Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Jonathan Baines

Jonathan Baines is an up-and-coming singer-songwriter who’s channeling his experiences to create a soundscape that’s striking a chord with listeners around the world. This summer, he released a brand-new single, “Just As You Are,” which finds Jonathan shining a light on a difficult time he shared with his wife. Pop Culturalist caught up with Jonathan to learn more about him, his career, and “Just As You Are.”

PC: How did you discover your passion for music?
Jonathan: My grandmother played a huge role in my discovery of music. She taught me a lot about good music. All of my family is super talented. The first time I sat down at a piano, that I can remember, was before I started grade school. My parents also had a big stereo in their living room and music was always on.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Jonathan: I explored a lot of genres, especially in high school. Everything from gospel, pop, soul, and all the vocal inspirations like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Ella Fitzgerald. I’ve somehow found a way to be who I am and allow those musical influences to sift through the music I’m writing.

PC: You spent three years traveling with a band. What did you learn from that experience that you’ve been able to apply to your career?
Jonathan: Don’t be afraid to ask questions. People want to tell you what’s going on in their life. So whether I’m in a writing session or I think about the people who follow me, I want to make sure to remember that we’re human at the end of the day and we all have good and bad moments we go through. I want people to feel understood. That’s important to me.

PC: What is your creative process like when you’re working on a new song? Has it changed throughout the years?
Jonathan: I have a ton of voice memos of sounds and melodies that come randomly. I’ll write down a concept and I’ll keep reworking it until I like it. I always know what I want to write about though. Mainly stories I’ve lived through and in a way that’s relatable to everyone.

The process has changed as I’ve started writing with others. I definitely feel like I’m getting better and better, and I really enjoy writing with other people, especially if they possess more strength in an area I don’t necessarily. I value those people a lot.

PC: Tell us about your new single, “Just As You Are.” What inspired the single?
Jonathan: I wrote “Just As You Are” with my friend Ben Schofield. He’s a secret genius. It was our first write and I basically told him I was tired of being away from my wife and the tension that we were experiencing was due to the lack of time we had together. I worked a lot of late nights. From that came the line: “I wake up you’re sleeping I come home you’re leaving / this feeling we’re close but so far.” And we built the chorus from this really soulful raw place describing the only desire I had; her time, with zero expectations of what it had to look like “Just As You Are.”

PC: As we look ahead to the rest of 2020, what does the year hold for you?
Jonathan: New music is definitely coming soon. I am writing more, working on an acoustic version of “Just As You Are” and a lyric video. The next single I’ll be making an announcement about this fall. A third single late fall is being talked about right now, and you’ll definitely be hearing a new Christmas single and who knows maybe some past Christmas releases with a new one or two released on vinyl. I’m pretty excited about it all!

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Jonathan: [laughs] Probably the Classic Crime circa 2006.

PC: First album you bought?
Jonathan: John Mayer’s Room For Squares. I didn’t know who he was, but my friends said he was so good, and I’m glad I listened.

PC: First concert you attended?
Jonathan: A gospel music festival. I was really young.

PC: An album that changed your life and why?
Jonathan: Coldplay’s most recent record: Everyday Life. The whole album spoke to me. Super raw, and I felt like Chris Martin let me in on something very personal. “Cry Cry Cry,” “BrokEn,” and “When I Need A Friend” are my favorites. And they feel like songs I would cover on tour.

PC: A venue on your bucket list to perform at?
Jonathan: Royal Albert Hall. One hundred percent. I would love to perform an entire show there one day. The atmosphere, everything is incredible.

PC: A must-have on the road?
Jonathan: Coffee.

To keep up with Jonathan, follow him on Twitter and Instagram. Pick up “Just As You Are” today.

Photo Credit: Sean Hagwell