A few weeks before the announcement of his Indiegogo, I emailed Jonny a few questions about his background and growing up in Canada. You can catch him on his upcoming headline tour with Kurt Travis, Hail the Sun, and The Seeking.
Let’s talk about your roots. I’ve never been to Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada before. What’s it like up there?
Cold and shitty, it rains a lot. It’s only like three hours away from Seattle so the weather is pretty similar.
What was the very first concert you attended and how much of an impact did that have on you musically?
I saw Boys II Men at a fair, it definitely influenced the way I put my harmonies together and what I hope to deliver in stage presence.
Is it true you’re gonna be on The Voice?
They made me sign a confidentiality agreement, so I’m not really sure how much I can say on that…
Can you elaborate on what you’ve been up to for the past few months?
Writing and organizing ideas I have to put down in the studio, listening to all sorts of new music to keep up on the game. In my downtime I watch a lot of Netflix and try to put a baby in my girlfriend.
How is Diamond Monroe different from your self-titled solo work?
Diamond Monroe is who I am in the sheets.
If you did a R&B record, who would have as guest vocalists? Justin Timberlake, R Kelly, Tyler Carter, etc?
I really like the way Barbara Streisand can break down a track. No one else really has that polish. Plus I don’t think any up and comers have appealed to a Jewish crowd since Matisyahu.
What has your experiences been like being in several successful bands?
We obviously all parted ways for our own reasons but every stint in a band definitely proved to be a learning experience. Whether it be vocally, technically in the studio, or just learning how to communicate with people.
Any word on when “The Blue Print For Going In Circles” is gonna come out?
A 6 song EP is coming out before Blue Print, slated before summer if all the pieces fall into place. I’m focusing mainly on that right now.
What happened to the filming of your documentary? Will it be released soon?
I am filming this entire upcoming US tour, trying to release a video every few days to give the fans a look at what it’s like on the road, and just the day to day shit.
Have you ever thought about rewriting/reworking some Westerhalt songs into solo songs?
No, that was definitely just kids playing shows so we could afford to buy weed. Nothing serious.
What hair products do you use for your mullet?
I don’t have a mullet at the moment, but if i did, I would use Murrays Pomade.
How did your association with Hunter Moore come about?
He’s from Sacramento, I met him when I first moved here, he came to Dance Gavin Dance shows.
What do you think about these newer bands trying to emulate your vocal style?
They have big shoes to fill. but not really because my feet are incredibly small.
What’s the most interesting thing about you that has never been revealed in an interview before?
My right thumb is double jointed.
At this point in your career, is there any uncharted territory that you haven’t been able to get to yet?
I would love to collaborate with Justin Timberlake or Usher.