FL
Jones’s story is one of funk and perseverance,
of staying true to the music of his passion and roots
in defiance of fashion or trends. Jones is a soul
man who can do it all–sing, write and perform–and
his gift for melody is at the forefront of his appeal.
On his new album, Becoming Myself, Jones fuses his
love of the golden age of soul with an infectiously
modern luster that goes straight to the heart.
From
the time he was five years old and sang for his father’s
friends at the local barbershop, music has been the
focal point of Jones’s life. Influenced by the
greats of soul–Stevie Wonder, Donnie Hathaway,
Parliament-Funkadelic, Aretha Franklin and Prince,
Jones may have grown up in the age of hip-hop, but
his heart has always belonged to the era of R&B
bands, when performers had to “bring it”
onstage every night.
Jones
has honed his craft in clubs and theaters, discovering
every way possible to entertain and make an audience
groove. Moving to New York, he found that the challenges
of the city brought out his best. In fact, six months
after arriving here, he landed a leading role in the
Australian company of the legendary musical, “Rent.”
The production was a sensation in Australia, and led
to FL’s performances on Australian morning television,
singing in front of millions, as well as a Rolling
Stone Australia interview and photo shoot.
Returning
to the U.S., FL performed in a national tour of “Rent,”
and then began playing live extensively in New York
at such venues as the Jazz Standard, Le Bar Bat, the
Bitter End and the Cutting Room. He also scored the
feature film, “200 American” and served
as a composer and music supervisor on the films “Whirlwind”
and “Raw Moves”.
But
it has always been FL’s dream to make his own
album, and about two years ago, in the midst of all
of his other projects, he began writing and demoing
songs, working with Michael Levey, a former member
of FL’s band. “We worked really well together,”
says FL. “I would do an arrangement of a song
at home, and then he’d bring his own flavor
to it. Some songs Michael had a beat or a melody,
and then I’d write around it. Some of the songs
evolved over time, and others like ‘Living By
The Funk,’ well, we literally did that in a
couple of minutes.”
You
can hear that mixture of craft and inspiration on
his album Becoming Myself. On songs like “Hey
Friend,” Jones includes so many delightful touches–churchy
handclaps, a slithering bass line, and staccato piano–along
with his effortlessly infectious vocals. The effect
is almost hypnotizing. It’s music that works
on two levels: one of sheer sonic pleasure; and the
other where one is impressed by the detail and incisiveness
of the lyrics. Jones says that the songs aren’t
about the production, but he’s being modest
since the production updates the feeling of old school
soul while grounding it firmly in the modern world.
“I
Choose You” throbs with a disco beat that’s
fully modernized. The groove is propulsive, with shredding
guitar and a feverish vibe that builds the tension,
dripping with a sensuality that is embedded in the
notes. The title track Becoming Myself, shows off
FL’s tender side, a ballad that is a statement
of intent of how he wants to be his authentic self,
all the while acknowledging the universal challenges
we face in the pursuit of the ultimate fulfillment
of love.
As
a solo artist playing with his band, FL is trying
to, as he says, “bring back the whole R&B
band thing,” saying the following about Becoming
Myself, “Usually, I like the ‘B-sides’
of most albums, but I made a conscious decision to
make an accessible pop record while still remaining
true to who I am. By doing that, I think it sounds
commercial, but it’s still FL Jones.”
Since the release FL has been approached by several
DJ’s and Producers for collaboration, including
Ethan White from Tortured Soul, Freedom Williams from
C&C Music Factory, and House music producer M-sol.
FL Jones is taking the soul tradition and pushing
it forward, with a great new album, a commitment to
pursue a bigger audience, and the intent to redefine
what is considered to be modern soul music.