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"One of the finest singer/songwriters to emerge in
recent years" - Jim Gellatly, John Peel
Award Winning DJ
Scottish singer/songwriter Jono started recording his songs
aged 13 when his dad got him a 4-track cassette recorder.
His father had been in rock-n-roll bands and mother in theatre.
Fast forward to his 20’s. Jono has recorded his own
material, gigged in many bands and is producing for local,
signed and charting artists.
"Hauntingly beautiful acoustic sounds; the prodigious
talent of singer/songwriter Jono" - Russell
Kane, QRadio
He was due to inherit the family business; a manufacturing
company where he worked as a graphic designer. But Jono walked
away from the security of this future to produce his own debut
solo album. Following the release of his first single “Silver
Nails” Jono was voted artist of the week on XFM’s
Music:Response show, featured in the Scottish Sun, and in
his first interview as a solo artist on BBC Radio WM Drivetime.
"Fantastic! Great! Totally fresh, original music...
I love it!" - Paul Franks, BBC Radio WM
Rounded yet rugged, refined yet raw, Jono launched his album
“Sentimental Anarchist”, built around his infectious
voice, lyrics, melodies and acoustic guitar style, to critical
acclaim. Every song and lyric written, every voice sung, instrument
played by, every sound produced, recorded, mixed and mastered
by Jono in his Glasgow flat.
"The album was blinding; one of the best albums I
heard in ages" - Carol Cunningham, Music
News Scotland
Jim Gellatly made “Sentimental Anarchist” album,
and “Stuck in the City” single of the week on
his show.
The guerrilla-approach video for “Stuck in the City”
reached no.83 most watched UK music video on YouTube,
and went on to win Jono first place for UK Undiscovered 2010
in association with Muzu TV.
"I like Jono's song 'Stuck in the City' a lot! It's
REALLY catchy!" - Alex Zane, TV and Radio
Presenter
With a full band for the album launch, Jono packed out the
450 capacity Classic Grand, then embarked on a UK acoustic
tour in his estate vehicle (come bed). BBC and local radio
stations got behind him; every day Jono would be on the air
for interviews/sessions prior to his evening gig. He has been
touring regularly ever since.
"Jono holds his own in the company of Jack Johnson
and Newton Faulkner" - David Esson, Sunday
Express
Features in local and national press also included The Daily
Record, The Evening Times, The Metro, and radio stations such
as Q Radio (Russell Kane), BBC6 Music (Tom Robinson), BBC
Radio Scotland (Jim Gellatly),
BBC Radio Wales (Alan Thompson), Myspace Radio (Alex Zane),
Kerrang! (Alex Baker), XFM (Martin Bate)...
"Jono's voice has this texture to it that makes everything
seem alright" - Alex Baker, Kerrang! Radio
Jono has been compared to many prominent singer/songwriters
like John Mayer, Kelly Jones, Jeff Buckley, Jason Mraz, Paolo
Nutini, Jack Johnson, Newton Faulkner, James Morrison and
even Paul Simon. But while there may be some similarities,
Jono maintains a distinctive style shaped by eclectic influences
such as: The Police, Bob Marley, Guns n Roses, Smashing Pumpkins,
Rage Against the Machine, Underworld, Daft Punk and Basement
Jaxx.
"The rasp in Jono's voice gives Paolo Nutini a run
for his money" - Alan Morrison, The Sunday
Herald
On a skiing break at the beginning of 2009 Jono suffered a
violent fall, coming inches from death, and smashing up his
left shoulder. He flew home for an operation with no guarantee
of being able to play guitar again. Jono had already been
invited to the Red Stripe Awards so he sang in a sling, using
a laptop with his guitar parts on it.
"With one of his wings seriously clipped Jono managed
to pull off a mesmerizing set" - Clare
Dixon, RedStripe
Following intensive physiotherapy, Jono is now singing, playing
guitar, gigging and touring again with a vigour like he has
never known, happy that he is still alive and able to play
the guitar. With this renewed energy Jono’s solo performances
leave new audiences stunned, while familiar crowds in his
hometown of Glasgow scream out lyrics. At the moment his time
is constantly filled with either writing, recording, producing,
gigging and/or touring.
"Jono's live performance smacked me right between
the eyes and ears!" - Jim Symon, Radio Clyde2
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