Music, Writing, // September 4, 2020
Michael Jones — MUSICIAN/POET
Michael Jones
Interview with Poet/Musician Michael Jones —
1. Who are you and what do you do?
Michael Jones – Singer-Songwriter/Poet/Musician
2. Why music?
Music and songwriting is the modern poetry. The evolution of the human mind in this age of instant gratification and limited attention span required the blend of sound and words to experience ideas once captured in the written word alone. There is a magic created when the perfect sounds meets the perfect words. The unending search that drives me is to find that magic.
3. What is your earliest memory of wanting to be involved in music?
Even as a young child of around seven, I was addicted to music and to performing music in front of an audience. It was something that always came very naturally to me.
4. What are your favourite subject(s) and style(s)?
My style is to create very lyric driven music in the tradition of the great singer-songwriters. Poetry with beautiful sound is what has always touched me most intensely.
5. How do you work and approach a new piece that you are working on?
It always starts with an idea that want to focus on in a song. From there I usually start with a hook that will form the center of the piece. From there I write the lyrics that support the central hook, and act to frame the concept or idea I am looking to communicate through my music.
6. What are your favourite musician(s), singer(s)?
I look for beauty in songs of any style or genre and I have found this beauty in everything from country to rap. I have a special love for the great lyricists like Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Cat Stevens and Leonard Cohen. Pink Floyd (either Gilmour or Waters versions) has also created some of the most beautiful music I have ever heard. If I had to chose one, however, it would be the magic created by Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter. In my opinion, they succeeded best at capturing the unexplainable beauty of the modern song.
7. What are the best responses you have had to your work?
The responses that I remember most are from those that really listen to my music. Those individuals that listen to the lyrics and experience the ideas that I am trying to present through my songs. I have had some of my work compared to Dylan, which is the greatest of possible responses I could hope for.
8. What do you like about your work?
I believe that once you experience creating art from scratch, nothing will ever satisfy you again from a work perspective. I can’t use the word “like” as it is much more like a sanity testing obsession that drives my daily focus on writing songs and composing music. Simply stated, it is what I was born to do and I can’t imagine doing anything else.
9. What advice would you give to other musicians?
Dig deep and find the beauty in whatever style you have chosen work in. To find that beauty you need to write songs that are truly from your voice. This requires putting your heart and soul into every word and every note. People will sense anything fake and they will not be inspired by your art. If your blood, sweat and soul aren’t in your songs don’t bother publishing them. If you do that and someone trashes (and they certainly will) pay no attention and keep going forward. Write your music for you, with honest truth from the heart and n matter what you should be proud. You will never, ever write a song that everyone will like.
10. Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years?
Writing songs and searching for the perfect song which I know I will never find. Hopefully along this musical journey I will create some beauty that truly touches some people.
Michael Jones
LINKS —
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaeljonesofficial/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michaeljonesmusician/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/6qSYipfoSs2vHEyr5HndmR?si=sKxF7U_oQxm09Y01_J_TOQ
Apple: http://itunes.apple.com/album/id1518190580?ls=1&app=itunes
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-288217762
Website: https://americanpoetmusic.com/
Listen to – This is the Night: https://soundcloud.com/user-288217762/this-is-the-night-final-master/s-kq0B0fxOgPb
Listen to – The Enemy of Everything: https://www.amazon.com/Enemy-Everything-Michael-Jones/dp/1647646081
Lisa Freeman
Lisa Freeman is an Arts Illustrated’s Correspondent, representing the United Kingdom.
Lisa is also a Public Relations Director for – Quite Great PR & Marketing in Cambridge.