA