When did you decide that a career in music was for you?

 

Not quite sure but it was sometime around my first year of university. Up until then I was just having fun with my group In Essence. But at some point, I realized I LOVED writing music and being on stage performing for crowds. Thats when I made the decision to really take it all seriously. I still finished my time at York University and received my Kinesiology degree, but my heart was in music. 

 

Who are your musical inspirations and why?

 

I love Sam Cooke for his voice and inspiring song Change Is Gonna Come. I love Marvin Gaye and how he was able to tackle social issues of the day while still making amazing music. I love Michael Jackson for the music he made but also his ability to have every crowd in the palm of his hand at EVERY performance. His showmanship was next level. I love Prince for his musicianship, showmanship,  and his fearlessness in regard to crossing genres and staying true to himself. 

 

Can you tell me 3 things about yourself that people might not already know?

 

I love to bake

I'm an animal lover but obsessed with giraffes

I hate camping and the deep sea makes me nervous

 

What song of yours best describes you and why?

 

I think right now that would be ‘When I’m Gone’. It’s a song that speaks about our thoughts and intentions when we’re young. Always search and yearning for fortune and fame. But as we get older, we get to a place where we realize that life is actually about GIVING back to the world, not taking from it. I feel that I’m at that latter point right now. And honestly, it’s a beautiful place to be. 

 

What has been the best gig you have done to date and why? 

 

I had the pleasure of opening for Ellen DeGeneres at The Air Canada Centre. There is nothing like singing for 18,000 people...and then getting them to sing along with you. 

 

If you could perform a gig at any venue where would it be and why?

 

Oh, there are lots of places but given the current temperature in Toronto right now I'd say The Hollywood Bowl in LA. Not only is it a great venue that all the legends have performed at, but I also love the laid-back vibe, weather, and beaches in California.  

 

What has been your best achievement to date and what would you like to achieve in the future?

 

I have touched people's lives through the music that I have made and the performances I have given. The awards and accolades are great, but at the end of the day none of that really matters. It's about how you make the world a better place and each day I strive to do that with the gifts that I have been given. 

 

Tell me a story from backstage or after a gig?

 

Back when I was with In Essence, we were in Miami after a show and a limo passed us by and stopped at a stop sign. One of the guys looked in the limo and it was Muhammed Ali! We all went to the car window and actually shook his hand. I don't get star struck very often but that was a special moment for me. 

 

What do you like best about being a musician and why?

 

I get to make people happy. Sounds simple but really that's the best and most rewarding part of what I do. Nothing better than knowing your art impacted someone in a positive way. 

 

If you were not in the job you are now what would you be doing?

 

I have a Kinesiology degree from York University, so I'd probably be in sports medicine or massage therapy. I also think I would make a good paramedic. 

 

What has been the best gig you have been too as a fan and can you tell us about it?

 

I attended and performed at a David Foster event and got a chance to see Stevie Wonder up close and personal. I came early and he was sound checking, and I literally stood by the front of the stage and just soaked in every single note he sang. Absolutely incredible. Talk about inspiring. 

 

What would your ideal festival line up be and why?

 

Not sure. I don't attend festivals but If I did, I would like to see a combination of old and new. Like some Smokey Robinson mixed in with Busta Rhymes mixed in with Doechi. That kind of vibe. 

 

What would you say is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?

 

There's an old Jamaican saying that goes "What is fi you, cannot be un fi you". It means that nothing can come in the way of your destiny. Just keep pushing and trust that all the right things will fall into place. I try to live by that everyday. 

 

What things make you happy and what things annoy you?

 

Good food and good people make me happy. Miserable/selfish people and bad service annoy me to no end. 

 

What things do you like to do when you are away from music?

 

I enjoy cooking, travelling, and spending time with my family when I'm not working. 

 

Do you think social media and the internet are a good thing in the music industry?

 

I think from a promotional standpoint they are great. They allow you to connect with an audience that you may not have gotten to without touring to another territory. However, it has also opened the flood gates for EVERYONE to share their material and thus flooded the market, making it exponentially harder for independant artists to cut through all the noise. 

 

How important do you think your look and image is when it comes to being in the music industry?

 

Musicians are no different than companies. You have to create a distinct brand in order to distinguish yourself from others. Your look and image are clearly part of that so very important. That being said, there was a time when you needed to look 'movie star' beautiful in order to become a celebrity. I feel that has changed and at this point you don't necessarily need to have the body or face of a god to make it in the industry. In fact, realness is becoming more of a badge of honour than anything fake. 

 

Can you tell us about any tattoos you have and the significance of them to you?

 

I have a dragon tattooed on my thigh. I was born in the year of the dragon. 

 

If you run the country for a day what would you change about it and why?

 

I'd find a politician who would ACTUALLY care more about the country than staying elected and put them in charge. Politics is not for me. 

 

What would your ideal day consist of?

 

Working out, spending time with those I love most, cooking a great meal, baking something sweet, playing with my dogs, and of course finding time to play my guitar and make some music.

 

If you could say one thing to your fans what would it be and why?

 

Thank you for the support. It has meant the world to me and has been the fuel I have used to keep going for 25+ years in this industry. 

 

How would you answer the question Who is Sean Jones and what are the differences between you as a music artist and you away from music ?

 

Just a simple guy who loves to make people happy with the music I make. 

 

Sean Jones the performer LOVES the bright lights of the stage and to be the centre of attention. Sean Jones away from music just likes to chill, spend time with his family, and travel to far away places to explore new cultures. 

 

What was the first record or song you purchased and why?

 

The first album I bought was by a band named Whitesnake for a song called 'Here I Go Again'. I just loved the tune and ended up buying an electric guitar because of that.

 

What would say to someone thinking about becoming a musician and getting into the music industry?

 

If you don't truly LOVE it, don't bother. The industry is not what it used to be and there is no easy route to success. You will also need an enormous amount of patience because things will NOT happen as quickly as you want them to. . 

 

If you could collaborate with any other band/singer or musician who would you choose and why?

 

Oh, I'd love to write a song with Bruno Mars. He is a brilliant song writer and performer. I'm pretty sure whatever we would come up with would be a hit! 

 

If you could have written one song from history which would it have been and why?

 

Sam Cookes 'Change Is Gonna Come' makes me emotional every time I hear it. It just strikes all the write chords lyrically and melodically. To write a song that is still relevant to this day is incredible.

 

What things make you uncomfortable?

 

Being around people who are fake in any way. I have a small circle of friends who are real with me and I with them. I'm not anti-social, I just don't have a large tolerance for bullshit these days. 

 

If you wrote a book about yourself what would it have in it?

 

I think I would try and share the path that I took to get to where I am today and provide insight into the choices that I made. My hope would be that my life stories inspire others that have big dreams but may be afraid to go after them.  

 

What has the rest of the year got in store for you?

 

I am going to be starting a new summer series at an incredible venue down by the lakeshore in Toronto called Palais Royale. That is just one of a few different series that I will have across the GTA. I also have plans to showcase my music in a different country but can't say much more than that. 

 

Oh and I have some exciting new music on the way. It's a departure from what fans have come to expect from Sean Jones but I think they will love it just the same.