CelebMix, being the lucky people we are, had the opportunity to chat with UK Top 40 artist and producer perfectionist, Jonas Blue. Jonas talks music, inspiration, and bad habits; see for yourself below!
Hi Jonas, thanks for taking a little time out of your day to talk to CelebMix about your No.1 hit Perfect Strangers!
First of all, how does it feel to know your hard work is being recognised as you rocket to Number One in the UK iTunes chart and Number 3 in the UK Top 40 with your hit song Perfect Strangers?
Jonas: It feel’s amazing! It really is just insane for me… After all these years hiding away between 2 speakers and perfecting my craft I’m so happy the world get’s to hear my music and makes it part of the soundtrack of their lives. Being in the charts against artists I admire such as Calvin Harris, Drake, Justin Bieber & Adele I have to pinch myself every day to make sure it’s real!
How much time have you spent in the studio recording both Fast Car and Perfect Strangers?
Jonas: Well, generally I start with the production and melodic ideas first. With Fast Car, it was very quick and I pretty much had the production finished within 1 night. For Perfect Strangers, it was actually the initial riff you hear at the start of the song is how I started off. With Perfect Strangers it went through a few stages of the production but when I got to the final version we all listen to now I knew it was the one. Vocally I can spend up to a week just comping and really perfecting the takes.
As an artist with a fan base growing rapidly by the hour, what has been the most challenging thing to deal with?
Jonas: I would say finding the balance between making music, touring, connecting with everyone on my social media platforms and having a little time off to get sleep!
After the music and lyrics were recorded and put together with the beautiful Perfect Strangers music video, what was it like to see the final product?
Jonas: It was an amazing moment getting the final video back because it was actually myself and my manager who wrote the storyboard initially on a flight back from my US tour and then having the very talented Sashinski bring our idea to life. I am so happy how it turned out and I feel we can all connect with the story.
We just have to ask this! What made you chose to cover Tracy Chapman’s Fast Car? Is this a song you grew up listening to and just loved?
Jonas: When I was younger it was my mother’s favourite song and it just stuck with me as being such a beautiful song. It was later on in life when I became a producer and DJ that I wanted to be able to play it within my DJ sets and also to create something new which is how it all started.
As a child, did you ever believe that you would become a popular musician or did you aspire to be something else?
Jonas: I think you always dream of it. I especially wanted to create my mark on the world and for people to hear my music. I’m very lucky that I stayed determined and persistent and now I am at that place. I’ve always wanted to do music so there was never any option.
The music industry is a difficult one to break into and a lot of our readers would love to be where you are someday, where do you find the drive to be so dedicated to the music scene?
Jonas: I think if you really love music like I do you really don’t have any other option. I literally live and breathe music. I worked for years day in day out for no money just purely the love of doing this amazing job. You’ll get a ton of knock backs just like I did but those are the times that keep you grounded and drive you harder to succeed.
If you could collaborate with any three artists, dead or alive, who would they be?
Jonas:
- Michael Jackson
- Calvin Harris
- Sia
Let’s divert away from music, and have a little fun…If you were stranded on an island, what five things would you want with you?
- A power generator
- Laptop
- Internet
- Gym
- All my friends for a big party!
Do you have any bad habits you wish you could break?
Jonas: Being OCD about everything!!!
What’s your favourite Mobile App?
Jonas: Instagram
(Here’s a teeny peek at Jonas’ Instagram page @JonasBlueMusic)
Have you any cheeky secrets about upcoming new music or events that you could let us in on?
Jonas: Nothing I can reveal at the moment… ;)
Lastly, CelebMix would like you to know that Fast Car and Perfect Strangers are our absolute club anthems! Thank you for taking the time to chat with us and we’re really excited to hear more from you!
Jonas: Thank you for having me guys!
You can watch Jonas’ music video for Perfect Strangers right here: