Interview with Singer & Songwriter, Jon Conover

Jon Conover from Sandwich IL is representative of the new standard for up and coming musicians finding their way in today’s competitive market.

Long past are the days of talent alone paying your way into a long and profitable music career.

Hard work, dedication and persistence hold just as much weight as anyone’s ability to sing, write songs or play an instrument. Jon has been songwriting, performing, living and breathing music from a very young age and enjoys it now more than ever.

His love for music grew from his early interest in songwriting and songwriters. What began as jotting down thoughts and memories became the single most important creative outlet in Jon’s life. Some of these songs earned Jon and his former band members early recognition from industry professionals out of Nashville, TN when the boys were still in high school.

Some of Jon’s songs tell a story depicting his travels throughout the U.S. and Europe, giving insight into the people and places he encountered. Jon spent time living in Ireland making his living as a musician and the culture served as a wellspring of inspiration. The bulk of material for Jon’s forthcoming album was written while journeying through the historic towns, rugged coastlines and scenic mountains of Ireland.

Jon’s guitar technique is a unique blend of folk style finger picking, flat picking and a percussive style that allows for fluid dynamics in solo performances. Vocally you’ll hear a blend of rock, blues and soul that reflects his training in gospel singing. The lyrics to each of his songs are meant to inspire hope and provoke thought. This is music that is meant to be listened to and will not be fully appreciated unless given the proper amount of attention.

Jon’s first full length album, “Into the Blue” was recorded and released in Chicago, IL in 2006. His second, just completed album was recorded in Los Angeles, CA with some of the top producers and musicians in the industry. The list of venues Jon has performed at stretches across the Midwest, East & West Coast and as far away as Ireland. Jon’s loyal fan base is ever growing in numbers and support with many having followed his music from the beginning.

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Fox Valley Magazine: Jon, you took up music at an early age.  Why do you think you were drawn to music?

Jon Conover:  Music has always been a big part of my life.  From watching my parents sing in Church as a youngster to enjoying jam sessions at every family get together, music was just always present.  Also, we moved around a bit when I was pretty young so even though I was never really shy I got used to feeling like the new kid and music was always a nice escape from that sense of awkwardness. I was given my first guitar for Christmas when I was probably six or seven.  I didn’t play it much at first, and it took a while for me to start practicing consistently.  I was still really young, but I can remember the exact day that I rediscovered it underneath my bed and started writing songs.

Fox Valley Magazine:  You have done quite a bit of traveling and played a lot of different venues, how has it influenced you and shaped you as an artist?

Jon Conover:  Traveling opens your eyes in so many ways that it almost gives you the sense that you’ve lived longer than you have.  Being introduced to different cultures and the different ways people do things shows you that your way may not be the best or the only way of approaching things.  Initially, I think this is hard to accept for anyone.  But as you get used to the idea that it’s not about wrong or right, it’s just about differences, you start to grow and change and see things in a new light.  This of course stirs thoughts and emotion and for a songwriter it’s prime time to start getting things down on paper.  Whether it be in Europe, California, New York or Illinois, things are always going to be different and you just have to learn to adapt and accept people for who they are and make sure they do the same for you. It all comes down to people and for the most part we all want to be appreciated, noticed and made to feel comfortable.  Everyone has a story and everyone has a song.  If you just listen the well never runs dry. 

Fox Valley Magazine:  So far, what is the most interesting setting or place you’ve performed at?

Jon Conover:  That’s a great question, but I think I would have to go with the Spanish Arch in Galway, Ireland.  It’s a small pub right on the water in Galway Bay and it just has a great vibe to it.  I remember I was playing there and all of a sudden the reality of the moment hit me.  I thought, “I’m sitting in a pub in Ireland performing for friends, drinking a pint of Guinness and I’m getting paid for this”.  Sometimes things happen so quickly you forget to appreciate them, but when you finally do, those moments can stay with you for years.

Fox Valley Magazine:  What musicians do you admire and think have influenced you the most?

Jon Conover:  I like a lot of different music and it all finds a way to influence how I write or sing a song, but singer/songwriters have always captured my attention more so than other entertainers.  Everyone is different, but I hear the words first before the melody and rhythm of a song.

Some of my favorite songwriters are people like Jonathan Edwards, Jim Croce, David Gray, Ray Lamontagne, Ben Harper, Bono, Pink, Don Henley, Patty Griffin, Damien Rice, Glen Hansard, Sarah McLachlan.  The list goes on and I like it all, but I just find myself getting bored quickly with music that doesn’t make you think beyond what you already know.  

Fox Valley Magazine:  It’s been 5 years since your last album, why the long wait?

Jon Conover:  Honestly, I don’t think I was ready until now.  I tried starting the album four or five times and something would always get in the way.  All the stories and words were there but I needed to grow as a musician. Also, getting connected with the right people to get the best product takes time.  In the last five years I’ve been all over the country and finally I feel like I’m exactly where I need to be to finish something I’ll always be proud of.

Fox Valley Magazine:  How is the music on your new album evolved or different than the music on your first album?

Jon Conover:  Just like anything, if you do something everyday and push yourself to improve, eventually you get better and grow in your abilities.  The songs and arrangements on this new album flow easier and are more mature.  There is more space between phrases letting the lyrics breath a little before the next line illuminates.  I used to try and fit as many words as possible into every line of songs.  Now I’ve found ways to say more with fewer words and have learned a lot from working with a producer on pre-production who really knows his craft and is very direct about what works and what doesn’t.

Fox Valley Magazine:  You recently spent a lot of time in California, the center of the music industry, working on your new album, did you get the chance to meet and sit in with any big names?

Jon Conover: I do fully understand how annoying the nonchalant name drop can be, but I was fortunate enough to meet musicians like Jackson Brown, Benmont Tench and Steve Ferrone from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Fiona Apple, Paul Simon’s son Harper Simon, and actually many more.  The thing is in Los Angeles if you spend some time there you’re eventually going to run into people in the industry and you’ll find that it’s very common.   

Fox Valley Magazine:  You also worked with some of music’s top producers and musicians on your new album, could you elaborate?

Jon Conover: Until the album is released it’s all kind of top secret but I will say that the producer I’m working with, Ed Roth, is a very respected guy in the industry.  Many of his friends are very recognizable figures in the music world and some of them are working with us on the album.

Fox Valley Magazine:  Can you throw us a teaser, and tell us the name of your new album and how you came up with the name?

Jon Conover:  The album is called, “Make It Til November”.  This is a line I thought up during a challenging time in my life when I was facing a lot of big decisions and also really struggling as a full time musician.  I just kept telling myself, “Make It Til November” and things will turn around.  This actually ended up being the month that I arrived in California and my music really started getting some recognition.

Fox Valley Magazine:  The debut concert for your new album is taking place at Arcada Theatre in St. Charles, IL on July 29^th, what can we expect from the show?

Jon Conover:  This will hopefully be a very special night.  I’m sure a lot of my close friends, family and long time supporters will be there as well as some really great musicians.  I think people can tell when someone has worked really hard towards accomplishing something, and when that goal is reached, the appreciation can be shared and felt by everyone.  So many people have stuck with me through the many failed attempts at trying to finish this album, so they have felt my frustration and will also feel the joy of the finish line.  Some of the top musicians from Los Angeles will be flying out to join me on the stage for the pre-release party at the Hollywood Casino in Joliet on Thursday, July 28th, and also for the actual release party at the Arcada the following evening.

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