At Talent Is Timeless, we spotlight some of the incredible songwriters who are part of our community — inviting them to share a bit more about their lives, their creative journeys, and the stories behind their songs.

This month, we’re featuring 50-year-old songwriter Jason Rhein from New Orleans, Louisiana, who joined Talent Is Timeless in March 2025. Jason placed in the Rock Songwriting category with his song Incarnadine — a track born from a mix of personal history, artistic awakening, and healing through music.

Jason’s roots stretch back to an upbringing in ultra-conservative Baton Rouge, where church often dominated his young life.

“My life was consumed by God’s calling to be devoted to the righteous path, often at the cost of sacrificing innocent young love,” he remembers.

But at 16, everything changed when his father moved the family to Santa Cruz, California. Surrounded by the ocean and ancient redwoods, Jason had what he calls an awakening.

“I realized God was much bigger than what I had previously known inside the walls of the church.”

Amid the swirl of sex, drugs, and rock and roll, he fell in love — and eventually had his heart broken. Those years left an imprint, as did California itself, which still holds a special place in his heart for showing him a wider horizon.

He picked up songwriting at 14, when his dad handed him a guitar and taught him a few chords. Early songs were simple, emotional pieces about love and God, but his style soon absorbed the raw energy of the alternative and grunge bands of the 1990s. Playing clubs and coffee shops, Jason developed a sound and voice that remain central to his music today.

Life, though, had its interruptions. In his 30s, he stepped away from songwriting under the pressure to get a “real job.” Later, he worked as a bassist, producer, and sideman for bands like Rotary Downs and Imagination Movers — experiences that took him to major festivals and venues around the world. But the songwriter in him stayed quiet for years. As midlife approached and his kids grew older, Jason felt the pull again.

“I realized I still had a lot of emotions and stories to express. I know I’m a happier, more whole person when I’m writing and singing.”

One life-altering moment accelerated that return: a tragic carjacking in which his wife was badly injured.

“It changed everything in our lives,” he says.

Processing the trauma eventually led him back to songwriting as therapy, and from that space songs like Incarnadine emerged. Forming his new band, The Bottoms, in New Orleans, he began recording and performing again. The feedback was immediate: “Hey Jason, these are really great songs!” That encouragement became fuel to keep going. Placing in the annual contest was both affirming and energizing.

“After many years of taking a hiatus from songwriting, this was one of the first new songs I wrote in this new period of reconnecting with that part of myself that loves to write and play,” he says. “It’s been very therapeutic to do this again. I’m a much happier person when music is a part of my life.”

What people might not expect is how Incarnadine got its name. While painting his new home studio, Jason tested three color swatches on the wall and sat with his guitar in front of each one to see what inspiration struck. The deep orangey-red of “Incarnadine” sparked the riff that became the foundation of the song.

“The rest is history,” he smiles.

As he finds his footing in the Talent Is Timeless community, Jason looks forward to feedback, collaboration, and connection. His advice to other songwriters over 50 is simple but heartfelt:

“It’s never too late to write music. In some ways, I feel like at this age I have even more to reflect on, more stories to tell, more nuances and experiences to draw upon, and am excited for what’s to come!”

Jason’s story reminds us that songwriting can be both a mirror of the past and a tool for healing the present — proof that it’s never too late to return to what makes you whole.

You can listen to Jason’s winning song here: Incarnadine

And Connect with Jason on Talent Is Timeless here: https://www.talentistimeless.com/members/jasonrhein/