Here in Scene Point Blank Land, I sometimes get lost in the inbox of endless submissions and new music. I find things I like, but the great digital expanse still makes the records feel, well, a little too distant. Music is supposed to be personal, even if I'm not standing in the front row of a dimly lit room soaking up its vibes.
I discovered Jason Paul + the Know It Alls through this site. While the group shares members with other San Pedro, CA bands I love, I've listened to multiple records now but still didn't really feel like I understood who Jason Paul was. I read the online bios and backstories but it wasn't the same. So when Jason asked about an interview I jumped at the chance to gain some personal clarity and connection -- and hopefully it gives everyone a better feel for what the band is all about.
Click here to listen to Homemade Vol. 1 as you read, and read reviews of I’m Absolutely Terrified and Alien or Martian?.
Scene Point Blank: How do you want your name, band role and pronouns to be listed/referenced?
Jason Paul: Jason Paul, singer/guitarist/songwriter, he/him
Scene Point Blank: You're touring solo in the spring and then with a full band later in the year. Tell us a bit about how Jason Paul + The Know It Alls is set up. How often is a full band involved both live and in terms of songwriting/recording?
Jason Paul: Yeah, I’ve got a solo tour of Florida coming up in February with Michelle Shirelle of the band Hasty. And then a tour of Mexico with the Know It Alls mid-May. Plus a few other things in the works.
But as far as how it’s set up? Well, in all ways it starts the same, where I write the songs basically always on the acoustic guitar. Then for the past several years, since Ryan has been playing drums with me, once I get a couple songs together we’ll hash ‘em out at our studio. And we’ll keep hacking away at them until we get a solid batch of songs that we are ready to record. After, Sean will lay down his brilliance on the guitar. Then we continue to build and mold the song to our liking.
As far as playing live? I always wanna play with the Know It Alls. Pretty much whenever you see me playing solo it’s because the Know It Alls weren’t available.
Scene Point Blank: Does the lineup fluctuate much?
Jason Paul: The lineup seems to fluctuate every couple years or so. Sean’s a consistent member, and Ryan has been the solid backbone for about 4 years now. The main reason why I started this project was flexibility with members. It was always heartbreaking starting a new band only to breakup a couple years later. And with the band you’d lose those songs.
Scene Point Blank: Have you played much in Mexico? Any tour stories or fun discoveries in other countries?
Jason Paul: We played Tijuana a few times. That’s about as far south as we’ve been. Tijuana is always great though. Freaking love that city. The last time we were there we found out about this bar that served pickled scorpions with shots of tequila. I did not partake in the scorpions though. Couldn’t do it, haha. Ryan and Trevor did and it was a gross, but funny thing to witness. I joined in on the tequila part though.
Scene Point Blank: You moved from Milwaukee to San Pedro at some point. Was the move career/family based, or simply that you needed a change of scenery?
Jason Paul: Yeah, I moved out to Pedro about 13 years ago. I grew up and lived in Milwaukee my whole life. I needed to mix things up, a new scenery was the main reason. I had also made friends out here from playing music. It was very easy to get a band started out here which, in turn, made the transition to living here a lot easier.
Scene Point Blank: I think your music straddles that everyperson Midwest rock vibe and the laid back SoCal vibe in many ways (Replacements meets Toys That Kill). How are the music scenes similar and how are they different between the two communities?
Jason Paul: I think the biggest difference was I grew up in the basement scene in Milwaukee. There are no basements out here. In Milwaukee we practiced, recorded, went to shows, and lived in the basement. Out here you either practice in your living room or you rent a studio.
Scene Point Blank: You've also played in bands that didn't feature your own name on the marquee. How is it different? Does it add more stress -- or cause less? Did it take you a while to adjust?
Jason Paul: Umm, I guess it adds slightly more stress? But honestly, I was always kind of the “front person” in all of my past bands. Ya know, the songwriter, singer, one who books the tours and practice schedules and whatnot. So I guess I’m just kinda used to carrying the stress, haha. But, yeah, it was a little weird at first to have my name in the band name.
I like to wear it on the sleeve 'cause it’s what we love and kind of what made us who we are. It all just gets filtered through us.
Scene Point Blank: Your most recent records feel something like snapshots of a moment in time. Do you write spontaneously or do you have a more methodical approach?
Jason Paul: It’s pretty spontaneous. I mean, I’m basically writing everyday: riffing around and such. Whether or not something sounds cool to my ear and sticks is spontaneous. Most of the time it never works out when I try and sit down to write a song from scratch start to finish. So I try my best to stray from that method. Only when I think it’s time to tighten up or figure out song structures will I sit down with that kind of focus.
Scene Point Blank: Do you write 100% solo, or do The Know It Alls help flesh things out after you form a concept?
Jason Paul: As I mentioned earlier, writing always starts with just me and my acoustic guitar. Then I like to make a demo with a drum machine, add bass and more guitars and whatever else. This is another time where I like to mess around with structure ideas. Once I get some sort of demo together I’ll send it over to Ryan. When the two of us meet up is when we really dive into the drum parts and bounce ideas off each other.
Scene Point Blank: What piece of gear -- or musical key -- do you think is the foundation of The Jason Paul + The Know It Alls' sound? Is there a defining characteristic and how did you get to this point?
Jason Paul: The guitar. We are a guitar band. That’s where it starts, then we build on top of it. I’ve always been partial to writing in the key of D. And G.
A defining characteristic, I guess, would be “honesty.” I try my best to not force anything when it comes to the music or lyrics. Half of the time I don’t know what the song is gonna be about until it’s finished. Even then I’m not always sure, haha. I also don’t wanna hide what we’re influenced or inspired by. Or pretend that we’re too cool to be influenced. I like to wear it on the sleeve 'cause it’s what we love and kind of what made us who we are. It all just gets filtered through us.
Scene Point Blank: Why did you pick "The Know It Alls" name? Was it you, or one of the Know It Alls?
Jason Paul: It was actually Joey Centofanti, our first live drummer, who came up with the name. I still remember hashing out band name ideas with him at our old studio. I’m not sure if he had the name in his back pocket or if it had popped in his head, but I liked it right away and we went with it. And it rhymes with my name. Bonus!
Scene Point Blank: You've been playing music for 20+ years, I assume. Why do you keep doing it now, in 2026? What feeling does it give you and is that similar to how it felt in the early days or do you find new inspiration?
Jason Paul: I know how cliche this sounds, but I seriously don’t know what else I would wanna do. It’s been something I knew I wanted to do since I was about 7 or 8. And, even though it can be difficult, I still love it. It’s unconditional, I guess.
There’s always new inspiration: new people, a new record, book, a conversation. Inspiration can come from anywhere.
Scene Point Blank: What is your association with Broken Anchor Records (and studio)?
Jason Paul: Broken Anchor is our “branding,” I guess? It’s what we call our studio. And it’s what we put as the record label when we release something on our own online.
Scene Point Blank: Do any other artists/bands use the studio or label name, or just you?
Jason Paul: Yeah, actually. You know, we used to practice in this big lockout space where we paid too much money for a tiny room. And to make rent cheaper we invited other bands to share the space. Which then meant there was even less space in because of everyone’s gear.
But now we’ve been in our own warehouse space in the same neighborhood. It’s amazing and I love it. The only bands that practice there are basically Know It Alls related -- like Sean and Ryan’s other band, Con Shoal also practices there. And we throw shows there from time to time too. It’s one of my favorite places.
Scene Point Blank: What bands would be on your dream tour lineup, including Jason Paul and the Know It Alls on the bill, of course?
Jason Paul: Oh, The Clash and The Replacements for sure. And then probably Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Not to get cliche again, but it is my dream.
Scene Point Blank: What's one thing you've never told people about your music?
Jason Paul: It possesses me. I’m at the mercy of it. Only when it decides to show itself to me am I able to touch it. Haha, I don’t know.
