Would I ever think of mixing RnB vocals with grungy guitars? Nope, but one gentleman who had a eureka moment and melded the smooth vocal stylings of RnB with grunge and metal guitars is singer, guitarist, and producer JonoJono.
With his professed influences from Nirvana to Erykah Badu to Metallica to Frank Ocean, JonoJono is not just pushing boundaries of what RnB or rock is, he’s disrupting the system as we know it.
On the labelling of music, JonoJono says,
Music shouldn’t have a name or a label as long as it’s authentic…It should be a gift of freedom to share stories in any way you want no matter the expectation of others.
A gift from his upcoming album, I’m Cool…I Guess (September 22), the track “Lies” is a journey through confusion and betrayal.
JonoJono says this about the track,
I’ve been working on this track since 2019, going through almost 33 different mixes before finally finalizing ‘Lies’ in the summer of 2023.
It’s the dedication and refinement to creating a mesmerising song that has made “Lies” a pay off. In its exploration of unrequited love, devotion, and watching an unhinged love fade away, the soulful delivery of lyrics through JonoJono’s vocals melt perfectly with the heavier guitars and drums. “Lies” reminds me of the energy of Janet Jackson’s “Black Cat” and modern rockers like that of Matchbox Twenty and Daughtry, both who have their own soulful vocal deliveries.
While JonoJono may not be a fan of labels, I’d consider “Lies” to be a downtempo rock song that nails infectious beats with hooky riffs, and vocals.
Listen to “Lies” below
