“One of the finest singer songwriters to emerge in recent years” – Jim Gellatly, John Peel Award Winning DJ
***** “The album was blinding; one of the best I have heard in ages” – Carol Cunningham, Music News Scotland
Packing out the 450 capacity Classic Grand for the album launch, JONO then embarked on his first UK tour. Each day, BBC and local radio stations had him on the air prior to evening performances. Feathers in JONO’s cap include XFM Artist, Album, and Single of the Week, reaching #83 most watched UK Music Video on YouTube for “Stuck in the City”, and Winner of UK Undiscovered. He has been compared to other singer songwriters such as Paolo Nutini, Kelly Jones of the Stereophonics, John Mayer, and Jeff Buckley.
“Hauntingly beautiful acoustic sounds; the prodigious talent of singer songwriter JONO” – Russell Kane, Q Radio
“JONO’s voice has this texture to it that makes everything seem alright” – Alex Baker, Kerrang! Radio
In 2009 on a skiing break, JONO suffered a violent fall, shattering his left shoulder. He flew home for an emergency operation, with no guarantee of ever being able to play guitar again. But, as fate would have it, six months later he had fully recovered. He immediately went on to perform on bills with artists such as Newton Faulkner, Ben Harper, KT Tunstall, Beth Ditto, Cast, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Macy Gray, Erykah Badu and Jamie Lidell. His live shows have seen him play at major music festivals, travelling all over the UK, France, Spain, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Malta, and the USA.
“I like that song (JONO's Stuck In The City) a lot! It’s REALLY catchy!” – Alex Zane, TV and Radio Presenter
“JONO holds his own in the company of Jack Johnson and Newton Faulkner” – David Esson, Sunday Express
Following relentless touring and a return to education to top up his music production skills, and whilst producing for other bands and artists, JONO released his second solo album “Culture Is Your Cult”. A true songwriter’s album of stylistically diverse songs, but somehow, a common strand brings the collection together. This time, having made his point on Album#1, JONO opened up Album#2 to collaborative guest spots from some incredibly talented artists with whom he had shared his musical journey.
“The rasp in JONO’s voice gives Paolo Nutini a run for his money” – Alan Morrison, Sunday Herald
“JONO’s live performance smacked me right between the eyes and ears!” – Jim Symon, Radio Clyde
Of late, JONO has continued to produce a diverse array of music recordings for an eclectic mix of artists, both established and unsigned. Check out the production portfolio on his studio website, the SOULAR POWER SUITE. He continues to tour regularly, appearing mostly around the Scottish Highlands and Islands, occasionally playing in the major cities and travelling abroad for shows, where his solo act has developed into a Live Looping spectacle! But there's really no place like home...
ALBUM REVIEWS
The album sounds amazing! Sentimental Anarchist is just packed full of brilliant little pop songs. Stuck in the City is a cracker! Acoustic music never really sounded as good as this. One of the finest singer songwriters to emerge in recent years.
- Jim Gellatly, John Peel Award Winning DJ
If the reputation of the British singer-songwriter has been rendered bland by the likes of James Blunt, Scotland's JONO brings some of the street cred of a soul-soaked busker to his craft. His self-funded debut solo album begins on a positive note, with Stuck In The City's acoustic guitar providing a pavement platform for his songwriting skills, before the fuller funkier band sound of Silver Nails harks back to the British blues-rock singer style of the 1960s. The rasp in JONO's voice gives Paolo Nutini a run for his money.
- Alan Morrsion, The Sunday Herald
Self-recorded, self-played and self-released, JONO's album exudes a brash confidence from start to finish. Subtle it ain't, but Sentimental Anarchist pushes his songs right into your face and keeps them there. He has both the ability and the hooks to sustain such a frontal assault.
- Sam Inglis, Sound on Sound
***** We have chosen Sentimental Anarchist as one of our top four. The album was blinding. One of the best albums I have heard in ages. Thanks to JONO for making it a pleasure doing the top four!
- Carol Cunningham, Music News Scotland
Short in stature but tall in self-belief, Scottish singer-songwriter JONO treads the path well worn by such as Paolo Nutini, Jack Johnson and Newton Faulkner, and can hold his own in that company. It is impressive to note that everything was recorded and produced by JONO in one room of a Glasgow flat.
- David Esson, The Sunday Express
Stuck In The City is brilliant. A real summer time song. I was humming it on the way to work today. A Day Ago is one of my favourites. An incredible song with hints of Prince and U2. Superb. A real stand out. Not Love blew me away. What a track. I was dying to hear JONO have a go at a real love song and this is it. Wow! Everything else I also love! It's a belter of an album!
- Matt Bendoris, The Scottish Sun
