Jon Boy Interview
Q: Can you talk about your musical history?
A: Sure. Well, I started out as a dirty little hessian kid playing drums when I was 12 and quickly began searching out people to play with at school or in the neighborhood around the Bay Area where I grew up. I was hungry and desperate to jam so I would accost anybody who looked like they might play an instrument. And, lucky for me this pestering worked. After that it wasn’t long before I convinced my parents to let my first few bands practice in the garage. At night I would “borrow” my guitarist’s Charvelle, plug it into my dad’s stereo system, and jam out until 3 in the morning with headphones on. I couldn’t play drums at night, so I began moonlighting as a guitar player while still keeping my day job as a drummer(which I still do and love just as much by the way). I remember I’d look up and be like “holy shit, it’s 3am!” This continued on throughout countless other bands that I played with until I eventually felt comfortable and confident enough to do it in a group situation myself and here we are 20+ years later.
Q: How did you approach your self-released EP? Did you start with guitars, a drum beat, etc.?
A: It all usually starts with a riff that turns into an ear worm. I can’t get it out of my head until it’s done. So, in an effort to expedite the sonic madness I just keep whittling away at it until I feel like it’s complete. Since, I’m a drummer too, the riffs always come to me with some sort of beat behind them. But, this also makes it tough to be in a band because I already have at least a rough idea of what I want the drums to sound like.
As far as when it comes time to record, I usually just hum the vocal melody or riff to myself while I’m laying down the drums and go from there. As a result, there’s always some happy accidents during the process. I’m a big fan of those. Plus, it gives the songs a human feel, rather than leaving the “bun in the oven” too long so to speak, you know? If it’s overdone, it just sounds like shit.
I generally follow three rules:
1. Don’t force it (too much).
2. Keep it simple (but not too simple).
3. Don’t bore us get to the chorus.
Q: What are some of the themes and topics you explore on these songs?
A: I keep an acoustic in my classroom and mess around in between and during classes. Sometimes I goof off and make students sing the answers to questions and serenade them at the door. So, all of these songs were kind of birthed that way. While I am doing that I stumble on things that I like and keep them on my phone. But, in terms of themes of these songs in particular, I kept thinking of sonic sunshine. I guess it was because I was anticipating the summer and excited for finally have the time to record them.
The lyrics are usually based upon the melody and whatever comes out of my mouth first. I record a scratch vocal and then just try to put words to the melodies and syllables I hear. I walk around and listen to it until I have something that sounds interesting and then track the vocals for real, which I guess could be called the 4th rule? Melody before meaning.
Q: Can you talk about your musical history?
A: Sure. Well, I started out as a dirty little hessian kid playing drums when I was 12 and quickly began searching out people to play with at school or in the neighborhood around the Bay Area where I grew up. I was hungry and desperate to jam so I would accost anybody who looked like they might play an instrument. And, lucky for me this pestering worked. After that it wasn’t long before I convinced my parents to let my first few bands practice in the garage. At night I would “borrow” my guitarist’s Charvelle, plug it into my dad’s stereo system, and jam out until 3 in the morning with headphones on. I couldn’t play drums at night, so I began moonlighting as a guitar player while still keeping my day job as a drummer(which I still do and love just as much by the way). I remember I’d look up and be like “holy shit, it’s 3am!” This continued on throughout countless other bands that I played with until I eventually felt comfortable and confident enough to do it in a group situation myself and here we are 20+ years later.
Q: How did you approach your self-released EP? Did you start with guitars, a drum beat, etc.?
A: It all usually starts with a riff that turns into an ear worm. I can’t get it out of my head until it’s done. So, in an effort to expedite the sonic madness I just keep whittling away at it until I feel like it’s complete. Since, I’m a drummer too, the riffs always come to me with some sort of beat behind them. But, this also makes it tough to be in a band because I already have at least a rough idea of what I want the drums to sound like.
As far as when it comes time to record, I usually just hum the vocal melody or riff to myself while I’m laying down the drums and go from there. As a result, there’s always some happy accidents during the process. I’m a big fan of those. Plus, it gives the songs a human feel, rather than leaving the “bun in the oven” too long so to speak, you know? If it’s overdone, it just sounds like shit.
I generally follow three rules:
1. Don’t force it (too much).
2. Keep it simple (but not too simple).
3. Don’t bore us get to the chorus.
Q: What are some of the themes and topics you explore on these songs?
A: I keep an acoustic in my classroom and mess around in between and during classes. Sometimes I goof off and make students sing the answers to questions and serenade them at the door. So, all of these songs were kind of birthed that way. While I am doing that I stumble on things that I like and keep them on my phone. But, in terms of themes of these songs in particular, I kept thinking of sonic sunshine. I guess it was because I was anticipating the summer and excited for finally have the time to record them.
The lyrics are usually based upon the melody and whatever comes out of my mouth first. I record a scratch vocal and then just try to put words to the melodies and syllables I hear. I walk around and listen to it until I have something that sounds interesting and then track the vocals for real, which I guess could be called the 4th rule? Melody before meaning.
Q: I think I have a fairly good idea of the music you grew up on but can you talk about some of the bands and artists that had an influence on your aesthetics?
A: Jesus this is always the toughest question. Well, there’s been many phases that I’ve gone through and artists of all kinds that I’ve been into along the way, but the most persistent thread that runs through it all is ‘60s and ‘70s music. I’d say that’s the biggest portion of my musical DNA. I definitely have a soft spot for the southern twang and pop hooks.
Aside from the obvious ones like GBV and The Replacements, I also love XTC, The Band, Sloan, Neil Young, Wilco, Big Star, Joe Walsh, Allman Bros., Jellyfish, Evan Dando, Misfits, Royal Trux, The Stooges, Alice Cooper, MC5, Jim O’Rourke, Brian Eno, Brendan Benson, Tom Petty and we could be here all day if I kept going! But, honestly I think I operate on a spectrum with power-poppy hooks at one end and twangy chimes on the other. I really like all of the stuff coming out of East Nashville at the moment. Regardless, I’m just an amalgam of the things I’ve heard and the people I’ve played with.
Q: So I need to ask. What do your students think about your music? Are they upset you aren’t EDM?
A: Haha... Wait till you hear my chill vaporwave project. It’s lit!
Seriously though, people say rock is dead and guitars are dying, but I have students that are way into the rock. Sure, some of it’s crap screamo or a recently inspired interest from seeing Bohemian Rhapsody, but nevertheless it’s a movement in the right direction. I mean, I wasn’t exactly a taste maker at that age either so...?
And while there’s definitely a majority who are into the EDM or some mumble-core hip-hop, it doesn’t matter because rock n’ roll is always for the outcasts anyway, right?
Q: What else should we know about your music?
A: That your thoughts are your own, but your ears are mine...Enjoy the tunes.
A: Jesus this is always the toughest question. Well, there’s been many phases that I’ve gone through and artists of all kinds that I’ve been into along the way, but the most persistent thread that runs through it all is ‘60s and ‘70s music. I’d say that’s the biggest portion of my musical DNA. I definitely have a soft spot for the southern twang and pop hooks.
Aside from the obvious ones like GBV and The Replacements, I also love XTC, The Band, Sloan, Neil Young, Wilco, Big Star, Joe Walsh, Allman Bros., Jellyfish, Evan Dando, Misfits, Royal Trux, The Stooges, Alice Cooper, MC5, Jim O’Rourke, Brian Eno, Brendan Benson, Tom Petty and we could be here all day if I kept going! But, honestly I think I operate on a spectrum with power-poppy hooks at one end and twangy chimes on the other. I really like all of the stuff coming out of East Nashville at the moment. Regardless, I’m just an amalgam of the things I’ve heard and the people I’ve played with.
Q: So I need to ask. What do your students think about your music? Are they upset you aren’t EDM?
A: Haha... Wait till you hear my chill vaporwave project. It’s lit!
Seriously though, people say rock is dead and guitars are dying, but I have students that are way into the rock. Sure, some of it’s crap screamo or a recently inspired interest from seeing Bohemian Rhapsody, but nevertheless it’s a movement in the right direction. I mean, I wasn’t exactly a taste maker at that age either so...?
And while there’s definitely a majority who are into the EDM or some mumble-core hip-hop, it doesn’t matter because rock n’ roll is always for the outcasts anyway, right?
Q: What else should we know about your music?
A: That your thoughts are your own, but your ears are mine...Enjoy the tunes.