JD Hinton is a celebrated singer-songwriter whose multifaceted career has taken him from midnight-to-dawn disc jockey gigs to acting roles in iconic TV shows like Mork & Mindy, The Morning Show, and Jane the Virgin. With a sound often compared to Leonard Cohen, Peter Gabriel, and Robbie Robertson, Hinton's music resonates with heartfelt melodies and timeless storytelling. His latest single, "The Other Side," captures the essence of hope and perseverance, offering an infectious, upbeat energy that reflects the summertime vibe. Written during the isolation of the COVID-19 shutdown, the track serves as a powerful anthem for anyone seeking a fresh start and the courage to embrace new possibilities. Following the success of his previous project, Five Smooth Stones, Hinton is gearing up for the release of his highly anticipated EP, Traveler, set to close out the year.
SJ: Welcome, JD Hinton! We’re excited to talk about your music and new release.
JD: Thank you so much. I appreciate that.
1. SJ: With such a prolific career from your TV roles in Mork & Mindy, The Morning Show, and Jane the Virgin, what first sparked your solo musical career?
JD: A very “out of left field” thing happened. Something I could not have planned. A café owner I knew in LA started having music at his place over by Paramount Studios on Friday nights. He’d seen me singing in a local church so he asked me to do a show at his place. I said "yes," and then figured out how to do it. Even as an actor, I was always writing songs so I planned my set. I put a band together. I sent out flyers. I made phone calls. On Friday night the place was packed. We were a hit. The café owner asked me to come back and that kickstarted everything.
2. SJ: Last month you released your new track, "The Other Side." Can you share with us the story behind the song, and what inspired it?
JD: I wanted to write about HOPE in the face of loss. Life is a very thorough teacher when it comes to loss. Something changes in your world and you can’t go back… you don’t know how you’ll go on. I have my stories, but we’ve all waded those waters. You want things to get better, but you can’t see how they ever will. Then, one day something’s "new" about the world. You are on the other side. The history is real, but the air around you starts to smell sweet again. I just wanted a song about that.
3. SJ: What did the songwriting process look like for this song? Recording process? Do you have any common collaborators, either songwriters or producers, that you’ve worked with throughout the years?
JD: I keep a notebook of song ideas for titles or lyrics. Somewhere along the line, I’d written down the "other side of you" idea and the first four lines of the song. The rest of the lyrics arrived when I decided the song should be written. I found a rhythm feel I liked and started adding the music. It all happened very smoothly.
I take my song notes and a home recording version to producer Justin Glasco’s studio. Justin sets up the recording session for the track you’ll hear. Justin’s produced the five EPs I’ve recorded. We’re working on the next one now.
Rick Solem has been part of my music journey since that first show I mentioned over by Paramount Studios. Rick plays piano with a New Orleans feel I really like. He also has a Gospel sound that means so much to me. We’ve written several songs together.
4. SJ: You’ve released a bunch of singles, five EPs, played sold-out shows, and even played for the Pope at the Vatican, what do you feel has been your biggest musical accomplishment? Is there something you’re looking forward to next?
JD: I was given a gift last November. The producers of a Heroes Linked event at the Beverly Hilton invited me to sing. That night featured six Medal of Honor recipients. Gary Sinise was given an award for his service on behalf of Veterans. I sang three of my songs with a 40-foot video wall behind me showing images of soldiers in the field and on duty. The images were selected to go with the words of my songs. It was a powerful and very moving evening. I
think my dad who served in England, France, and Germany during World War II would
have been proud.
It’s been slow to emerge after everything shut down for Covid. I’m glad I’ll have a new song every month on all the streaming and download platforms. Truly, I’d love to play shows in Texas and New York again…and hopefully, I can announce a new LA show soon.
5. SJ: What is one song you wish JD Hinton wrote?
JD: "Take Me Home" by Tom Waits, "Every Grain of Sand" by Bob Dylan, "The Boxer" by Paul Simon, I truly can count. I can’t make up my mind.
SJ: Thanks so much for taking the time to chat!
JD: Thank you for loving music!
Listen to "The Other Side" below!
Credits:
Songwriting, Vocal Performance: James David Hinton
Electric Guitars: Brandon Walters
All other instruments: Justin Glasco
Mixing: Ryan Lipman
Production: Justin Glasco
Mastering: Pete Lyman at Infrasonic Sound
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