July 2, 2005
Waking Ashland – Jonathan Jones

C = Cath, J = Jonathan

C: For the record, state your name and what you do in the band.
J: My name is Jonathan Jones and I play piano and sing for Waking Ashland.

C: How did Waking Ashland form?
J: Waking Ashland started in the Fall of 2003 at Cal State University Northridge. We were all music majors, Thomas, Ryan, and myself. I gave Ryan a demo of some songs I had written and he really liked them and believed in them and thought we could do a group. So Waking Ashland was born. We met up with Andy, who’s our bass player, and I knew him because we’d played in bands in high school together. So when we needed a bass player, Andy got the call.

C: What bands influenced you guys musically?
J: Well, each member has various artists that really influenced them. Mine would be like Coldplay, Joe Jackson, Weezer, Beach Boys, Beatles, Clash… bands like that.

C: What other bands are you currently listening to?
J: Uh, lets see. Right now I’ve been listening to a lot of Coldplay’s new record, ‘X&Y’. I’ve been listening to Josh Rouse, he’s a singer-songwriter, his record ‘1979’. And I’ve been listening to uh… Who else? Who was I listening to this morning? I listened to Nada Surf, ‘Let Go’.

C: What’s your favorite song to play live?
J: My favorite song to play live would be “Hands On Deck” maybe? It’s a ballad and I just enjoy hearing people sing along. A lot of people can identify with that song, so it’s nice.

C: If you could choose any animal to be Waking Ashland’s mascot, what would you choose and why?
J: What would I choose? Maybe like, a bird? I don’t know… Because they fly freely? *laughs* I don’t know, that’s kind of corny.
C: The Starting Line said that they would choose to be sloths.
J: Sloths, huh… I’m not sure. Maybe like a dolphin just because I like the ocean.

C: Do you enjoy playing shows on the east coast or the west coast more?
J: I like them both because they both have different vibes and feels. It’s just a completely different atmosphere at the shows, and so I don’t think you can say that one’s like better than the other, it’s just a different experience.

C: Who writes the songs for the band?
J: I write all the lyrics.

C: Do you have any special pre-show rituals?
J: I generally tend to try to spend a couple quiet moments with myself just to center my thoughts. Then I’ll warm up for like 10 minutes just doing vocal drills and various breathing exercises that I’ve learned, and then that’s about all. No real crazy things.

C: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
J: I see myself still playing music. I would love it to be with Waking Ashland, but it seems like bands… I mean I’d love if we could have a 10 year run, that’d be sweet, but a lot of times that’s not the case. But if not with Waking Ashland, I’ll still be playing music. Hopefully I’ll be married and have a family, or be thinking about having a family… Something like that.

C: Lets say you had one more day left to live. How would you spend your last day?
J: I would spend my last day… with all my close friends. I guess just surfing.
C: Are you a big surfer?
J: Yea, I grew up surfing a lot. But I don’t get to surf that much anymore because I’m always on the road. But when I do get the time, I love to surf. Whenever I’m home from tour. So, I think that’s what I’d spend my last day doing. Surfing with all my good friends.

C: If you were stuck on a deserted island with no food and no one but your band members, who would you eat first and why?
J: I don’t know… Who has the most meat on them? Well, they’re all skinny. I guess Thomas is the tallest so I’d eat Thomas first. He’s our drummer.

C: Anything else you would like to share with the Internet world?
J: Well we just had a new record called “Composure” that came out in all the stores and we’re really excited about it and we’re grateful for everyone who has listened to our music and who has bought the record