I recently had the pleasure of interviewing San Francisco Bay area artist Jonah Melvon. You can expect to see Jonah explode on the scene nationwide. He is a socially conscious  lyricist which is a breath of fresh air to today’s  urban music scene.

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

I released my first record in 2009. I didn’t really tap into music til my college years. I was def a late bloomer. I started unlocking my voice at open mics which lead to demo recordings. I denied my passion to do music because my household and my city had set the bar so high.

Who were the first influences on your music and style?

Subconsciously I absorbed so many of the artists my parents were listening to, from Sade to Frankie Beverly. Eventually that transcended to EPMD, Rakim, LL Cool J, and 2Pac.

In your opinion who is the most influential and successful artist in your genre today and why?

These questions are always tricky, because  success can be equated to finances or the feeling of the record. If it’s the feeling of the record, though my genre of artists singing and rhyming is quite small; I would say Anderson Paak.

What aspect of the music making process excites you most, and what aspect discourages you the most?

Finding my melodies and lyrics the right home excites me the most, or sitting down and writing something new to some dope music production. The process that discourages me the most, is having convictions in an industry that is moving target.

In your experience thus far, what is the best piece of advice in this business you actually followed?

The best advice I was given that I actually followed, was to give up some of my roles. There was a time that I wore way to many hats, which made me a “jack of all trades, but a master of nothing”. Giving up some of these roles, allowed my career to blossom, but I had to outsource the other foundational things I needed as an artists

And one you didn’t follow, but now know for sure that you should have?

Taking care of my media platforms is one piece of advice I didn’t follow, which I wish I did. I’m changing however. Also making sure I handled my paperwork, which can get real tedious but worth it.

Which ingredient do you think is most essential in making your sound and style the way it is?

Being a great listener. Having an open mind.

What single are you currently pushing and what will you be dropping next?

The singles from my new record #RainWaterProject are “What’s Good for You”, “1099”, and “Thinkin of You”. I will be focused on the branding of these songs for 2019, especially with being an indie artists and having limited budgets, it will take time to push these songs.

What can fans expect from you in the future and where can they stay up to date on your movement?

All my branding and music is under my name @JonahMelvon. I am really dialing into the recording aspect to release more music in the next 2 or 3 years. I got lost in the performance aspect for so long which I love, but I am determined to give more recordings for fans to vibe to.