Exclusive: Twenty Questions with Jiggley Jones

When speaking about Jiggley Jones, label president Dave Moody states that, “his songwriting is relevant and fresh, and he has a vocal style all his own.” Reiterating that same sentiment manager Michael Stover continues by saying “Jiggley has that one-of-a-kind sound…his songs will touch you and move you with their beautiful lyrics and melodic strength.” Two great descriptions that encompass the musical attitude of his Lamon Records Nashville debut release titled “A Mountain, A Struggle, A Tunnel, A Light.”

Jiggley Jones, the project, came about in late 2007. Since then, while developing his new venture, he has worked with industry pros like former Shania Twain bandleader and Nashville based producer Terry Wendt, and LA based producer Chris Tristram, a former bassist for Capitol Records recording artist Marjorie Fair.

In early 2013 he stumbled across, won over, and signed with MTS Management Group out of western Pa. Since then it’s been nothing but positive forward motion. Some of the successes since then have been quite satisfying such as being named “Songwriter of the Year” by the International Music and Entertainment Association or “IMEA”, as well as winning a song-writing competition for Graffiti Radio out of Wilmington, De. in May of that year.

Jiggley has had consistent radio airplay overseas in Europe, Asia and Australia, having hundreds of stations a week spin his music for many months straight. Here he gives us a little insight into his thoughts.

1. How long have you been doing what you’re doing and how did you get started in the first place?

Jiggley Jones: I’ve been at it for over twenty years in different bands and such and it all started back when I was in my late teens as a bass player in around town.

2. Who were your first musical influences that you can remember?

Jiggley Jones: I would say anybody within Classic Rock like The Eagles and James Taylor, etc…

3. Which artists are you currently listening to, and is there any one of these you’d like to collaborate with?

Jiggley Jones: I find myself listening to a lot of Country music these days and would love to hook up with Zac Brown.

4. Do you get annoyed when people box you into a specific genre? And how would you personally describe your style of music?

Jiggley Jones: Yes I do, especially knowing that it’s a business thing that the consumer weakly buys into. I always said I don’t care if it doesn’t sound like Country or Rock as long as it’s good music. My stuff is a bit left of Country and a little right of Rock which makes it hard to place sometimes.

5. The title of one of your recordings reads: “No Spring Chicken”, so we’re assuming you’re not! Do you feel there is a major artistic difference between recording and performing as a ‘spring chicken’ and your actual status of being?

Jiggley Jones: Just like everything else in life you learn as you go. The more you’ve lived, the more you can bring that out in what you do. So yes, having that experience does work wonders.

6. Live gigging or studio work, which do you prefer and why?

Jiggley Jones: Studio work by far. Putting the whole thing together piece by piece is so exciting to me and what I feel that I do best.

7. Could you tell us something about why, how and who you worked with on your latest EP, “A Mountain, A Struggle, A Tunnel, A Light”

Jiggley Jones: Producer Dave Moody from Lamon Records down in Nashville. It was a great time musically this past winter in the Music City.

8. On which one of your songs do you personally think you delivered your best performance so far, from a technical and emotional point of view?

Jiggley Jones: I like “Early Morning Light.”

9. Is “A Mountain, A Struggle, A Tunnel, A Light” in any way autobiographical? And in which phase of the title do you feel your life and career is right now?

Jiggley Jones: That’s a great question. This is the story of everyone’s life and is my own metaphor for life itself. The phase can change from day to day. My musical career is always a struggle, lol.

10. If you were forced to choose only one, which emotion, more than any other drives you day after day to stay in this tough business. Is it joy, anger, desire, passion, hysteria or pride etc., and why?

Jiggley Jones: I guess that would be passion. Without it how can you ever persevere?

11. What aspect of being an independent artist and the music making process excites you most?

Jiggley Jones: Definitely the creative side, songwriting.

12. What aspect of being an independent artist and the music making process discourages you most?

Jiggley Jones: Trying to be a salesman. I stink at that.

13. How involved are you in any of the aspects regarding your musical career (recording, producing, and marketing processes etc.)

Jiggley Jones: The recording and producing side I am directly involved and the marketing side, though I still have to promote myself out and around the live performance mode, I do have a PR guy for the main stuff. Thank God for that, haha.

14. What do think is the best piece of advice in this business you received and actually followed so far, and one piece of advice you didn’t follow, but now know that you should have?

Jiggley Jones: ‘Be yourself” is the best advice and not starting out when I was younger would be the one that I regret.

15. At this point, as independent artist, is there any aspect or element you consider exclusive to Major label artists that you desire and feel will undeniably benefit your future?

Jiggley Jones: They have the power of the financial “push” and I wish I hade that at my disposal.

16. Do you consider Internet and all the new technology, as fundamental to your music, or indie music in general, or do you think it has only produced a mass of mediocre copy-and-paste artists, who flood the web, making it difficult for real talent to emerge?

Jiggley Jones: Well it does make your “reach” more viable but like you said, the music world is flooded, or over saturated and in the end you still have to stand out amongst the crowd some how.

17. What is the idea behind the ‘Totally Driven Radio’ project ?

Jiggley Jones: ?

18. Could you tell us about your planned involvement with Bright Star International and what they do?

Jiggley Jones: Bright Star is a non-profit that couples artists up with charities. They sort of help each other out for a great cause.

19. What do you think is the biggest barrier you have to face and overcome as an indie artist, in your quest to achieve your goals and attain any significant commercial success?

Jiggley Jones: Trying to get the consumer to take you seriously when they are bombarded by the main stream “money” artists. I wish they would be more concerned about the music itself and not the hype.

20. You’ve already won some awards, so this far down the line, is going Platinum or winning a Grammy important in your scheme of musical things? And if you were forced to settle for only one choice, which of the two would you ultimately prefer and why?

Jiggley Jones: Though I do love to be recognized for my hard work, going platinum would be great because then I could relax a little and not have to worry so much about how I was going to afford my next musical adventure.

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