JUNE 2017: Featured Artist
|
|
Electronic Music Artist, Multi-Instrumentalist & Composer:
Jon Ososki
~~~
Photo Credit: Tessa Updike
|
Jon Ososki is an electronic music artist, multi-instrumentalist and composer from Fairfield County, Connecticut. He studied songwriting at the Berklee College of Music in Boston and is currently a recording artist with three releases on Filter Label: “Bend Youth” (2015), “Reach Through the Noise” (2016) and “Shatter the Perfection” (2016).
Jon also writes music for documentaries and short films, and he has recently composed music for two independent short films written and directed by women. He is a strong supporter of the arts in his community and regularly attends concerts, film festivals, and art exhibitions in the New York City area. Please note: Readers can listen to Jon's music from the links after the interview. |
Nancy Burger, Senior Editor, talked with Jon about his musical journey, influences, creative process and current projects.
Where did you grow up, and what drew you to music?
I grew up in Simsbury, Connecticut, and played the kind of instruments a normal kid would play - piano, violin, trumpet and trombone. When I entered junior high school, I realized that I hated piano lessons. All my friends were getting into bands, but they were all playing guitar, so I picked up the bass guitar - and loved it. Two days later, I was in two bands. Nobody else was playing bass. That's what got me into music.
What genre of music were you playing then?
Mostly heavy metal. When I got to high school, I became interested in progressive rock, which is very complex and layered—lots of notes.
When did you realize you wanted to write music?
After high school, I attended Berklee* to study electric bass guitar, but I wasn't really focused and didn't know what I wanted to do. I found myself increasingly frustrated with learning in a classroom setting. I wanted to create my own compositions. For a change of scenery, I left college in 2003 and moved to Florida for a year. I worked as a lifeguard and recorded original music in my house.
*A music and performing arts college in Boston.
Editor's note: While do-it-yourself recording is fairly commonplace today, at that time it was very unusual and the equipment was much less user-friendly.
What made you want to return to this area?
I sent some tracks to my friends, and they were really impressed with it. They urged me to move back and start a band, so we called ourselves Ososki and played all of my originals. Then, I returned to Berklee and graduated with a degree in songwriting.
How did you get picked up by Filter Label?
A music supervisor on the label heard some of my material and reached out to me. I now have three releases on Filter Label [links included below] and am working on a new album that will be released this year. Also, through the label's efforts, I'm included on a Spotify playlist titled chill.out.brain. Since May, I've gotten over 600,000 streams from that playlist, which is exciting.
What about the film composing you're doing? How did you make those connections?
I have always loved film and am very active in the NYC artistic community. I attended the first Imagine This Women's International Film Festival in November of last year, and met Jacqueline Pelczar, a director from Perth, Australia. She asked if I would write music for her short film Hush, which will be released this year. The film is about a lesbian couple and domestic violence (from the victim's perspective). Powerful. I was excited to do it, and hope to do more film work.
I'm also in the process of composing for another indie short film titled The Other Hand, which is a psychological thriller directed by Rachel Woods, whom I met at a networking event. The film has only two characters, both women. It will also be released this year.
Do you envision doing more of these projects?
Yes. I'd like to focus on expanding further into composing for film.
As an artist and composer, where do you draw inspiration?
I've found that it's all about listening. I feel the ideas come from the music itself, the way I hear and feel when I play the first note. I allow myself to be directed by it. It's a similar process when I compose for film, but I start with the tone and direction in which the filmmaker wants to go. I’m finding that note, sound or motif that aligns with their vision. That's what I want to channel.
Where did you grow up, and what drew you to music?
I grew up in Simsbury, Connecticut, and played the kind of instruments a normal kid would play - piano, violin, trumpet and trombone. When I entered junior high school, I realized that I hated piano lessons. All my friends were getting into bands, but they were all playing guitar, so I picked up the bass guitar - and loved it. Two days later, I was in two bands. Nobody else was playing bass. That's what got me into music.
What genre of music were you playing then?
Mostly heavy metal. When I got to high school, I became interested in progressive rock, which is very complex and layered—lots of notes.
When did you realize you wanted to write music?
After high school, I attended Berklee* to study electric bass guitar, but I wasn't really focused and didn't know what I wanted to do. I found myself increasingly frustrated with learning in a classroom setting. I wanted to create my own compositions. For a change of scenery, I left college in 2003 and moved to Florida for a year. I worked as a lifeguard and recorded original music in my house.
*A music and performing arts college in Boston.
Editor's note: While do-it-yourself recording is fairly commonplace today, at that time it was very unusual and the equipment was much less user-friendly.
What made you want to return to this area?
I sent some tracks to my friends, and they were really impressed with it. They urged me to move back and start a band, so we called ourselves Ososki and played all of my originals. Then, I returned to Berklee and graduated with a degree in songwriting.
How did you get picked up by Filter Label?
A music supervisor on the label heard some of my material and reached out to me. I now have three releases on Filter Label [links included below] and am working on a new album that will be released this year. Also, through the label's efforts, I'm included on a Spotify playlist titled chill.out.brain. Since May, I've gotten over 600,000 streams from that playlist, which is exciting.
What about the film composing you're doing? How did you make those connections?
I have always loved film and am very active in the NYC artistic community. I attended the first Imagine This Women's International Film Festival in November of last year, and met Jacqueline Pelczar, a director from Perth, Australia. She asked if I would write music for her short film Hush, which will be released this year. The film is about a lesbian couple and domestic violence (from the victim's perspective). Powerful. I was excited to do it, and hope to do more film work.
I'm also in the process of composing for another indie short film titled The Other Hand, which is a psychological thriller directed by Rachel Woods, whom I met at a networking event. The film has only two characters, both women. It will also be released this year.
Do you envision doing more of these projects?
Yes. I'd like to focus on expanding further into composing for film.
As an artist and composer, where do you draw inspiration?
I've found that it's all about listening. I feel the ideas come from the music itself, the way I hear and feel when I play the first note. I allow myself to be directed by it. It's a similar process when I compose for film, but I start with the tone and direction in which the filmmaker wants to go. I’m finding that note, sound or motif that aligns with their vision. That's what I want to channel.
|
Listen to Jon’s music on Spotify
from the links below: Bend Youth Reach Through the Noise Shatter the Perfection |
|
On May 24th, Jon will be performing with classical pianist Tania Stavreva at the Marc A. Scorca Hall at the National Opera Center in New York City.
Location:
Marc A. Scorca Hall at the National Opera Center 330 7th Ave, 7th Floor New York, NY 10001 |
|
For more about Jon:
|
Jon's work in film:
The Other Hand: Director, Rachel Woods Hush (Soon to be released): Director, Jacqueline Pelczar |
