Dare to trust the puzzle - Jono McCleery

Singer-songwriter Jono McCleery shares his journey from falling asleep to his jazz pianist stepfather's music to becoming an acclaimed artist bridging folk, jazz, and electronic dance music. 

Raised with music after regaining his hearing around age five, Jono taught himself guitar at seventeen and began writing deeply personal songs influenced by John Martyn and Nick Drake. He discusses his collaborative approach with producers like Five One and his philosophy of working within limitations—preferring standard guitar tuning to explore endless creative possibilities. 

Jono reveals his process of recording improvisations first, letting melodies dictate lyrics, and protecting creative space from social media noise. With no plan B beyond music, he maintains an "endless fire" of creativity while navigating label expectations, album production challenges, and the evolution from acoustic folk to electronic collaborations that expand his audience across genres.

Key Takeaways

• Finding freedom within limitations creates deeper creativity than constantly changing instruments or approaches
• Recording improvisations unconsciously allows themes and melodies to emerge naturally before structuring lyrics
• Collaboration works best with people who already understand your music and bring unexpected creative surprises
• Protecting creative space from social media noise and external pressures is essential for authentic artistic expression
• Having no plan B strengthens commitment and resilience when pursuing creative careers through difficult periods
• Working across genres through collaboration bridges different musical worlds while maintaining artistic integrity and personal voice
• Validation comes from individual connections with listeners rather than streaming numbers or social media metrics
• Discipline develops through working with analog limitations before digital technology makes everything instantly accessible and overwhelming
• Live music needs more alternative spaces including family-friendly environments to strengthen human connection beyond screens
• Finishing albums requires setting firm deadlines and accepting that creative work evolves through compromise without losing core integrity

Daring Forever. Podcast with Radim Malinic

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