I'm writing it from a backstage dressing room in Ohio. It's a beautiful fall day outside and the dying leaves make a fitting backdrop for the decaying junkyard across the street. Fall.
Autumn is my favorite time of year. Everywhere. Even back home in San Diego where there is little distinction between the seasons: autumn is my favorite time of year
Perhaps this is because the fall reminds me of the sunset: the beautiful death of another day or another year. A chance to look back- to . look out across the pacific and see gallons of beauty mixed with regret.
I was born in October. Maybe that has something to do with the nostalgia. Even when I was young, the Autumn sunsets were sober reminder that everything loses it's leaves eventually. The body goes cold. The air grows dark. The fall.
I have been on tour off and on since '97. I've had the rare privilege of actually doing what I love for a living with amazing people that I love to be around... And I'm thankful, this life is a real gift.
I kinda grew up all over: lake arrowhead, boston, virginia... but from high school on I've lived in San Diego and the north county feels like home.
It's a pretty incredible place where I can go for a surf with my dad or my brother and almost always see someone I know.
Ten years ago, when I actually started making money with my songs I was nervous that the magic would disappear. That somehow, the passion, the joy, and the high that I got from music would evaporate with every step I took towards the modern music industry. I'm so thankful that that hasn't happened. I'm so thankful that these songs still mean so much to me. In fact, I am perhaps more drawn to music than ever.
Lately music has been my compass: it's neither the map, nor the road but a steady constant that can help me make sense of the both.
Most of the time, the songs that I write are more honest than I am. Sometimes I don't play certain songs for people because I'm not ready for that sort of honesty.
I don't write many happy songs, at least not lately. Which is odd because I'm a fairly upbeat guy. So I've got a few theories as to why this might be the case
It might be because life wears down on you. And you lose that part of yourself.
Or it could be because the songs are the only place where these types of ideas can find a release- like a dream where your subconscious is trying to tell you something.
Or perhaps I don't write songs when I'm happy. You know, a celebration requires a few friends and depression requires solitude.
Either way songs have become my way of finding beauty in the midst of chaos and the pain. It's a way of finding redemption for mistakes and regrets that I have.
In this way I feel like the creative process brings me closer to God. As a creator of a song I get to take all these broken fragments of failure and chaos and weave together something beautiful and meaningful. Decay. Death. Pain. Fall. And if God is a songwriter then these fallen leaves of mine can be redeemed.
Over the course of the year I will be releasing 4 ep's, with 6 songs on each ep. The ep's will be seasonal: fall, winter, spring & summer.
The Fall ep features the following 6 songs:
1. The Cure For Pain
2. Equally Skilled
3. Lord, Save Me From Myself
4. The Moon Is A Magnet
5. My Love Goes Free
6. Southbound Train
¿Cómo estas? Well, I passed to say that I love your music. It's full of meanings and feelings. It's a sweet melody for my soul and for other people souls too:).
just a lil something that i ran into in mark chapter 4
13 Then Jesus said to them, "Don't you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? 14 The farmer sows the word. 15 Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 16 Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 18 Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. 20 Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown."
Hey man the music is powerful! Your artistic ways of laying out the songs structures is really captivating! I did a cover of one of your songs, check it out if you'd like on the video section of my page! God Bless
Dear Jon ... Thank you for your poetic music. I very much enjoyed reading your bio. You have an amazing way with words.
I love this: "In this way I feel like the creative process brings me closer to God. As a creator of a song I get to take all these broken fragments of failure and chaos and weave together something beautiful and meaningful. Decay. Death. Pain. Fall. And if God is a songwriter then these fallen leaves of mine can be redeemed. "
I don't think God sees your failures, as you do. You are who you are, and you are perfect.
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spring and summer are, in my opinion, even sweeter ear-candy than fall and winter. though those two were amazing too. your honesty is truly touching. keep it up brother.
summer is amazing like everything else. but i have to say one of the songs i love the most is In My Arms. Gosh i hope i have a husband that can write songs like u one day. i wish i could put that one on my page but i can't find it anywhere. your music touches my soul and i'm so thankful for you and guys like you. May God continue to bless u as u continue to seek Him. Hope to see u in concert one day. -CANDACE
Hey Jon My name is Pedro Henrique Im from Brazil.. I want you to know Im a huge fan of Switchfoot.. and all of your songs.. Dude you are the best singer ever.. Im so addicted that I bought the dvd Live at the ventura theather.. it's awesome.. I almost cried.. Laughs.. Well anyway.. I hope someday you and the other guys from switchfoot.. come to brazil.. That wud be awesome... Take care! You are great
