Bay Area Artist Jonah Melvon; A Raw Blend of Talent!

“I’m well, grateful to be doing what I love and with people I respect and love.”

“I’m from the Bay Area. Born in San Francisco, I was raised in Oakland and eventually made my way to San Jose.”

“This is always a tricky question to answer because, like most people, I was exposed to music at a very early age. My parents had me involved in family shows where each of us would perform in front of each other. As a recording artist, I was late bloomer because I didn’t start recording music til after college. Since I was a late bloomer, my influences had a wider time span, from as early as Sade to the Common, The Roots, and Musiq Soulchild Era. Also, I studied one of my inspirations, my sister Adesha, who was able to build an incredible fan base in our hometown with her sound.”

“Entrepreneur skills, financial literacy, and people skills. Obviously, the music needs to speak to your audience in a way to inspire them to like, share, add, and hopefully make them touch their wallets. For certain brands like myself, I am fortunate to have my audience buy more into me, which is bigger than just the music.”

“Trends come and go. Following the trend rather than finding your true authentic self is a big mistake to me. I am not saying don’t do any of the trending things, but getting lost in them would be a mistake. Fans love authentication and from one end of the spectrum to the other, as long as it’s authentic.”

“Body language, even without words, can tell a full story. Every show is different, so as an artist, I have to be light on my toes and ready to make the necessary adjustments to create that engagement. I use my eyes, facial expressions, and even my clothes to convey the story I’m trying to present.”

“Having fans personally connect with my songs is extremely fulfilling. To me, personally, I’m not only in the entertainment field, but I actually feel like I’m in the service industry; especially as a songwriter.”

What did you accomplish before the entertainment world began to open up again? “The lockdown, though it was difficult, blessed me with so many silver linings. I was able to write this record “Almond Mocha” that speaks on the pandemic, from George Floyd, shelter in place, disparities being exposed even more so in the work force, and reprioritizing life altogether. Also, I started a music tech company, which I will share more about in my next interview.”

“This is also a tricky question to answer because I believe everything is not made for everyone, but every piece of art has to find its specific audience. Most pieces of art don’t find the correct audience, so tons of artists don’t get the connection they’re hoping for. I am similar to lots of artists, but also very different from those same artists. Everything from where I grew up, my social experiences, my economic experiences, and the things that took place in my home, which all uniquely are displayed in my songs.”

“I am a coffee lover, so you’ll probably find me in a coffee shop, drinking a cup of coffee with headphones on, or having some business meetings about how we can grow in business.”