Jon McLaughlin released his debut studio album in 2007. The album is titled Indiana and I immediately fell in love. Jon is originally from Anderson, Indiana, so it made sense he name his debut artist album that. My buddy Tyler first introduced me to Jon, and I have followed his career over the years. He has stayed active, is always on the road, and is currently on tour with 2CELLOS, another impressive act originally from Zagreb, Croatia. I’ve been bugging Jon for an interview quite some time, and a few weeks ago he agreed to finally sit down with me. This was a long time coming and it was fun learning more about this fellow Hoosier. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Jon McLaughlin.
My friend Tyler Burgardt originally introduced us. We are all Hoosiers, after all. The first album I heard was debut artist album titled Indiana. Tell me more about that album and your ties to the Hoosier State.
Yeah, I’m from Anderson, Indiana. Grew up there, went to Anderson University and then lived in the Indianapolis area until about five years ago when my family and I moved down to Nashville, Tennessee. I am indeed a Hoosier through and through. Indiana was my first album released on a major record label which came out almost 12 years ago now. It’s a unique album for me because, being my first, it’s a compilation of songs written over about a five year time period. Some of the songs like “Industry” and “Already In” I wrote when I was still in college and had just started writing songs. Then a lot of the rest were either written with co writers that the label set me up with or written on my own in between co writes. So, whereas all my other records are written in a pretty small amount of time and therefore represent a very condensed portion of my life, Indiana covers a lot of ground.
Your single “Beautiful Disaster” appears on that album. Maybe the best song you’ve produced. I hadn’t heard it in years and when I started playing it just now, I knew all of the words. Tell me more about the lyrics to that song.
I wrote that song with Jamie Houston, who actually ended up producing a lot of the album. I had just landed in LA and was looking through magazines while waiting to get picked up at the airport and there was one particular model on the cover of one of the magazines that was strikingly skinny. And it just got me thinking about body image and how many people, particularly young girls, all over the world that week or month would see that magazine cover and what kind of statement that would make to them. So when I got to Jamie’s house that day I told him about the magazine cover and we started writing about it. Next thing we knew we had “Beautiful Disaster.”
What is your songwriting process like? Do you sit down to write a song or do they just come to you?
It kinda depends on what mode I’m in. A lot of times it will start with a little musical hook that just comes out randomly. Jogging and sound checking tend to be the two places where I come up with musical hooks the most for whatever reason. Then I will make a voice memo on my phone and then begin the long process of trying to come up with a lyrical idea. Sometimes the lyric will come with the initial hook but most of the time that’s not the case. Lyrics for me are so important but do not come easily. If I’m in the middle of writing for a record I would likely have days where I go back to my studio and try to come up with something from scratch but these days that happens less than it used to. I’ve been really fortunate, so far, at least, to not have many deadlines and therefore I can just let the songs come when they come for the most part.
You wrote the song “So Close” that appears on the Enchanted soundtrack. How did that come about? That has been a popular soundtrack and that single has been played nearly 16 million times on Spotify.
I actually didn’t write that song. Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz wrote it and were looking for someone to record it for the soundtrack. The music director of the film reached out to my label and that’s how I ended up with that opportunity which was absolutely amazing. I’m a big Disney fan so it was so awesome to get to be a part of such a great movie.
I’ve always been impressed with singer/songwriters. Who are some of your biggest influences?
Elton John and Billy Joel are like the founding pillars. I grew up wanting to be those guys. Harry Connick Jr. is a huge one as well. Maybe the biggest influence though is Ben Folds. I remember hearing Ben Folds Five for the first time and it absolutely changed my life. Changed the way I thought of music.
Tell me about your new single “Lost.”
“Lost” is one of my favorite songs I’ve ever written. I wrote it while my family and I were on vacation visiting some friends in Australia and so I was out of my element a bit. I didn’t have a piano at our hotel but just had a tiny little keyboard hooked up to my laptop and I was listening to Bleachers a lot. So the piano is very understated and the hook of the chorus is, to me, not something I would normally write. It sounds like Jack Antonoff wrote it. As far as the content of the lyric it’s about a relationship (personally my relationship with my wife, Amy). But not a relationship at the beginning, a relationship 15 years in and how you have to pay attention to the day to day to make sure you stay together.
What is the Dueling Piano Series?
Dueling Pianos is a video series I started last year where I have different guests on and we play a couple songs together. Typically we mash up one of their songs with one of mine but I’ve been branching out a little and doing a cover here and there. We’ve had Ben Rector, Will Anderson of Parachute, Dave Barnes among other talented players. I absolutely love it. It’s something different and fun and a little scary all at once. People can subscribe to it on my Patreon page patreon.com/jonmclaughlin.
You are active on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. How has social media played a part in getting you to where you are today?
I am somewhat active, yeah. I have a love/hate relationship with social media. As an artist it’s required I suppose but if I weren’t an artist I would not be on social media. There are great things about it for sure – I love that I can connect with people and hear their stories, hear how the music is impacting their lives. That part I love.
Speaking of “Beautiful Disaster,” I bet that would look good on a shirt. What sort of Jon McLaughlin merchandise do you sell?
Lots and lots of beautiful merchandise can be found at https://jonmcl.store.
You have a mailing list on your website. How often are you emailing fans and what sort of content are you sending out?
I send out an email about once a month. I don’t want to crowd people’s inboxes. I just announced a tour with 2CELLOS so we just put an email out announcing that tour. If I have a new video or any new music I’ll send out an email. Social media covers so much that the emails are really just the big things.
Sara Bareilles joined you on the single “Summer is Over.” What was it like working with her and how did you two connect?
Yeah, it was a blast working with Sara Bareilles on that song. I met Sara a long time ago when we were touring together on our first records and we’ve been friends ever since. She is as talented as they come.
You are on an impressive tour right now with Matt Wertz. Tell me more about The WIN/WIN Tour.
The WIN/WIN tour has been one of the most fun tours I’ve ever done. Matt Wertz and I have known each other for a long long time and he’s just a blast to be around. It’s been really fun putting this show together and mashing up his stuff and mine. We play on each other’s songs as well which has been awesome.
Tell me more about WORKS Entertainment and your relationship with that organization.
WORKS Entertainment is my management company. So they basically are involved in every single thing I do. Couldn’t live without them.
What can fans expect from a live performance?
Well, it depends what kind of tour it is. Some shows are full band and very high energy. Some shows are with a band but it’s me, drums and an upright bass so it’s a little more chill. And then I play a lot of solo shows and those are just me a piano playing songs and telling stories.
Have you ever made a mistake on stage?
I make many, many mistakes on stage every single night. I don’t worry too much about playing the exact right notes. I am only concerned with the emotion of a song getting across to the audience and the overall flow and vibe of a show.
What’s next for Jon McLaughlin?
I have a long arena tour coming up with 2CELLOS, I have more Dueling Pianos stuff coming out soon. Working on a podcast that will come out in the next few months and I have some new music that I’m currently working on that I am really stoked about.
Thank you for doing this, man. It’s been a long time coming. In all of the interviews I do, I always give the artist the last word. Go.
I’ve used up all my words! Thanks for having me, Ricky!
Connect with Jon McLaughlin:
Website: http://www.jonmcl.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jonmclaughlin
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JonMcLaughlin
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jonmclaughlin
