Every 18-year-old songwriter, singer and guitar player from a small town dreams of moving to the big city and becoming a rock star. Jasper Sassaman is no different. Sassaman just graduated from Brooks Secondary School and wants to move to Vancouver. Sunshine Music Festival might provide his last opportunity to perform with Silver Atlas bandmates Ben Wayne Kyle and Austin Parise, who will be filling in for regular drummer Adam Robertson, during their set on Sunday, September 4 at 2 pm.
What was your first instrument?
I was immediately drawn to the piano when I realized you could be a rock star and still play piano in front of 30,000 people and not be playing “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.” Four years ago I started playing acoustic guitar and writing songs and then two years ago I got into electric guitar; that’s where I’m at now.
Have you always wanted to be a rock star?
Always. It’s not on my mind all the time, I just want to play music in front of people. It’s the best rush, but I always find it scary playing in front of two people instead of 300. I also wanted to be a garbageman when I was seven; I thought it would be the funniest job ever.
How do you feel about going your separate ways with your Silver Atlas bandmates?
It’s a very sad moment. We’ve talked about that. In our heads we all want to be frontmen in our own bands. We made a band together and it has been awesome. We were killing it and learned so much from each other. We’ll always have each others’ backs.
If you do not become a rock star, do you have a plan B?
No plan B. If you don’t have a plan B, you have to keep trying. If you have a plan B, it’s easy to go to it.
Where do you want to be in five years?
Hopefully on my second album. Hopefully playing music with some dedicated musicians.
