1. Thank you very much for your time! Before we introduce your new release to our readers – what kind of drink would you recommend to sip on while they listen to your new music?
Now that’s a fun question. For all my alcoholic friends, I wrote this song while sipping on a Tennessee Honey Jack and Ginger Ale so I heavily recommend that one. For my non alcoholic tribe members, I have to say a classy ginger beer would absolutely put you in the right mood.
2. Please give us an update about – new single, new album, tour dates, new videos?!
Lots of exciting music is in the future. I’ve been working hard these past couple months on rebranding and creating a vibe with my songs that is undeniably me in every sense. New singles, videos, and even some show announcements are on the way very soon! For now, my latest single ‘Drag’ is out now everywhere and the music video is out now on Youtube as well.
3. We live in times of many conspiracy theories. Which, harmless, theory would you wish were true? (For example Dinos living inside Earth or E.T. living in a home in California)
You’ve come to the right place for this question. Being from california, one of the closer states that borders mine is Nevada. One of my favorite cities in the world is Las Vegas and from my home in Los Angeles, it’s only a four hour drive on a good day. The drive is mostly desert and the working theory I love to believe is that, at night, UFOs are actually responsible for the stars that help keep you awake while driving. The desert that connects California to Nevada is full of shooting stars that you always see while driving. I like to believe that’s a couple of our friends up in the sky just putting on a little show.
4. What fashion style or brand would best describe your music?
Torn jeans. I can not explain why this just describes my personality, but torn jeans have been my style since 15 and still goes strong today. I believe there’s a little bit of freedom that comes to self customization of your clothes. Putting holes in my jeans is almost like that declaration.
5. Tell us more about your songs! Topics! Message!?
Oh man, where to start. A lot of my songs are written from deeply personal places that are often hard for me to contextualize in normal conversation so the imagery that comes with songwriting really helps me to release and understand my emotions on certain events or moments that have transpired in my life. A lot of my childhood was spent in a very christian household that never quite felt warm to me growing up. There was an emphasis on an identity that was not my own, but one that was created by a church that had pre-decided what was right and what was wrong. I find this viewpoint very dangerous as it takes away personal agency from the individual and ultimately leads to an identity crisis of sorts when those traditional beliefs are inevitably challenged by society. My message in this project in particular is that of questioning nature: “If ‘god’ took me to heaven right now, what would I say?”. I believe that empowering oneself to live and have full faith in the moment over a god or idol will ultimately lead to an existence where there is no need to fantasize about a ‘heaven’ of sorts. I believe that heaven is something we are able to create but only when we believe that we have the power to do so. I believe deity should never have that control. The songs in the project very much reflect and challenge the idea of deity having such control while also exploring deeply saddening situations from my past where I feel there was a lack of control on my end. To me, these songs are the truest representation of my mind in its current state and I feel blessed everyday that I have the ability to create and share them.
6. Beside music, do you have any special talents?
I’m not sure if this is a talent but I have an impeccable ability to time my jokes and little side comments perfectly when put on the spot in a social group or situation. If there was an olympic event for owning a group chat, I would be the team captain.
7. Name 5 things we all should know about you as an artist?!
- – 1. Okay the first thing is that all of my songs start out as things I hun to myself while I’m making breakfast in the morning. I can’t explain why that is the most creative time for me but it is.
- – 2. The second thing is that I’m actually a twin. I have a twin sister who look just like me and is actually much funnier than myself (she’s where i get all my good material from)
- – 3. I think Prince is the greatest artist of all time (I encourage every person on this planet to watch Purple Rain if you have not done so yet.)
- – 4. My music was actually inspired heavily by being very involved in the pop punk community when I was first coming up within the industry. There was something about a genuinely sad song that brought me some comfort back in the day and that writing style has really progressed into the style I have today.
- – 5. I will find a way to put a guitar solo in every song I write. (Even if it doesn’t make the final version, there is always an early version of every song I write that includes a rather unnecessary guitar riff that I found rather dope at the time.)
8. How did you learn to sing/ to write/ to play??
Ironically, I learned everything I know about music from playing in my church youth group in high school. My youth pastor at the time was one of the most genuine people that I’ve ever met. He really took his time to show me everything that he knew about theory, musicianship and how to perform on stage.I started writing my own songs very shortly after my stint with the church band ended and I haven’t stopped since. I don’t know where he is now but Chris if you’re out there and you’re reading this, I appreciate everything you did for me my guy. Much Love.
9. A question you’d like to answer, but never been asked in an interview before?! + Answer pls
Okay this is an easy one: If my spirit animal could be any Bill Murray character, which Bill Murray character would it be? To which the obvious answer would be Dr. Peter Venkman. Not only was he everyone’s favorite ghostbuster but that man knew how the hell to put a punctuation mark at the end of his sentences.
Your Instagram: @jonbenward (Personal Instagram) @ifutakemehome (Band Instagram)