Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Spradley.
Hi Jason, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
As father and frontman of this family band, I’m living out a dream that took 20years to develop. My musical journey began as a passionate writer/drummer, with hopes of stepping into opportunities to bring inspiration and provocation to audiences across the nation. The early years were incredible. However, as we began to grow, I was finding that it was becoming more and more difficult to engage with audiences from a drummers position. So, after years of walking that path, I set out to focus on becoming a singer/songwriter, in order that I could have more of a direct connection with the audience. As it generally goes, and as many know, the solo path as artists is oftentimes arduous and deflating. I spent many years in various capacities writing, performing, growing, fighting off discouragement, and dreaming of what could potentially be.
Along the way, I met my future ally and married my wife, Kayla. We started growing our own family, bringing up 2 kids of our own (Beige & Avia). Our kids began to grow into their own musical competencies and expressions and my wife suggested on several occasions that I should integrate them into my solo thing. Growing up in a musical family, I was definitely opposed to the “family band” idea. But, as it happens, life and various circumstances have a way of informing our next steps. I was invited to join a 4month tour as a singer/songwriter, and Kayla and I began to explore how this could become a reality. Again, she suggested I teach the kids some tunes, integrate them, and allow this to become a family adventure. Reluctantly, I agreed to teach them a handful of songs, setup a local preliminary show to “prove to her that it was an unreasonable idea.”
I was wrong.
The kids were incredible! The audience was enraptured, and I was blown away. I couldn’t believe how far they had developed in their own abilities. And so the conversation became, what does this mean? We talked to the kids about the long-term idea of forming a “family band”, invited them into a new musical expression, and set out with new directives.
Beginning in the summer of 2021, as a family (Jason/vocals/acoustic, Kayla/bgv’s, Beige(13)/piano, Avia(10)/violin), we hit the road! Our first 4month tour was a very unconventional tour structured around outdoor pop-up festivals in marginalized communities. It was a serious challenge, and unbelievably formative. We stepped into a new philosophy of artistic engagement centered on serving others through the gift of music. It was truly amazing and it launched us into a new approach, a new passion, and a new artistic journey as a family.
Over the next few years, we toured all across the nation, spending more time on the road than at home. We’ve shared some really hard moments, some beautiful moments, and some moments that have helped us to become more intentional about loving those around you.
In the fall of 2024 we went on a 4month tour through the UK and were faced with a new consideration. Prior to the UK, most of our audience was within the private market – outside of the general music consumer market. We were challenged with considering broadening our reach and expanding into the commercial space, or the general market. Up to this point, we had been relatively content with our approach and rhythms, but we felt that it was a necessary challenge that we needed to consider. We spent most of 2025 exploring what that would actually look like, talking with the kids about the ideas, and making a determination to step out into new territory. We began having conversations with other folks too about what would be involved and expected.
What I didn’t say before about our unconventional approach to an independent music path, was that it was almost entirely relationally based. We love people! We love utilizing the gift and power of music to connect with humanity; to share the truth of hope and love in an intentional and melodic way. And we haven’t been interested in making compromises in that respect. We also haven’t been interested in the music industry madness, the self-promotion carousel, or the nonsense of social media algorithms, just for the sake of trying to make a name for ourselves. And so naturally, the idea of exploring the “general market” was a complicated consideration, given that we were passionately opposed to most of the encouraged methodology. (And we still are!)
But, we’ve also been encouraged to take advantage of the platforms available in order to “get our content out to the audience.” Nevertheless, it is a complex issue that requires a delicate balance of tactic and discretion when considering possible compromises in values.
With that said, as of 2026, we’ve been slowly stepping into new territory as a “family band” and in August we hosted our first ticketed concert in Franklin, TN at a 260 seat capacity theater! It was our way of running a proof of concept while testing the audience to determine if there is in fact something marketable behind this family vision. The response was amazement and exhilaration! With some heavy grassroots marketing and promotion, we were able to pack the place out and put on an amazing show that captivated the audience and left us with a confidence in knowing that we must put more energy and effort in bringing this “Spradley” experience to more audiences all over.
As it is, we’ve just announced our second show in Franklin, TN again at another theater on Oct.28th, and we are confident that it will be the second of many to come. The biggest challenge is building a team to help launch this effort and scale into something independently sustainable. But, we’re excited and confident about where we’re going.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Haha! Does such a thing exist? Nothing has been smooth about our journey, but I believe that is the point! We only grow and mature through suffering.
Like any endeavor involving multiple minds and hearts, we’ve had to learn how to be gracious with one another’s strengths and weaknesses; we’ve had to learn to pursue unity in love over pursuing our own personal interests, comforts, and conveniences. We’ve also had to accept the struggles that are associated with rejecting the status-quo path.
But, the road has been marked with beauty and joy! And, we get to experience it all as a family. It’s a beautiful thing.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
We are an acoustic based, eclectic family band, specializing in crafting haunting melodies, and thought provoking themes that move the listener into considering the deeper places of the heart that may be broken, afraid, or alone. We move the listener into an awareness of sorrow and suffering for the sake of hope, wonder, and love!
Personally, I’m most proud of the way the kids have become integral within the expression and profoundly effective in engaging with the audience. And this, in fact, is what I believe also sets up apart from others!
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
We are constantly working towards deepening our community and engaging with new audiences and we’re always open to a conversation about working with other industries, networks, communities, and individuals that share a similar philosophy of art, life, and love. We would love to grow our team with others who have strengths in other areas such as management, promotions, marketing, booking, and licensing. But, our primary objective is to build an intimate artist/audience community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.spradleymusic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stories/spradleymusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/spradleymusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@spradley-music/videos
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/spradleymusic
Image Credits
Ben Sechler, Lisa Gray
