When and how did you get started in music?
oh goodness... This is going to be a lengthy answer. So here goes. My parents say that I started singing when I was a baby. Apparently, I use to sing myself to sleep or maybe I just woke them up when they wished they were sleeping. But that obviously didn't start my professional career. I actually started as a dancer in a hip-hop troupe that toured the world called DFC. I created an offshoot stepping troupe with Jenna Burke that was soon asked to go on tour to Europe with the Juno award winning Toronto Mass choir. They asked us to sing with the choir while we danced and we thought "why not". The stepping was placed on their live album. After that. I continued to dance with DFC until I was picked up as the bass player/back-up singer for a Christian band. We went on the road for years but being the backup guy I didn't get much of a creative outlet. So I started writing my own songs.
In our offseason, some people heard me singing downtown Toronto and asked me to perform at the Bell celebrity gala with Carly Rae Jepson, Jully Black, Down with Webster and some other fantastic songwriters. Having only just started writing songs I didn't tell anyone about them and instead took selfies with everyone (obviously). After that event. I got the chance to perform with Sean Desmond, Marianas Trench, Kirk Franklin, and many others but always as the backup guy. Eventually I decided that I wanted to hone my skills so that I could offer more to the world. I went to school for Musical theatre with a focus on pop music and trained my chops. (still paying off that student debt). It was at Sheridan where "JonoJosh and the Fly Crew" was formed. We call it a crew because it really is more than just a band, although if it were the band part would still groove for the heavens. The dancers and Spoken word artists that join us in our live shows are really something else. Each member of the crew is a star in their own right. After I graduated I didn't leave musical theatre behind because I believe that art should embrace all sides of the spectrum. Visual art can change the way you hear something just as spoken word can change the way you feel a melody. I'm currently finishing up a season performing at the Stratford Festival in Chorus line and the Hypochondriac and I will be headed to Calgary the day I close to start a show at Stage west. So yes I realize that's a super long winded way to say it's been a journey getting to this place.
How would you describe your sound?
I would describe my sound as Soul Pop. The recordings are a fair bit different from the live show we put on with a bit more trap 808's added. But the reason we do that is because we believe that everything should be an experience. In everything we do we try to take the participant on a journey with us. This means that sonically we'll push the bounds more than the average pop song. We're unafraid to try ideas that might be portrayed outside the norm if we feel it gives the listener the right emotion.
Who are your influences?
I have a ton of influences, the biggest being: Nina Simone, Duane Forrest, Son Lux, Tye Tribbet. But dance and art also influence a lot of what I do. Working with Travis wall was very inspiring. After most of my stepping troupe joined the Toronto Mass choir as singers I still itched to continue stepping so I joined Black Ice and they're choreographic style influenced a lot of my rhythms.
What is coming up for you? Music? Shows?
So Coming up is a lot. On October 21'st Outside the EP is becoming available on Itunes. Later in November we're planning on releasing another music video for a different track from the Ep. Also, the fly Crew has been asked by Pinball Clemons from the Toronto Argonauts to perform at Christmas with the Clemons which is taking place at the Queen Elizabeth theatre December 8'th and is raising funds for Schools in Kenya. We just finished recording the Christmas album with some amazing artists: Sonia Collymore, Londa Larmond, Diane Clemons and Mark Masari to name a few. Back to this week, though... This Sunday the Fly Crew is stepping back in the studio to record a live ep which we are hoping will have a release party end of February in Toronto. We are also planning a west coast tour of Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver for the new year. So yeah a lot is on the way!
What projects are you involved in at the moment?
As I mentioned earlier I am working raising funds for kids in Africa. Last year we were lucky enough to be sponsored by Cbc to raise funds for Haiti and we were able to do a lot of good.
How would you describe your local scene?
Music in Toronto is fantastic. If you haven't gotten out to see a live band go do it! Supporting local music is one of the most positive experience a person can have. And there are so many choices for anyone who's interested. I'm actually kinda bummed on this topic a little bit because this year is seeing a few great venues closing down. The central which has given many musicians a great chance to gain confidence was bought out by big business. And they're not the only ones. I think that because of that the Toronto scene is going to change drastically in 2017. Hopefully, we can make this change a positive one.
What are some of the pros and cons of your scene?
The pros to the Toronto scene are that people listen to all genres and aren't shocked when a band like ours comes out and pulls punches from left field. hmm cons... let's see. the biggest con I think is that there aren't enough central hubs where musicians can meet each other and the few that exists are starting to disappear which I mentioned earlier. Art is meant to be experienced not hidden under a basket. So I'd love to see more of what people are doing. Thankfully CBC has been really helpful in supporting local talent with the searchlight competition. Andi and I were lucky enough to be featured at the finals where I got to meet members of the Toronto artist community I wish I had met years ago.
What are some challenges you have faced being based there?
I actually haven't faced that many challenges here beyond finding the right producer to work with. I think that if people are positive and are willing to put the time and effort into their craft good things will come to them.
Do you think you would benefit from being elsewhere?
Although Toronto is my local scene I don't see art as something the has to stay in one place. It moves and shifts. I'm moving to Calgary as I mentioned and I'll be writing different bands out there as of November which I'm very excited about and there are bands in Vancouver that I am very excited about writing with as well so I don't think that living in one city should force anyone to be stuck there especially now that we live in the age of the internet.
Are there locals that you collaborate or play shows with often?
This year Andi and I released Caffeine a song which talks about what life is like after love. She's a hoot to work with and is also singing on the track "Take down your guard" which is coming out this Friday in the Outside EP. Jess Verner is another singer that I love to work with; her and I are always writing together. Although those artists that I am in love with the fly crew really is a crew because the Toronto scene is made up of a bunch of our members. Dan Minchom our Musical Director is also in Saishubi which is going to be featured in the new Rocky Horror movie, or our piano player Giovanni Campaneli who plays with the legendary 10 Meter Band, Vanessa Sears who was featured in Kinky Boots and sings in a killer spice girls tribute band. Our local community is a strong one and one that I am excited to see develop. The world is finally starting to see what all these different artists have to say they're loving it.
How do you pay for things like studio time, practice space, and marketing expenses?
wow cutting to the point with this one. So in the band, I (JonoJosh) pay for everything. And yes it gets very expensive and no I haven't seen any return on it yet. (that's probably why I still have student debt) However, although I'd love to make some money off of this that's not the main reason I'm writing these songs or playing these shows. The main reason is to share ideas I feel are important with the world, whether it's singing about a breakup, life longing, new discoveries, etc. People need to feel that they can find themselves in a song and I hope that I can do that for someone.
What would you look for in someone you might take on tour with you for management/merch?
We would look for someone with the same vision. Someone who knows how art touches people where they are.
Do you book your own shows and tours? What was the experience like and what advice would you give?
We currently book our own shows in the Toronto area. But we have teamed up with some other bands out west for our west coast tour that we are currently planning. The biggest advice I can give bands when planning a show is to be very detailed and make a contract describing specific entry times and exit times with a venue. It happens way too often that a venue will double book a night after you've been planning the event for months. If you have the contract then you are in the clear.
How has new technology (streaming, social media, etc.) affected your experience in music? Has it helped or hurt you?
I think social media is such an interesting thing. As time goes I think that music and social media is going to change. I love that gives artists a way to connect with fans and family. I sadly think that it's given a new criteria for notoriety. Years ago I was approached by a label who said they would love to sign me but would only do it if I got 10,000 fans on facebook. Last week a blog told me that I would only get featured if I proved a similar thing. The industry is using people as currency instead of art as the currency. That bugs me. I'm happy that the Song Birds has been able to have blogs pick it up even though it hasn't gone "super viral" because I never intended for that video to go "super viral". The purpose of it was to open a conversation of what life is and what it means to exist. I would far rather someone share it because of that than because other people are talking about it.
Any other advice?
If you're an artist keep pushing, and when you're writing don't edit your ideas until you've fully written them down. You never know what gold you'll create. As listeners to the cosmos, it's time to be empowered to do all of the things you've ever wanted to do. No one's stopping you and if they are maybe it's not the right place for you.
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