Jason Dunn
It was about time that we had an interview with this tiny guy
with the HUGE sound: Jason Dunn, drummer for
No Innocent Victim and owner of Facedown Records.
So I contacted him and this is what came out...
(June 2000)

 

David: You must be one of the busiest guys in the Sprit Filled Hardcore scene. I mean, playing in NIV, doing the still growing label Facedown and playing in hobby projects like Dodgin' Bullets.... How do you manage that and are there more things you do besides this or is this a fulltime job altogether ?

Jason: Yeah, my day is pretty crazy. I also work almost full time at a print shop. I do the label at night and on the weekends and my wife takes care of the label when I am at work. She does all the mail orders, etc. I couldn't do it without her.

David: That's so cool.... you're lucky with a wife like that. Do you ever have time then for a few days off together, maybe even a small holiday now and then ? (And I don't mean touring with the band of course !)

Jason: We have time, but I wish we had a lot more. I am hoping to take her to Italy soon. We try to take one day a week off and just relax together. We like working on the label together, but we need the time off too.

David: Okay, let's first talk a bit about Facedown. Why did you start your own label ?

Jason: Facedown is a label that I started almost 3 years ago because the only label putting out Christian hardcore bands was Tooth and Nail. Nothing against them, but I wanted to do a label that was on the same level as the bands and the kids who support the bands. Even now as Facedown is getting a lot bigger, that is still one of my main goals - to be on the same level as the kids. To do this for them, not an industry.

David: When I last spoke to Daniel from Disciple while they were over here, he was very enthousiastic about going to California again to record the new Dodgin' Bullets EP. Was it as much fun recording that album as it was with the first one ? Please share some studio-anecdotes....

Jason: Recording the new Dodgin' Bullets CD - "World Wide War" - was a lot of fun. It has 6 brand new songs and a bonus track on it that any fan of Disciple , NIV or Shockwave will like. It took 3 days for all recording and mix down, but it was a lot of fun. We recorded at the same place which is at a good friends house, so we were just hanging out the whole time.
I love seeing Dan and Neil from Disciple and I don't get to as much as I like to, so it's nice to be able to spend time with those guys and play music with them.

David: I've read something about the first "Facedown Fest" that took place recently ? How was that ?

Jason: It was great show. It was the second Dodgin' Bullets show ever. The first was the night before in San Diego. There were over 500 people there and it was just a fun night. Unfortunately there was a couple of fights during Dodgin' Bullets. It stinks that tough guys have to come to our shows and ruin it for everyone. It was still a good night. We'll probably do it again next year.

David: NIV has become one of the biggest Christian hardcore bands nowadays. It must be great for you to be on Victory and get to play with big names in hardcore that way ?

Jason: It is good to be on Victory. We have been able to tour the US and Europe with Agnostic Front and we are planning on touring the US with Hatebreed in August. Victory has really good distribution and our record is available in a lot of places. We are happy to be working with them.

David: Is there a new album coming up soon ?

Jason: We are working on it now with our new guitarist, Tim Mason. We have 5 songs done. We are trying to do 12-13 songs in total for the new full length. It will hopefully be out in early 2001.

David: Cool ! Yeah, I heard about Tim filling up Corey's spot. All those negative reactions of people on the internet about Corey going to Project 86 and being a sell-out to the hardcore scene bugged me a lot. Is Tim besides NIV and Dodgin' Bullets still playing in Cast In Stone ?

Jason: Tim is no longer in Cast in Stone. He is just doing Dodgin' Bullets and NIV now. We are glad that he is in the band now. Corey wanted to leave and that is fine with me, because things are working out great with Tim in the band.

David: And are there maybe plans for a new European tour ?

Jason: We are hoping to come to Europe again very soon. Nothing is set yet though.

David: It would be really cool to see you here in Europe soon again. The concert I saw last year in Amsterdam with Agnostic Front was great !
But when you got back from that tour, the little son of your singer Jason Moody suddenly died. That must have been a great shock to all of you. How is Jason and his family doing now, and (how) did this terrible thing affect the band musically/lyrically/spiritually ?

Jason: It was a huge shock. I was devastated, so I can't even begin to imagine what Jason and Nicole felt like. Jason and Nicole are doing better, but it will never just go away. Dominic was and is a huge part of their life and always will be. It has changed the band a lot I think, but not for the worse. I know that Jason now uses this tragedy in his lyrics. He has become strong though in God. Him and Nicole. They pretty much had to. There was nothing else for them to do. Thanks to everyone for all the prayers, cards and support that was given to Jason and his family. Please don't forget about it and please keep them in your prayers all the time. Thanks.

David: Okay, that tough one was my final question. Thanks a lot for this interview ! I hope you have a great summer and hopefully we'll see each other soon in Holland !

Jason: Thanks for the interview and to everyone who reads this. Hope to be back in Europe soon !