Jason Olcese (My Hero Zero) “Nothing But Love” | Eighty Unplugged Episode 6
Music, Identity, and Growing Up: The Jason Olcese Interview
The State College area of Pennsylvania has a vibrant and engaged live music scene, and any venue that’s had My Hero Zero on to perform can attest to the band’s musicality, intensity, and stage presence. Whether playing a large-capacity auditorium or an upscale wedding, high-energy is their hallmark. However, band member Jason Olcese graced the Eighty Unplugged studio with a stripped down solo performance of one of MHZ’s indie-rock ballads, “Nothing but Love.” In this episode, Jason gives us a window into the lyrics behind the track, how his musical identity has changed over time, and what’s on the horizon for My Hero Zero.
Music and Authenticity
Jason Olcese is an experienced multi-instrumentalist, performer, and producer, whose love for music goes back to childhood. Raised in North East, PA by music teacher parents, he began playing drums by age eight and, over the years, was supported and encouraged to perform locally with his siblings. At age 13, he started writing songs and performing in bands with his friends. As both a solo musician and a band member, a common thread that unites his professional endeavors is authenticity. His band is known for being personable with fans, expressing gratitude to their venues and crew, and taking a people-first approach to live music performances. This authenticity is also expressed through his work as a co-founder of Happy Valley Song Lab. The recording studio is a space that encourages artistic expression, mentorship, and coaching. It’s even an accredited internship site with Penn State! His love for music is seemingly only rivaled by his love for helping others connect to music in the same way he has.
By Any Other Name
Jason released solo projects under the name Jason O, JAOH, and Jason Olcese, in addition to being a member of My Hero Zero. Why so many pseudonyms? Olcese says it ties back to the idea of giving himself permission to be versatile, to explore other genres and styles he hasn’t done before. “My identity plays into what I give myself permission to step into creating,” he says of the name changes. He performed with a loop pedal in the early 2000s, and going from “Jason O” to “JAOH” helped him to experiment with pop, rap, and other genres. He feels it’s one of the perks of being a member of My Hero Zero, too. Having people to collaborate with and get opinions from gives him permission, in a sense, to continue to think outside the box.
Echoes of an Open Heart
Released in March of 2024, Echoes of an Open Heart is 11 tracks of exploration into the human condition, showing off the songwriting prowess of the band and their ability to match their style to the highs and lows of the subject matter. From the pop-synth backdrop of “Getaway,” to the melancholic piano of “I Don’t Care Anymore,” there’s a song to match every vulnerable emotion the listener might feel.
“Nothing But Love”
This song, for Jason Olcese, is about “digging into the expression of what it means to bring boyhood into manhood.”
It explores the visceral reaction to being triggered in relationship to others and how that trigger is expressed emotionally and physically. It is introspective in a way that fits right in with the music he’s always made, but new in that it makes space to acknowledge the part of himself that gets hurt and lashes out, the “young boy” inside. The song is like a rite of passage, often missing from modern culture, that allowed him to move into a manhood that embraces being fully human and handles things differently now.
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Written by Jason Olcese
I didn’t want to feel
I didn’t want to know
What it’s like to be
Down on my knees
Prayin’ and beggin’
I didn’t wanna crawl
With my face down in the dirt
I’ve got so much left to learn
But I’m down on my knees
Praying and begging
And pleading I’m screaming like
Love
Why’d you say something so cold
How do you know how to make it hurt
I swear to God that I’ve got nothing
But nothing but nothing but nothing but
I didn’t wanna show
You who I am
And I thought I was a man
On my feet
Telling you all the ways you were wrong
Now I can see
It might be too late for me
I know that you might have to leave
But I’m down on my knees
Praying and begging
And pleading I’m bleeding Like
Love
Why’d you say something so cold
How do you know how to make it hurt
I swear to God that I’ve got nothing
But nothing but nothing but nothing but
Love
Follow Jason!
Support Jason Olcese by following him on these platforms!
Website: www.myherozerolive.com
Instagram: @jasonolcese
Facebook: My Hero Zero
YouTube: My Hero Zero
A Podcast for Music Lovers!
Our goal with Eighty Unplugged is to create a space where songwriters from all levels of success and all backgrounds can discuss their art! We hope to grow into a community of musicians supporting each other's creations; and of course, hear some great live music!
Stay plugged in to Eighty Unplugged by subscribing to the podcast and following on all socials. I want to give a big thank you to Jason Olcese and all the fans for making this episode possible.