Jon Troast
Nashville, Tennessee, United States | SELF
Music
Press
"I love your songs" - A Prairie Home Companion
"I love your songs" - A Prairie Home Companion
Jon Troast alternates between folky and funky. His smoky, David Gray–style vocals jump from sweet, spunky love songs to edgier, rhythmic explorations of life and responsibility.
Mandolin gets cozy with a honky-tonk piano on “The Most.” “Dish and the Spoon” is a playful look at the Mother Goose nursery rhyme while “Knock Down” is an intriguing cross between “House of the Rising Sun” and “Mama Told Me Not to Come.” But the real jewel of the record is “Better Love,” in which Troast warns a potential lover that he may not make the best partner. Troast’s agonized delivery of lines like “My lips don’t kiss a thing, they’re too busy singing / He waits every evening just to kiss you goodnight, it’s a better love than mine” ensure that you’ll want to give Second Story a second listen, and a third, and fourth … - www.performingsongwriter.com
Jon Troast alternates between folky and funky. His smoky, David Gray–style vocals jump from sweet, spunky love songs to edgier, rhythmic explorations of life and responsibility.
Mandolin gets cozy with a honky-tonk piano on “The Most.” “Dish and the Spoon” is a playful look at the Mother Goose nursery rhyme while “Knock Down” is an intriguing cross between “House of the Rising Sun” and “Mama Told Me Not to Come.” But the real jewel of the record is “Better Love,” in which Troast warns a potential lover that he may not make the best partner. Troast’s agonized delivery of lines like “My lips don’t kiss a thing, they’re too busy singing / He waits every evening just to kiss you goodnight, it’s a better love than mine” ensure that you’ll want to give Second Story a second listen, and a third, and fourth … - www.performingsongwriter.com
"Jon Troast possesses that indefinable something that separates the wheat from the chaff, folksinger-wise -- that je ne se quoi of sincerity, wit, melodicism and observational power that elevates these songs from folk-pop cliché and lands them squarely in the rich storytelling tradition of a David Wilcox or a James Taylor.
"In every case, Troast’s words and the music behind them mesh beautifully; these tunes all grow from the base of his sharp acoustic playing (love the lilting intro to “Everything Not Her”), but deliver variety as well as Troast builds out tracks like the gorgeous ballad “Mary Jane” with piano and strings, while going for a spare, gritty, almost urban sound on the self-lacerating “Knock Down.” Troast’s vocals have the throaty, lived-in sound of a James Blunt or John Ondrasik, with precise yet effortless phrasing that’s pitch-perfect for these songs."
- www.dailyvault.com
"Jon Troast possesses that indefinable something that separates the wheat from the chaff, folksinger-wise -- that je ne se quoi of sincerity, wit, melodicism and observational power that elevates these songs from folk-pop cliché and lands them squarely in the rich storytelling tradition of a David Wilcox or a James Taylor.
"In every case, Troast’s words and the music behind them mesh beautifully; these tunes all grow from the base of his sharp acoustic playing (love the lilting intro to “Everything Not Her”), but deliver variety as well as Troast builds out tracks like the gorgeous ballad “Mary Jane” with piano and strings, while going for a spare, gritty, almost urban sound on the self-lacerating “Knock Down.” Troast’s vocals have the throaty, lived-in sound of a James Blunt or John Ondrasik, with precise yet effortless phrasing that’s pitch-perfect for these songs."
- www.dailyvault.com
"With the combination of crafty lyrics and exceptional musical accompaniment, Jon Troast has the potential of becoming the next greatest discovery in the music world.
"Jon’s musical influences appear to span a wide range including folk, rock, country, pop, alternative and Christian. He is easily comparable to James Taylor and John Mayer and yet, stands on his own two feet effortlessly."
- www.themusicreview.net
"With the combination of crafty lyrics and exceptional musical accompaniment, Jon Troast has the potential of becoming the next greatest discovery in the music world.
"Jon’s musical influences appear to span a wide range including folk, rock, country, pop, alternative and Christian. He is easily comparable to James Taylor and John Mayer and yet, stands on his own two feet effortlessly."
- www.themusicreview.net
"We were excited to discover this amazing singer/songwriter and his mellow, well-crafted songs...a great listen from start to finish."
- www.ebflo.com
"We were excited to discover this amazing singer/songwriter and his mellow, well-crafted songs...a great listen from start to finish."
- www.ebflo.com
"Jon Troast’s soul is vibrantly alive, and his writing is filled with an appreciation for everything and everyone in his life. His warm, slightly raspy voice puts you right in the song, and even when he’s singing about something not so wonderful (for example, “Knock Down,” with its musings on social awkwardness), there’s something more philosophical about it than depressing. He’s a pure, honest, true folkie in his heart and soul. And he’s a pretty gifted guitar player, too."
- Indie-Music.com
"Jon Troast’s soul is vibrantly alive, and his writing is filled with an appreciation for everything and everyone in his life. His warm, slightly raspy voice puts you right in the song, and even when he’s singing about something not so wonderful (for example, “Knock Down,” with its musings on social awkwardness), there’s something more philosophical about it than depressing. He’s a pure, honest, true folkie in his heart and soul. And he’s a pretty gifted guitar player, too."
- Indie-Music.com
Discography
D- EP
C- EP
B- EP
A- EP
Living Room - LP
With, To, From - LP
A Person and a Heart - LP
Second Story - LP
Awesome Wonder - EP
I Wrote My Brother for Advice - LP w/Ashby Furlough
Say Something - LP
Light and Momentary Troubles - LP
Through the Westgate - LP w/the rubberband
Photos
Bio
I love music, but there was one song I really didn't care for as a kid - “I Like to Take My Time” by Mr. Rogers (yes, the one from the “Neighborhood”). Nothing against Mr. Rogers. Actually, I thought he was great. He even taught me how to snap. However, my brother used that song to tease me (bound to happen when you grow up with 6 siblings). He’d sing it if I was taking a little longer to get something done. I didn’t enjoy it. My mom would remind me that the song says “I like to take my time...to do it right”, but that didn’t matter much at the time.
Now that I’m not quite as vulnerable to my brother’s teasing, I’m actually thinking about making it my theme song. As funny as it might sound, Mr. Rogers’ message is found in a lot of my songwriting- taking time to notice what’s going on around you, taking time to think about what’s important in life, taking time to enjoy what you have, taking time to “do it right.”
It’s been my motto since becoming a full time musician six years ago.
I started out playing coffee shops, bars, churches, etc. in the Midwest, slowly building my repertoire. I did some recording on my own, but wanting to “do it right”, I saved up enough to work with a producer in Nashville (Mitch Dane). I’ve since released four full length projects- “Second Story”, “A Person and a Heart”, “With, To, From”, and “Living Room”.
Trying to get to the essence of my work as a songwriter, I also started doing house concerts a couple years ago. You connect with your audience a lot more when you’re singing in front of their fireplace and sleeping on their couch! The idea took off, and I’ve since played in hundreds of homes all over the country including one extended coast to coast tour of 100 concerts in 100 days.
There have been other highlights- a chance to perform on NPR’s “A Prairie Home Companion”, something I won’t soon forget. But even those opportunities, the ones that seem too come out of the blue, are usually the result of something you’ve been slowly and carefully building over time. I think it’s a pretty good philosophy. It’s kind of like learning how to snap. You work at it and work at it, and then suddenly...
I’m so grateful for the loyal and supportive people I’ve met along the way thus far. People who listen to and appreciate the songs, but also people who’ve given a lot back to me. As a musician, I’m pretty sure this is “doing it right.”
In conclusion, Mr. Rogers was brilliant, and I’m bigger than my brother now.
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