Many Madison students take an active interest in music; some belong to different local bands, some write and perform their music to fulfill a Fine Arts degree. But Jon Hughes will impress listeners because he is a naturally gifted solo artist deeply dedicated to the craft of songwriting.
If you’ve never heard of him, it’s probably because he hardly ever plays live shows, though you might have some English classes with him. These days, Jon Hughes’ talent illuminates itself on his latest, a collection of B-sides called Perchance.
Recently, Jon Hughes told The Badger Herald via phone that he occasionally plays at open mic forums but that “one guitar is not enough to create the whole sound of the songs.” He is definitely right.
All tracks on Perchance are written, performed and recorded by Hughes. An accomplished singer with a haunting, Dylan-esque voice, the artist also plays guitar, mandolin, bass, piano, organ, percussion and a slew of other instruments.
With tracks as varied as they are stylized, each orchestration seems carefully intertwined with sophisticated counterpoint, the phrasing gracefully executed to form a multi-dimensional harmonic landscape.
Hughes made an impressive list of musical influences for the songs on Perchance. Some of the artist’s favorites are The Grateful Dead, Led Zeppelin and Radiohead, “especially the acoustic stuff.”
Although this particular album contains 11 relatively short, concise songs — many of which are trippy ballads, folk rock mixed with classic-rock inspired tunes — Hughes’ penchant for jamming is visible and enticing.
Not surprisingly, Hughes mentioned that the songs on his new album Kings are significantly longer: “some are 11 minutes.”
One of those modest musicians who relishes the art of songwriting itself, Hughes creates the music as a form of expression. When asked about his post-collegiate future in music, Hughes replied, “I just want people to hear the music; I’m not looking for loads of cash.”
He believes his music will appeal to “open-minded people who like music with a lot of instrumentation.” Many of the tracks contain unusual chord patterns on guitar and/or piano, complimented by sophisticated picking. The songs give the album as a whole a mystical and delightfully quirky feel, showering the listener in cascading instrumental arrangements.
With words that are whimsical more often than not, each track uses deeply poetic imagery to create scenarios in the lyrics. Hughes commented that the upcoming album, Kings, lyrically deals with “taking a pigheaded approach to things in life.” It seems as though the majority of Hughes’ lyrics deal with specific aspects of the human condition.
Perchance contains the B-sides from the forthcoming album Kings and Hughes’ previous work, Freed. Apparently laying down the tracks on Perchance in only a month on an eight-track recorder, Jon Hughes proved himself as an accomplished studio wizard.
The full-length Kings will likely be released this month. Hughes promises a “more refined sound” with “higher energy, more strings and less piano/organ.”
Support local music. You can find copies of Perchance, and any other information by contacting the artist at [email protected].
