Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeremy Jones.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I’m a music artist based in LA. I was born in Brooklyn and grew up in Indiana. Music has been running through my veins since the beginning. Starting at two, I was apparently very emotionally sensitive to sounds and always found a reason to sing. My mother was a singer who in groups around Jamaica, where she is from. My dad was a bass player in her band – that’s how they met.
My first musical experience was playing the violin in school. I wasn’t hooked at first and was more fascinated with songwriting, poetry, and pop music, but I was naturally competitive so that pushed me. Eventually, my music experiences pushed me into choir, theatre, and band. It kind of glued together in high school. Naturally, I kept music up in college and was apart an indie rock band (Trackless) that brought me out to LA in 2015.
Please tell us about your art.
Before moving to LA, I started to feel isolated because of my color, especially being from the gridlocked Indiana. There were essentially no colored string players where I’m from. I felt like I couldn’t relate to my peers since I didn’t fit the stereotype of black man. My musical inspirations at the time ranged from Radiohead, LA beat scene music to Kanye West, Stereolab, and N.E.R.D. No one around me was making that stuff, so I started to produce my own songs and work for myself. That has been the backbone of my workflow, to create your own world if it doesn’t exist.
Being in LA has shaped my writing, and inspired themes self-love and expression. In my upcoming project, Late Bloomer (May 31st), a lot of these themes are present. When people hear the project, I want them to feel encouraged and inspired. In this Instagram culture, it’s easy to feel left behind. I want people to be reminded of who they truly are when they hear my music – to get back to the source.
Given everything that is going on in the world today, do you think the role of artists has changed? How do local, national or international events and issues affect your art?
By this point, we’ve all heard the quote by the great Nina Simone. It’s an artist’s duty to reflect the times. I think this is more relevant than ever before. There seems to be so much negativity around us – many people in America are unhappy with their jobs, with the condition of government, struggling from mental health, and disconnected.
As artists, we have the ability to be a light in a dark culture. As a busker in LA, I started to realize it’s bigger than a recorded song. It’s an action you have to take. To go out in the world and express yourself against all odds, is one of the most courageous things someone could do, and people appreciate it. It’s the artist duty.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
Again, I released a project called Late Bloomer on May 31st. It will be on all streaming platforms! I’m really excited since it’s my first solo project. It’s a compilation of songs I’ve released before and some new ones.
I’ve also started a series on Instagram called #latebloomersessions, which is a mixed bag of remixes, covers, and collaborations I film in my home studio. It’s a super fun way to keep up the conversation with my friends and fans. Check out my Instagram @jeremyxxjones.
Also, I’ll be planning some live shows this summer for myself and a side project of mine called Fleece Jones. We’re a group of artists who started a busking movement in the LA Metro. My friends Fleece Kawasaki (@fleece_kawasaki) and Dion Lovelle (@dionlovelle) and me. Check us out! @fleece_jones.
Contact Info:
- Website: jeremywendeljones.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @jeremyxxjones
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeremyxxjones/
- Twitter: @jeremyxxjones
Image Credit:
Luke Schram
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