Michelle Lee On Air By: Marsha Channell
Artist Spotlight – Jacob Jones
In the US, less than 1% of the population are members of the US Armed Forces and less than that would be considered “military brats”. The term “military brats” is considered a subculture that emerged about 200 years ago and is considered one of America’s oldest invisible subcultures. It is widely known as a child(ren) of a parent that is serving in the US Armed Forces. Yes, I know we have just finished celebrating Memorial Day weekend and the Army’s 250th birthday but as a Veteran, I am also ready, willing and excited to share an Artist Spotlight on a “military brat”. For the month of July, celebrating Independence, I would love to introduce Jacob Jones as our July Artist Spotlight.
Like most military brats, Jacob Jones moved around during the early years of his life and it’s always hard to pinpoint what most people call hometowns. Two states that Jacob resonates with and had a big part of molding him into the man he is today are Alabama and Virginia. Alabama is where his dad’s side of the family is from and where Jacob felt the sense of southern roots. While Alabama seemed to be more of his younger years, Virginia became a familiar and loved state as well. Jacob graduated high school in Virginia and spent most of his early adult years there. Two different states, two different times in his life but both places gave him something to carry with him for the rest of his life along with the southern feel and music.
For as long as Jacob can remember, he has always played an instrument and sung. He might have even played those recorders that we all did when we were young, however, he topped many of us by starting to learn the viola in third grade along with joining an advanced strings program. Soon after that when Jacob was in Middle School, he picked up the guitar and began writing songs. While most of the guitar came naturally, he did take voice and guitar in college to help sharpen and fine tune his skills. Jacob’s sound and confidence came together once he leaned into and became a sponge in his formal training.
Typically, you hear about boys wanting to grow up and be that lead guitarist shredding on stage, throwing picks out and capturing the eyes of all the ladies. Those same thoughts swirled around in Jacob’s mind but after he started writing, he found there was something so powerful in the simplicity of just a voice and a guitar. He feels that the pairing gives a dynamic and depth that sits well in the heart of country music. I must agree! I have always enjoyed watching and listening to someone, even the big stars, strip it down and perform acoustic.
When you hear the names Alan Jackson and Eric Church, you immediately think country stars that have become well-known, made their mark, extremely successful, etc. but to Jacob Jones, they are his biggest influencers and role models in a way. Jacob has taken notes from both artists and has incorporated into his style. Jacob has always admired how Alan Jackson’s songs were always honest and raw demonstrating you can have huge hits and not having to be all flashy to get a point across. With the steady success of Alan Jackson, Jacob also made note of Eric Church, an outsider. Eric continues to evolve with every record and does things on his own terms.
Alan Jackson and Eric Church are two huge influences but the most personal influential person in Jacob’s life is his dad. Jacob would not be the person he is today if his dad did not demonstrate what a hardworking and honest man truly is. Everything Jacob has done in his business all stems from the foundation his dad poured into him. Another person that has made an impression on Jacob is Lee Brice. Jacob never dreamt that having the chance to sit and talk with Lee would turn into a conversation about music and advice that has been helpful in his career.
Jacob saw Luke Bryan for his first concert, in Virginia Beach, and remembers being more in aww of the sound of thousands of people signing in unison more than the date he took only solidified his already growing desire of becoming an artist. From that time in his is life to now, he has found his favorite place/venue to play and has been lucky to cross an item off his bucket list. In Midtown Nashville, there is a location called ‘The Local’ owned by Geoff. The venue is the perfect place for artists and songwriters to experience a welcoming and real space for their talent to be heard.
As I am sure there are many artists that a have long list of songwriters, they want to write with on their bucket list, Jacob is one of them. Jacob has gratefully been able to write with folks that he grew up listening to. People like Richie Brown, D. Vincent Williams, and Dave Gibson have mentored him and been amazing co-writers. Having the opportunity to write with such songwriters has allowed a couple items to be marked off his bucket list but it has also allowed him to learn and grow in ways he has never imagined.
Another proud moment that Jacob has had was when he sat down with John Allan Miller and wrote the song “Son of a Military Man”. Jacob went into the session with one thing in mind but ended up writing about his own life growing up as a military brat. He had never heard a song about his kind of upbringing and writing the song changed everything. It ended up shaping his brand and business model moving forward.
With all the lessons and information Jacob has learned over the years, he would tell his younger self: “Adversity is gonna come. It’s not about what happens to you, it’s about how you respond. That’s what makes a man”. If he could provide advice to a new artist, he would tell them: “Be unique. Find your sound and own it. Keep the blinders on. It doesn’t matter what’s happening around you but always keep your ears open for wisdom and life lessons. They’ll take you further than trends ever could”.
Rapid fire questions –
What is your favorite Holiday and why? Thanksgiving. It was always the one holiday I knew I’d see family. It also meant his Nana’s cooking and watching the Auburn Tigers take on that “other school from across the state”.
If you weren’t doing music, what would you be doing? I was actually training to become a Navy Seal. I had a boot camp date set and everything until I made the decision to move to Nashville.
Who was your favorite superhero? Spiderman. I always loved that he had the best villains but also that iconic moment with Uncle Ben, “With great power comes great responsibility.” He carried that weight with him and that always stuck with me.
What is your favorite ice cream? Mint Chip. I know that’s a hot take, but it’s been my go-to ever since I was a kid.
What is your favorite snack food on the road? Beef jerky or a Slim Jim if I’m in a pinch.
What is your favorite sport and team? College football, no question. I’ve always been a die-hard Auburn fan. I try to catch them play as many times a year as I can.
What is your favorite movie quote? “If you ain’t first, you’re last.” – Talladega Nights. It was also Jacob’s senior quote in high school.
Announcements:
Newly released EP called “Maverick” is out and contains his current single “Someone Else’s Eyes”. “Someone Else’s Eyes” was written by Jacob, himself, along with Quentin Hall and Ryan Price. It’s not only his favorite track on the EP but it is being heard on Michelle Lee On Air and other radio stations. Jacob mentioned that they battled to get the song just right from the melody to the lyrics and to have it sound raw and real. Andrew’s work at Vibe King Studio helped paint the story exactly the way the songwriters intended.
The last three years, Jacob Jones has been working on his debut full length album, and it is coming to you soon. I cannot wait to hear the album because if it is anything like his already released songs, we will be in for a treat.
Make sure to stay up to date on all of Jacob’s news, listen to his music, and shop for merch on his website www.jacobjones.com
Facebook: Jacob Jones Country
Instagram: Jacob Jones Music