Holiday Best 2020
our newest playlist!
a fun eclectic mix of old + new holiday tunes
This story is a passion project for me. And the holidays couldn't be a better time to tell it.
A new song "The Wolf and the Moon" just came out on iTunes/Spotify and the minute I heard this song - and Jason's solo halfway through - I canceled everything on my calendar and said, "I have to interview these guys right now" and that's what I did. Their story should not fall on deaf ears...
This is a heartwarming and gut wrenching story about two super cool 20-something guys who each gave of themselves and each received the ultimate gift - through a music project they couldn't have pulled off alone. I don't know many artists like Jason & Zach, here's why..
segue ~
Do you know anyone who's hearing-impaired? Friends or family? I do. And they most likely wouldn't choose to produce and record a song much less put it on iTunes/Spotify...
Meet Jason Horton, a courageous cancer patient who is deaf, partially blind, and an amputee who has endured a lifetime of profound hardship... Meet Zach Heckendorf, an indie singer-songwriter (one of my favorites) with a heart of gold. Zach not only befriended Jason but offered to take Jason's poem (written in memory of an ex-girlfriend who was murdered), and turn it into a song that they produced and performed together and just released on Spotify, YouTube, etc. for the world to hear.
The song, their backstory, and my intimate chat with Jason and Zach is below. I hope you take a few minutes and listen. The world could use a story like this right now - one that comes with its own soundtrack - and the message that giving the gift of time and attention to another IS the ultimate gift.
The duet that Zach and Jason sing together is a beacon of light as Jason heads into yet another round of chemo treatments and a life with no promises. For Jason, Zach's gift was the ultimate gift. And I think Zach would ditto that.
PS: I teased Jason that this song could make him famous and he chuckled. We could make it happen for him if we share it enough. Would you help me do that?
Share these links!
listen to the song:
watch the interview:
Jason Horton & Zach Heckendorf with Val Haller
want a bit more?
Jason Horton has been fighting multiple cancers since he was a baby. Lost most of his sight, his hearing, and one leg during these years. Lost one younger sister to cancer. Lost both parents at an early age. He's been in and out of hospitals, surgeries and tough years of treatment including a bone marrow transplant (which failed) and is back to chemo now. The family suffers from a rare genetic affliction that makes them susceptible to multiple types of cancer. They've received support from an initiative called There With Care (helps families with terminally ill children) launched by Hollywood film producer Paula DuPre Pesman (Mrs. Doubtfire, Harry Potter, etc.) On the outside Jason looks like a strong cool guy - and that he is - he even received a Special Olympics ESPY from Peyton Manning. And then the unthinkable: to add even more darkness to his life, Jason's ex-girlfriend was murdered at the hands of a new boyfriend. To deal with his loss and grief, Jason kept a notebook of poems...
Denver's Zach Heckendorf, an uber talented rising star in the music industry met Jason through There With Care where his family is very involved.The boys are close in age and immediately connected through their love of music (and Ariana Grande, an obsession they both admit :) The more time they spent together the more Zach learned about Jason's incredible story of survival in the face of every adversity imaginable. When Jason's girlfriend died, having no place to deal with his grief he started writing down everything he was feeling. He shared those poems with Zach and immediately Zach's music brain started churning. They spent months writing and preparing to record a song. Zach lined up an amazing recording studio he knows in downtown Denver, and an engineer who was more than patient with the situation. Because Jason is hearing impaired and relies on beats, the process took longer than usual and the result is beautiful. When Jason sings solo about midway through, it is difficult not to cry, particularly when you know the story. Zach is much more than a gifted musician, he's quite literally one of the kindest human beings I've ever met. What's even more significant is Zach just released his own new album Hawk Talk - and he took time away from promoting that to do this. Go buy the album - he's amazing. xo
happy holiday season -
In music,
Val
PS: You can find all of our playlists on Spotify - it's easy - just search Valslist and click on the little Valslist circle icon (our profile) and follow us! If you want more - subscribe to the Valslist Music YouTube channel, or sign up for our email list. Stay connected with us!