By Sarah Knight with Joshua Ryan Hall
With a new album on the way and undergoing major life changes, guitarist/singer Jonny Lang has adopted a fresh music style that revels in complete freedom. His upcoming album, under the A&M label, marks his milestone departure from the blues and embraces more of a rock sound.
Beyond the excitement of his latest project, Jonny has been opening for the legendary Rolling Stones and his very first album Smokin' by Jonny Lang and The Big Bang was re-released last October through Eagle Records.
Anyone who has followed Lang's career knows he was a child prodigy who landed a major record deal by age 15. When kids his age were playing high school sports and anticipating the prom, this blues phenomenon was touring with legends such as Aerosmith and B.B. King - not to mention headlining all over the world.
We shouldn't fuss about Jonny's age anymore because he's all grown up. His successful adolescent years are gone, but his transition into adulthood seems just as promising.
In addition to adopting a new sound, Lang has also experienced some other life changes. After five years of courtship, he recently married Haylie Johnson, and now takes a stronger stance on his albums.
If you visit www.jonnylang.com he explains that on previous albums he sang, played guitar and did some writing but on his new album he is more involved by writing, co-producing and performing all the songs. He mentions he is glad to have taken this step because for the first time he feels true to himself. A release date has not been determined but Jonny assures his fans it won't be too much longer.
During a visit to Indianapolis for a Klipsch photo shoot, Klipsch employee Joshua Hall had the opportunity to chat with Lang. He gave Joshua some cool insight into his life, new album and musical shift. Joshua discovered despite his fame and notoriety as a blues genius, Jonny elicits a shy, humble, down-to-earth personality.
History
Information gathered from www.jonnylang.com
Jonny's extraordinary singing and guitar playing made him an esteemed musician at a very early age. He was nominated for a Grammy Award at age 19 - an achievement some of us can only dream about.
His independent release Smokin' sold over 25,000 copies, grabbing the attention of major labels including A&M. This newfound fame led to the success of his 1997 album, Lie to Me. This album debuted at #1 on Billboard's New Artist chart and critics raved about his poise and maturity.
His next album Wander this World expanded his blues foundation and incorporated R&B, rock and ballads.
He has received praise from acclaimed artists such as B.B. King. The two toured together and King told the Los Angeles Times, "Jonny Lang's 16, so he's got youth and talent with it. When I was young, I didn't play like I do today. So these kids are starting at the height that I've reached. Think what they might do over time."
Jonny's good looks have been featured on the cover of popular magazines such as Rolling Stone, US Magazine, Guitar World and Vanity Fair. He has also made cameo appearances on the Drew Carey Show and in the movie Blues Brother's 2000.
Currently, Jonny has three album releases under his belt and guest appearances on at least 22 other albums.
There is a lot more to Jonny's story and if you're curious visit the Internet, type in Jonny Lang and choose between the 71,300 hits.
The Interview with Jonny Lang
Nearly everything I have read about Jonny Lang emphasizes his child prodigy persona so I felt it was my duty to ask him how the age issue plays into his music.
"You know you grow out of being young and pretty soon your music starts speaking for itself so its never been a big deal," he said.
Jonny mentioned that while growing up in North Dakota his Dad introduced him to live music by taking him to see one of the only bands in town, which happened to play the blues. He recalled watching the guitarist in amazement and thinking, "I wanna be like that guy." He said at that moment he was inspired to play guitar.
"Do you feel you were predisposed to be a guitar player and blues singer?" I ask. Before he answers I throw in, "Do you think if you had first been exposed to piano and jazz or violin and classical, I would now be talking to the first chair violinist for the Philharmonic?"
"I do love classical music," says Jonny. "Actually, I played the viola in school and I really liked it. Then I moved to the saxophone. I just think the singer part of me has always empowered everything else so that has shaped what kind of music I have done. I think I am pretty much growing out of playing blues music as a style or genre but I am glad that I have it as my foundation because it comes in handy when going out and jamming with people. The second part of me has shaped my song writing and I'm just starting to musically find myself."
Being a musician is the only profession Lang has ever known and it's what he does everyday so I ask him where exactly it fits into his life - is it an obsession or a career?
"No, it is something I do," explains Jonny. "We all have our things that are given to us to kind of go out in the world and make it a better place. I try to effect people's lives in a good way. I just look at it as another aspect of my personality. I mean to me there is no point in being two separate people on and off the stage. It would be like going to a business office and putting on a whole different persona for your fellow employees. It doesn't make sense for people to act differently in various situations. I just try to be me as much as I can while doing what I do. Music is definitely the only thing I am good at (laughing) so I really don't have a choice. So yeah I'm just stuck doing it but I'm glad because I really love it."
From a fan standpoint, I have always thought fame and the whole rocker lifestyle was so cool. However, the thought of people knowing my name, recognizing me and asking for my autograph is quite terrifying. I was curious to hear Jonny's point of view so we began discussing where fame falls into his life.
The price of fame encompasses different levels. Some celebrities are stalked or constantly mobbed by fans while others crave the spotlight. I ask Jonny if fans constantly recognize him and ask for his autograph.
"Not so much," says Jonny. He explained when his albums were doing really well and he was doing a lot of touring and television performances people would say things once in a while. He said his fame is more prevalent in Minneapolis, where he moved after leaving his hometown of Fargo, North Dakota.
I then ask Jonny, "Is fame something you like or hate?"
"In general, I'm not good at being social around people I just meet," he says. "Whether it is a fan or a relative I am meeting for the first time I'm just not that good at being social. But once I get to know them I kind of warm up. It is just flattering to know that people recognize and enjoy your music enough to come up and say 'hey,' shake your hand and want an autograph. I mean I'm really shy; but at the same time it's kind of nice to know that people appreciate what you are doing."
I certainly got the impression fame has not magnified Jonny's ego. After all, he did fly into Indianapolis International Airport on a commercial flight.
Jonny has not released a new album in a few years so we got on the subject of current projects.
"Well I'm making my next record with a guy named Marti Fredricksen, who just produced the last Aerosmith record and wrote most of the tunes on there," replies Jonny. "He and I just really hit it off and I'm finally getting to do what I want to do musically and it's complete freedom. It's going to be quite different than the last couple records. I'm having the most fun I've ever had recording - just getting to be really, really creative."
Subsequently, I ask, "When you mention freedom, what were your previous obstacles?"
"It was me basically," Jonny confesses. "I just wasn't ready to take a step out of whatever the kind of blues/rock thing I had put myself into. Wander this World was a little bit of a journey from Lie to Me but not completely different. I am taking a fresh approach on this new album and switching it up. It's evidence that I am actually moving ahead on my own."
I probe even further with, "Will this new album fit into the blues/rock genre?"
"No it won't…it really won't," says Jonny. "I feel it's more song oriented. There has been a musical shift in my life and I recently got married so it all plays into who I am now. I am a lot more even-keeled now and I think it will show on this new record."
He explained his new album will be singer/songwriter focused and heavier than his last couple of records. "It rocks more," he exclaims. "But it also has better songs and more of the stuff I'm really comfortable singing. It does not showcase a lot of guitar because I never really was about guitar. I mean I don't really care if I'm a good guitar player or not. If the whole thing works I'd rather have a really good song than be a really good singer, or a really good guitar player."
"So you're more about the whole package than individual talent?" I ask.
"Yeah, like when I listen to a Stevie Wonder record, he is a virtuoso - obviously a singer and musician - but when you listen to his records it's kind of more," he explained. "If it were just him singing it wouldn't be as great of a masterpiece. It is about the record as a whole. I just want to be more of a listener's musician than a musician's musician."
While we are on the subject of other artists, "Who are the top five artists in your life today?" I ask.
"Stevie Wonder is number one and a very close second is James Taylor," Jonny explains. "Those are the two people I listen to all the time. Donnie Hathaway is three and Albert Collins, my favorite blues guitar player, makes four and with their new record, U2 would have to be number five."
Speaking of U2 they have been around since the 70's so I asked Jonny, "Do you still want to be making records 20 years from now?"
"I don't' know," he admits. "I find that I change my mind a lot. I do know I will always love music, playing, writing and recording. I grew up on a farm and I realize this sounds cheesy but I have been longing to get back on a farm. I have also been working in my garage lately. I like being a blue-collar guy too."
I ask if he still hangs out with his friends.
"Yeah, for sure," says Jonny.
I interrupt and say, "You just said 'for sure,' its obvious you live in California now." I allowed Jonny to finish and he said, "I still have best friends in North Dakota who I visit and go four-wheeling."
Jonny's friends and fans around the world can't wait to hear his new album. Rumor has it that it will be released very soon, either late spring or early summer of this year. Jonny's newfound musical freedom and life changes are sure to add fresh enthusiasm to his work and a new genre of music to his repertoire. After all, passion and raw emotion creates the most memorable sound.