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NW Noise Interviews
Courtney Jones Interview
by Jason Gearhart
”...but with time, I find, I’m learning to ride. ”
Northwest Noise brings you another interview with another Northwest musician who’s making her own noise through her debut EP called The One. That artist is Portland, Oregon’s own Courtney Jones, and within 2006, her presence within the independent and national music communities has gradually been growing and snow-balling into notoriety from musicians and producers. Within this interview, like in all Northwest Noise Interviews, you’ll learn about Courtney Jones the musician as well as Courtney Jones the person. Northwest Noise viewers, Courtney Jones fans, and random people of the world wide web universe, enjoy!
First, thank you so much for taking the time to sit down with Northwest Noise and participate in one of our interview chats. We’re glad to bring Northwest Noise and your fans an intimate look with who you are in music and as a person. Your time is greatly appreciated!
Thanks for the opportunity.
How’s your summer going so far? I know you’ve been touring throughout the west coast, promoting your new 6-track EP The One. How is the tour going, and what are some of the west coast cities you’ve played at so far on this tour?
My summer has been great! The tour is going really well, and I’ve had a lot of fun traveling up and down the West Coast. I’ve played shows in San Diego, LA, Oakland, Salem, Portland, and Vancouver so far. I love it.
2-time Grammy-winning producer Jim Tullio (Los Lonely Boys, Mavis Staples) produced your EP The One. How’d you meet and connect with Mr. Tullio? What was it like working with a producer of his stature in the music business and what did you learn and take away from your experiences with him in recording the EP and perhaps beyond just the music itself?
A true testament to Internet networking. It was a series of connections that led me to Tullio, but I’m so glad it did. It was an amazing experience working with him. I had been writing and playing for a while by the time I met with him in Chicago, but the whole idea of production was still so new to me. He took what I had written and created this amazing sound. He really helped me come into a style and a sound of my own, taking me out of a standard girl singer/songwriter (not that there’s anything wrong with that), and settled into a very comfortable alternative pop vibe. I took so much away from my time with Tullio, and working with him has really helped my writing.
Mr. Tullio has a pretty impressive resume, doesn’t he? Was it nervous for you, working with such a notable producer?
I was terrified. I had no idea what to expect when I showed up that first day. It didn’t take long to get over the initial nerves though, and I thoroughly enjoyed working with him. It was a great fit, and I’m itching to get back there to finish the record.
Is there one main theme within your record The One or are there several different themes being presented to the listeners?
I guess life really ties together any collection of music, but I don’t think there’s any strong theme a listener is supposed to walk away with. With music I write, I think people can sense a consistent style that should be there, but there’s no one message I try to get across with this EP. Whatever you take away from it. That’s the beauty of music.
Can you give me one word to best describe the moment your album was completely mastered, ready to be distributed and heard by the masses?
A lot of two-word phrases come to mind, “What now?” “Oh boy” and “Let’s go!” being chief among them, but one word… “Hooray!”
Is there a track from the EP that’s most near and dear to your heart above all the other tracks? If so, what makes that track the most resonating or favorite of all?
I do. “Ride” is very near and dear to my heart, it was when I wrote it, when Tullio produced it, and still is. I love the challenge of song-writing, making it specific to a situation but still universally applicable. I love finding different ways of saying things, and musically creating an interesting melodic line and song structure. And then when Tullio took it and created the produced track…he made it into something that’s truly special. I think for “Ride” all those things came together. It’s just a dang good song.
When can your fans expect a full-length record release from you?
As of this moment, there’s no definite release date for the full-length album. I’m waiting on some logistical pieces to shift into place, but as far as a general time frame goes… I’m looking at within this next year. I can’t wait. That’ll be a good day.
Can you tell us about the people who support you on stage, your band? How valuable has their presence been to you in the studio and on tour?
I hired studio musicians for the record, but the guys that play with me are great. Great musicians, great people, we have a lot of fun. They pick up really fast, which is good, because I’ve been known to write a song and want to play it two days later in a show. I think they appreciate that degree of spontaneity.
I see you have a few previous releases in “Be The Hand I Hold” and “Reflections of My Past”. Can fans still get a hold of these earlier Courtney Jones projects or are the albums out of print?
Mercifully, no. We’ll go with “out of print”. It’s better this way, trust me.
Do you have a favorite venue you’ve played at so far?
Several, all for different reasons. I got to play the Roseland Grill when I opened for Australian Pop Star, Missy Higgins, and that was a fabulous venue to play. Nice people, great crowd… all those things you hope go well coming into a show like that just fit right into place. Another favorite venue of mine was The Uptown Nightclub in Oakland. Not many people in the audience that night, but the sound-man, Dan, was great, and the owner, Bob Fratti, and his staff could not have been more gracious. I’d do either show again in a heartbeat.
Is there a venue you haven’t played yet that you’re antsy to book?
It’s been a running joke for several years now that my dream booking, is David Letterman. Other than Late Night and the Kodak Theater in Hollywood for the Grammys, I don’t look too far ahead. I know that I won’t be playing huge arenas right away, so I don’t drive myself crazy wishing I was. I keep my eye on places that I could play next week, and that’s been a good system for me. Locally, the Crystal Ballroom and The Aladdin Theater would be nice.
As you stated earlier, you recently were on the same billing as Warner Brothers recording artist Missy Higgins and The Roseland Grill. How did a show booking with her come about? What did you take away from meeting her?
Oh my gosh! That was such an awesome night! That was the Roseland show, man that was fun. How did the booking come about? Good management, persistence, and a lot of prior failed attempts. That’s the answer to most of what I do, actually. Management, persistence, and previous failure. Every once in a while though, things like this come through, and that’s what keeps you going. Missy was every bit as genuine as I’d hoped she would be. I got to hang out with her and the band a little before and after the show, and they were all wonderful people, in addition to being fantastic musicians. I’d been a huge fan of Missy’s long before this booking came about, and I really admire her artistic integrity. She’s living proof that you can be successful while staying true to yourself and the music.
What other mainstream artists have you had the pleasure to share the stage with? What were those experiences like?
I’ve played shows with other local artists, but as far as mainstream, opening for Missy Higgins is really the biggest one to date. Ask me again in a month though, and I’ll be able to tell you about playing the Bite of Oregon and sharing the stage with Anna Nalick and Joshua Radin. That’s coming up in the next few weeks here, and I’m really excited.
What’s the most rewarding performance you’ve had so far and why?
Besides the aforementioned performances, the one show that sticks out in my mind was a house concert I did to celebrate the release of The One. We invited close friends and family, all of those that had been a huge support to me from the very beginning, and we just had a very small get together. To be in a room filled with all those familiar faces was really a great experience for me.
What artists from the Northwest have you been on the same billing as? Are there any artists from the Northwest who’ve inspired you or who you’ve come to admire in the music industry? Has anyone given you “words of wisdom” regarding the music biz?
I’ve played shows with Element 57, Debra Arlyn, and Intervision 5 in the last few months. The thing about the music biz, is that everyone takes a little different approach. I’m constantly coming across people I can learn from. I see what they’re doing, take what would work for me, and work hard. The best piece of advice though, comes from my producer, Jim Tullio- “Don’t have a Plan B.” Don’t have anything to fall back on. I’ve taken that to heart. This music thing, this career I’m building, it’s all I do. It’s not
my hobby, it’s my job. I approach it as such.
Has your music gotten radio airplay? If so, what Portland and non-Portland stations was your music played on? Are you still getting solid airplay?
I’ve been featured on KINK102fm’s Local Music Spotlight a few times in Portland, and I’m doing an event for KINK at the end of August. I’m getting a ton of internet radio play, but I’m still working on the more traditional terrestrial radio airplay here.
Your track Ride was recently #1 on iacmusic.com
It was pretty exciting. The site programmers first picked it up as one of their “Big 50” the weekend we submitted it in March, and it just took off from there. It hit #1 the first part of April on their “All Genres” charts and stayed there pretty much the entire month. At the same time it hit #1 on the “Alternative” charts and remained there for nearly 12 weeks, until just recently. (it’s #5 today). It was somewhat surreal, actually, being up there with artists that I know and admire and having music that is competitive (in a good way). I was really pleased for “Ride” to get such recognition. Yeah, that was a good day.
Has any of your music been snatched up by any form of the entertainment business (movies/tv/commercials/etc) and used? Are you actively pursuing these avenues to have an even bigger audience hear your music?
I’m actively pursuing all avenues to get my music heard. “Ride” is being considered for a major new television ad campaign for an unspecified car maker. The production company hasn’t told us which one, but they have previously done work with Benz, BMW, and Mitsubishi. It’s still a long, long way from a done deal, but the first hurdle was extremely high, and I’m over that as they narrowed their choice to a handful of songs. Wouldn’t it be great if that came through though?
You’ve been compared to such artists as Sarah McLachlan, Fisher and Anna Nalick. What can you bring to the musical table that other musicians you’re compared to perhaps can’t offer to music lovers?
I get the standard comparison to Sarah every once in a while (which I don’t really mind by the way, she’s fantastic). I’ve also been compared to Joni Mitchell, Tori Amos, Fiona Apple, Peter Gabriel, U2, Carole King, Christie McVie, Norah Jones, Dido, and many others- that tells me I’m doing something right. I listen to so much music, and am influenced by so many different artists, that I think I’ve come into a sound that is very much my own. A recent review I received on the iacmusic.com site said it pretty well,
“I’m trying like the devil to figure out who Courtney sounds like to me (we ALWAYS listen to new folks insisting they sound like some famous artist somewhere, sometime)...all I can figure, is her voice is a composite of many pretty voices I have heard, and it is very much Courtney’s own.”
It’s not that I offer something they can’t, so much as I offer my own sound, and it’s different from theirs. I own more than one CD. I listen to more than one artist. Music itself is there because of a myriad of different influences. If you have enough, you create something entirely new.
Going back to the very beginnings of your musical evolution, at what age did you learn to play piano? Did you teach yourself to play the piano and to sing?
I still don’t consider myself a pianist. What age…? Well, I’m one of those cliché I’ve-been-singing-since-I-could-talk people. I’ve been in choirs since the fourth grade, did the school musicals (though the only lead I got was being cast as Helen Keller in “The Miracle Worker, my senior year). I had some solos here and there, won a county talent show, an Outstanding Vocalist Award at Mt Hood CC Jazz Festival, etc. I was actually in four different choirs at once my senior year of high school. And I had a couple years of voice lessons somewhere in all that. Piano though, that’s a tough one. I did piano lessons in the sixth grade and dropped out because I never did my music theory (Grandma is still not happy about this, she was my teacher – though she tells me now that my playing is really coming around). Years later, I decided I wanted to do this, so I started fiddling around a bit, and gradually got more comfortable playing. I play by ear to this day, which helps me creatively because I don’t feel bound by a lot of rules and conventions. I’ve spent so much time working at it that I think I can hold my own, and the fact that people ask how long I’ve been taking lessons is a good thing as well (at least I’m hoping that it is)
Do you come from a musical family that inspired you to explore the musically-talented wild child within you?
I come from a family that has a deep appreciation for music, but there was never any pressure put on me to do what I’m doing. I’ve never felt that I was pushed into it, which is good, because as crazy as this life is I had to make this decision on my own. They’ve been a wonderful support to me.
Speaking of inspiration, it’s taken in through a variety of forms. Who or what has had the biggest impact in the way you write your lyrics and music?
Other artists will always influence the sound, but as far as content goes, I guess life is the best answer I have to give. Life is my biggest influence. Kind of a cop-out, sorry, but it’s the truth.
As a young girl creating your musical identity, which artists “back in the day” helped mold your style into what it is today?
Back in the day, huh? Let’s see… Fleetwood Mac is a big one, the Beatles, obviously, Billy Joel, the Eagles, James Taylor, Oleta Adams (remember her?), Stevie Wonder… is that what you mean by “back in the day”?
If there was one artist from the past or present who would be your dream artist to perform with on stage, who would that be and why?
Probably Sarah McLachlan… triple bill, Sarah, me, and Butterfly Boucher (who opened for her when I saw Sarah in concert). Missy Higgins would have been the other one, but you know, that one is already taken care of…
Out of all your musician friends, who’s the biggest wise ass of the bunch and why?
Probably me.
What, if anything, is wrong with the music industry?
Oh boy… well, you can’t rag on it too bad for being subjective, because that’s kind of why it works. It’s why anyone has a shot. I think there’s a revolution going on in the music business though; a new sense of artist empowerment has come with the Internet. Do-it-yourself (DIY) indie artists can get further on their own, and as nice as a label deal would be, it isn’t absolutely necessary to get where you want to be anymore, if you’re willing to work hard and stay true to your music. So overall, it’s definitely imperfect, but that’s the beauty of it.
How do you find that healthy balance between your music career and your personal life? Is it a piece of cake for you or does it pose a challenge to you?
Cake. Piece of. I think because I sorted out my priorities long before I came into the music business, it was fairly simple to adapt this lifestyle. For me, I haven’t ever needed much in the ways of a social life, so throwing myself into music full-time wasn’t that big of a deal.
Okay Courtney, here’s the segment of the internet interview where I start delving into that random and more personal side of who you are. Brace yourself for one ridiculous time!
What are your plans for the rest of 2006?
Have you been reading the interview? I’ve got the next decade of my life planned out for me…
Where in the Pacific Northwest are you from? Have you lived there your entire life?
Grew up in smalltown Oregon.
What do you like/dislike about the Northwest?
The allergies are killing me, but I put up with them because the Northwest is gorgeous. I love all the green, and the coast is so pretty too.
What place in the world you haven’t been to would you like to visit and why?
Australia. I’ll make it out there eventually. And Europe. In that order.
Do you have any siblings?
I’m the middle of five. Gives me my edge.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? Beyond?
Doing what I’m doing, but not living at home while I’m doing it.
What’s currently playing on your iPod/music player/cd player?
Fountains of Wayne… Adam and Chris are hilarious. As a side-note, we played Music Millennium within days of each other so my name was on the marquee with theirs, and I got the chance to meet them. I’ve got a really bizarre mix on my iPod. It was Gregorian chant a minute ago…
Outside of making music, do you have any other interests, pursuits or talents you have?
No.
Is there a musical instrument you don’t know how to play that you’d like to learn?
Guitar!
How many licks does it really take to get to the center of a tootsie pop?
A brazillion.
Do you enjoy playing or watching sports of any kind?
I enjoy watching most sports, but basketball is my favorite by far. And I love playing racquetball.
What’s your favorite holiday?
Christmas.
What’s your favorite food?
Apple pie.
What’s your least favorite food?
Fish.
Do you have any tattoos? If so, where?
Nope.
Do you have any bad habits?
My room is pretty messy… and I’m told I can be a little forgetful
sometimes…
Do you have any fears?
I have this fear of walking into the wrong restroom. Seriously.
Are you a dog or a cat person?
More cat than dog. I like both though.
Can friends truly listen to Endless Love in the dark?
Why would they want to?
What’s your favorite movie of all time and why?
Pretty tough competition in the top 5, but I think Princess Bride wins out.
Do you have a favorite actor/actress?
I guess so. I like Tom Hanks a lot. There are several actors and actresses that I like, but none really enough to follow their every movement.
Are you a reality show fanatic? Do you have a favorite reality show?
Fanatic is a strong word. I like Survivor though. Neleh Dennis, who was runner-up to Portland’s Vecepia Towery on Season 4, Marquesas, has become a family friend. Hearing her stories of what gets left on the editing room floor gives a whole new perspective to watching the show. I’m starting to like Amazing Race too.
What’s your favorite television show?
I’m a huge TV fan. Love Monkey, Monk, Grey’s Anatomy, 4400, Psych, the first few seasons of Alias, 24, Prison Break!!, it’s kind of the off-season right now, that’s all that comes to mind at the moment.
Who’s the most annoying or irritating entertainment personality and why?
There are a few I probably wouldn’t invite to dinner…
If Ryan Seacrest and Tom Cruise were alive in 1939, could they have been cast as Oompa Loompas in the Wizard of Oz?
Oompa Loompas? Probably not. But I can see Tom Cruise as a Munchkin.
If you could have any automobile of your choice, what would that be and why?
Porsche 911 Turbo
Is money really the root of all evil?
Nope, pride.
Is it somehow my (Jason Gears’) fault that gas prices are so outrageously high?
No, that’s my drummer, Dan’s fault. I don’t know why, but it is. He’s our band scapegoat.
Does the human head really weigh 8 pounds like that little kid from Jerry Maguire claims?
He looked like a smart kid, I’d take his word for it.
What do you think of the phenomenon known as myspace? In your opinion, what are the pros and cons of this internet networking community?
I like it. Pros – Myspace has been great for me as a musician. I can check out other bands, see where they’re playing, spread the word about my own shows… as far as a networking tool it’s been a huge help for me and my management team. Cons- A lot of people are really vulgar, and it’s misused a lot. Sometimes you have people find you that you wish hadn’t. But that aside, I like it.
When I attend my first Courtney Jones concert, would it be appropriate for me to bring my lighter, light it up and sway back and forth during the show?
I did have a tablecloth catch fire during a recent show, I’m not sure if that’s the same thing. Nowadays people use cell phones, but yeah, sure.
If you could visit any part of the country or world that you haven’t been to yet, where would you visit and why?
Country? I want to get out to New York sometime. As far as world travel goes, Australia and Europe would be interesting. I’m a culture geek.
What’s your favorite color?
Blue. Pretty blue though, not this icky navy color.
Which “Rose Garden(s)” would you rather hang out at, the one where the Blazers play or the one with all the flowers?
Blazers!! I know we had a rough season, but we’re headed in the right direction. We re-signed Przybilla and picked up some good young players in the draft, so I’m looking forward to a good season. Or at least a better season.
Did you know that Northwest Noise creator and podcast host Tim Germer and myself do one hell of a duet of Tina Turner’s classic hit “Rollin’ on a River”?
Somebody has too, it might as well be you. It’s not going to be me.
Where in the world is Carmen San Diego?
Stuck in reruns.
Where’s your favorite place to sing besides the stage?
Off-stage? In the car. When I’m at home by myself.
If you could have dinner with any 3 people from history at one time, who would those people be?
Hmmm… I always thought Ben Franklin would be an interesting person to have a conversation with. Who else… this is a tough question! C. S. Lewis, and Abbess Hildegard von Bingen.
Will the Northwest Noise podcast be fortunate enough to interview you as a guest on a future show?
Yes! Well, that’s really up to you… I hope so!
Well readers, there you have it. You’ve gotten to see a few different angles to the life and music of Courtney Jones, and we hope that no animals were harmed during the reading of this Internet Interview. Before I get into a Bob Barker-like spiel on getting your pets spayed and neutered, make sure you check out Courtney’s EP The One, and support high quality, local Northwest music. She’s a fresh face in the music scene and along with that endearing smile of hers, her music will be an added bonus to any music collection. Jones is all about creating and performing music, period. This is her passion in life, and I’m certainly glad that’s the case since I’m benefitting from listening to her album while often remembering another of my favorite artists, Sarah McLachan. Jones brings a subtle vocal and melodic flavor in her music and I hope that taste doesn’t leave anytime soon. She’ll definitely take away any musical hunger pains you may have. Her music has surely done that for mine.
Courtney Jones Websites:
www.courtneyjonesmusic.com
www.myspace.com/courtneyjonesmusic
To purchase The One from Courtney Jones, go to:
www.cdbaby.com/cd/courtneyjones2
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