Jonathan Jeremiah. March 21st release of debut album “A Solitary Man”.
Jonathan Jeremiah, whose timeless songs and soulful voice have marked him out as a songwriter with a rare talent, introduces himself with the release on March 21st of his debut album “A Solitary Man”. Jonathan recently appeared on Later With Jools a full five months ahead of the album release giving a stunning solo acoustic performance of one of the album’s many standouts “How Half-Heartedly We Behave”. Jonathan has just completed a month long residency at the Borderline following his recent special guest appearance with Rumer at her sell-out Bloomsbury Theatre show. The album was produced and engineered by Jonathan in an analogue studio in Dollis Hill and featured collaborators included The Heritage Orchestra, a young group of classical musicians attuned to his working methods, and Jules Buckley who handled all the string arrangements. Featured tracks on the 11 song album include gorgeous string-drenched single “See”, “Happiness” and “A Solitary Man”, two songs written while travelling across America, the latter inspired by a 90 year old Great Aunt he met in California, future single “Lost” and the soulful stomper ”Heart Of Stone”. Jonathan Jeremiah’s music comes from a world far away from the quick fix, pre packaged production line. The North Londoner has spent the best part of a decade defining a sound rooted in a rich legacy of bespoke English folk and confessional soul. With a deep, naturally dramatic voice, stunningly arranged orchestrations, delicate finger picked guitar and songs that make a lasting impression, Jonathan’s sound is the result of a journey that began with guitar lessons age 6. It has taken in family childhood sing-alongs with his 5 siblings during summer holidays to his mother’s native Tipperary, and progressed through the discovery of influences by listening to his father’s extensive vinyl collection. Artists such as Scott Walker, Cat Stevens, Serge Gainsbourg and John Martyn made a formative and lasting impression. The album was self-produced and self-funded, Jonathan worked nights as a security guard at Wembley Arena to finance the record. “It was important to produce the album myself. If I said to a producer I want a 24 piece orchestra with flugelhorn they would say it can be done on a keyboard. People don’t always have the ability to visualise your idea so you have to do it yourself. Jules knew exactly what I was looking for from day one”. Undoubtedly a major factor in the sound is Jonathans rich sonorous vocal. “When I was 14 my voice developed an incredible deep baritone. At the time it wasn’t the greatest thing, everyone wanted to sound like Jeff Buckley. I felt like a man out of place but in time, I embraced the baritone.” The other significant element is his fluent and luminous guitar, inseparable from the voice. Now after all the searching, the night shifts and the learning from past masters, Jonathan has arrived at an album grounded in the deep wellsprings from where he first charted his course. “I felt I had a duty to keep the music as untouched as it was back then and not be tainted with whatever else was out there.” “A Solitary Man” has been a long time in the making but offers proof that sometimes the best things take time. With equal measures of hard headed determination and careful nurturing, Jonathan’s music is ready to be unveiled. The time to take his songs into your heart and soul is here.
www.myspace.com/jonathanjeremiahWHAT THE PAPERS SAY
“rich, elegant, timeless” The Guardian
“a great voice singing great songs” The Sunday Times
“Jeremiah has one of those soulful voices that just oozes raw passion…A rare talent” The Sun
“A captivating presence recalling the grandeur of Scott Walker, this newcomer could make an indelible mark next year” The Mirror
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