Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with Gregory Jones
What is your earliest memory connected to music?
I’m from a family of classical musicians. I played violin and French horn and sang in choirs from a very young age. Then I discovered the guitar and The Kinks in my teens, and the whole world of Rock ‘N’ Roll was before me. There was no going back!
How did your passion for creating music begin?
‘So You Want to Be a Rock ‘N’ Roll Star’ by the Byrds was the record that made me want to be in a band and write songs. Also, listening to The Kinks and realising you could write a song with three chords made it feel achievable. I love the simplicity of those songs and how brilliantly clever they are. The songwriting from that era really sets the standard. Jimmy Webb, Bacharach & David and Simon & Garfunkel have had a big influence on how I listen to and make music.
What’s the story behind your current music project?
I’ve been a long-time member of Modesty Blaise (from Bristol, UK) playing lead guitar, and we had a lot of success in Spain and Germany, touring and releasing three studio albums. I learnt so much from those experiences and always wrote songs along the way, but never did much with them. Then, during lockdown, I decided to learn how to engineer, so I could produce music in my own studio, at my own pace. Life is very busy, and being able to fit writing and recording in when it suited me, without worrying about a band and the expense of studio time, completely changed my way of working.
The result of all that was my first solo album, ‘Nowhere I’d Rather Be,’ released in 2023 on Other Eyes Records in Italy. The folks at Other Eyes have been amazing, and I couldn’t wish for a more supportive and all-round brilliant label to be part of. They just get it, and really value songwriting, musicianship and high production values. They also encourage collaboration between their artists, and it’s just a really fun family to be part of.
Next up is my second album. I’m writing and recording it right now, and there’s likely to be a single in Spring 2026, so look out for that!
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?
I would say harmony-laden, melodic indie-pop tunes with a generous helping of folk-rock and Americana for good measure. I don’t do a specific genre because my music reflects what I listen to, and if I only listened to one genre, things would be very dull!
What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?
I’ve learnt a lot by osmosis from being in and around professional studios, but studying the theory behind audio engineering and incorporating that into my process completely changed how I arrange, record and produce music. Often, I’d see an engineer twiddling knobs and have no idea what they were doing, but now I know!
What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?
I’m a multi-instrumentalist, and I try to play live instruments as much as possible. In these times of multi-track and linear recording, it is essential to retain the life and energy of playing live, so it sounds like a band, not just a bunch of tracks in Logic. That being said, I do love Logic and the creativity that’s possible with software instruments and samples.
Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?
The Warm Morning Brothers. They have a new album coming out in the New Year, and I highly recommend them. Think Simon & Garfunkel and the Kings of Convenience, and you won’t be far away. As the name suggests, they are two brothers who make wonderful indie pop folk, with beautiful string arrangements and vocal harmonies.
How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?
My time with the band Modesty Blaise has had the biggest influence on my music. I was the youngest member of the band, so it was like hanging out with a bunch of older brothers who seemed to know everything worth knowing about music and the rest! If I needed to come up with a new guitar part, I’d just ask ‘ok, what should I listen to’ and they’d come back with ten amazing songs I’d never heard of!
What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?
Naturally, I write about my own experiences in life, alongside the people I know and meet and encounter in other art forms. So my songs are rarely, if ever, explicitly about me. I think that would be quite self-indulgent and not very interesting to write about or listen to. I heard an interview with Paul Simon when he was asked why all his songs were about unfaithful girls and failed relationships, and whether he’d had a tough time. He just said ‘no, I pretended to be someone else’. I don’t need to go through a whole string of break-ups to write songs, that would be exhausting!
My songs deal with the universal themes of love, loss, hope, and regret. I turn them into stories with characters who play out different scenarios. There are some imagined realities, but also reflections on my own life and experiences. I hope people find some common ground and can relate to the songs in a way that’s relevant to them. I think that‘s what art is all about.
What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?
Songwriting is a discipline and a craft that requires a huge amount of practice, just like playing an instrument. I don’t think people put enough emphasis on that these days, and although records sound great, they often fall down on the song. I think that’s why Jimmy Webb and Glen Campbell were so successful, each a genius in their own field.
What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?
It would be somewhere small and intimate, not a stadium or a festival. I like St George’s on Brandon Hall in Bristol. It’s a 200-year-old Georgian church that’s been converted into a concert hall and is said to have the best acoustic for chamber music in Europe. I’ve seen some excellent bands there, and it’s always a great atmosphere and crowd.
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
They always say never meet your heroes, and to be honest, I don’t think I’d do myself justice alongside Glen Campbell or Brian Wilson. Not to throw any shade on Bob Dylan, he has his own brand of genius, but I reckon my vocals and guitar playing would stand up against his! I play a cover of ‘If Not for You’, and I’d love to play that with him. It’s just such a great song and I much prefer his version – sorry George, love your work too!
Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links)
Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?
Right now I’m focussing on finishing my second album, but beyond that I’d like to get out and play more live gigs and maybe even get a band back together!
What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?
I hope they discover someone who is very passionate about music but doesn’t take themselves too seriously. Music is a fun and joyful thing, even when it’s melancholy or sad. Hopefully, my songs will pick you up and drop you back down in places that feel familiar, but you’ve not been to before.
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