Singapore-based singer-songwriter Jon Chong is back with the follow-up to his 2009 debut album, "State Of My Mind". His new album, "Beauty In The Small Things", is out now and Jon will be performing stripped down acoustic sets at Starbucks at the following dates and outlets:
3 December 2011, 3pm (Sat) - Raffles City
10 December 2011, 3pm (Sat) - Liat Towers
17 December 2011, 3pm (Sat) - 313@somerset
We caught up with Jon for a short interview to talk about the new release and more.
How different is "Beauty In The Small Things" from your debut album "State Of My Mind"?
Compared to “State of My Mind”, “Beauty in the Small Things” is mellower, reflects a progression in maturity and a more focused approach towards communicating lyrics and their message. Musically, the new album is more adventurous, incorporating instruments such as the mandolin and classical guitar, interesting guitar solos and even scatting which is more commonly associated with jazz. The key for me was balance and it was important that I did not deviate too far from the ‘Jon Chong’ identity - tight grooves, interesting chord-work and well-thought out lyrics, all aimed at capturing and stirring an emotional response from the listener.
What are the inspirations behind the songs and album title?
There are more songs in this album about love than the first, each inspired by a different experience such as having to cope with long-distance relationships and the willingness to do foolish things for love. Other songs speak about the thoughts I have about life such as the legacies we will leave behind, the loss of innocence and simplicity, and the challenges of dealing with negativity and doubt.
The theme song “Beauty in the Small Things” was inspired by an event that occurred in Japan while I was visiting an old friend at one of the smaller cities at the outskirts of Osaka. While walking through the beautiful town, I was affected by the eerie realization that most of the area was void of life and vibrancy with most of the young having left for the bigger cities. When we stopped by a small café run by a pleasant old lady, I sat by the window and was rather nonchalant until I saw these small ladybird ornaments stuck to the leaves of a potted plant on the ledge. I would not have been affected by it much under different circumstances, but in the context of what I had seen all day, it made me realise that there is beauty in the small things if we really slow down and take time to appreciate them. I chose this as the theme song of the album because I believe this applies to everything we do – in the pursuit of the seemingly bigger and better, let’s not lose sight of the beauty in the smaller things in our actions, words, and contrary to the often-said “no one remembers second place”, even the ones who come in last could well have a story worth telling!
How did the collaborations with hip-hop artist Neli Atiga and guitarist Edward Aguiliar come about?
Neli is a good friend who I have great admiration for with respect to his creativity and character as a person. It was a no-brainer getting Neli to lend his rapping chops for the song "Legacy" when it needed some umph to drive the message across. Coincidentally, when we recorded the rap portion, it was the day that Steve Jobs passed on and so it made the lyrics even more relevant. As for Ed, I had always been a fan ever since I saw him playing at some of the recitals at the LASALLE College of the Arts – he’s truly a humble but very talented guy. I was really glad he was able to lay down that sweet solo on Lazy Days as it gave a distinct, different feel to that song compared to the other songs in the album.
Do you think singer-songwriters are not getting enough platforms to perform compared to bands in Singapore?
I would say singer-songwriters have yet to establish themselves collectively as a movement as much as bands have over the years as evident in events such as Baybeats and other indie band festivals. It is my hope that someday, something comparable or more could be organised for singer-songwriter type artistes, or even a combination of both! Afterall, there is commonality between the dreams of all musicians here, that eventually there would be a credible platform and sustainable industry for original music produced in Singapore. From my personal experience, a great example of an initiative is what Starbucks is doing through their “Supporting our Local Talent” program which has truly made a big difference in providing a platform for singer-songwriters who have recorded EPs or albums, to be heard and seen. I hope that this is just the beginning and I believe if we carve out enough opportunities and showcase more quality music, people will take notice eventually.
As we approach the tail end of 2011, how has the year been for you and what are your hopes and plans for next year?
2011 was a good year indeed starting with a couple of memorable gigs such as Earth Hour 2011 and a road trip up to KL for a talent showcase. Most of the year though was spent on producing and recording “Beauty in the Small Things” and in retrospect the countless hours spent and pouring of emotions into the album was well worth it! The timing for the album release was also perfect with Starbucks picking it up for their Nov-Dec Christmas period; so far we have had very positive feedback both from listeners and the media. My hopes for next year are to continue promoting and performing the second album as much as I can and hopefully get more breaks with more prestigious gigs or opportunities for my music to be on other media outlets such as TV and movies. I certainly hope that my best efforts translate into a positive influence, in one way or another, for as many people as possible.
"Beauty In The Small Things" is available at the Esplanade shop and all Starbucks stores (from now till 4 January 2012). You can also order it from www.jonchong.com before 31 Dec 2011 and get a complimentary copy of “State of My Mind”. Free delivery world-wide! The album is also available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/chongjon and http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/jon-chong/id388376387
