Ayron Jones

Ayron Jones (born August 23, 1986 in Seattle, Washington[1]) is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. His music blends elements of grunge, rock, hip-hop, soul and other genres. After years performing in local venues of his hometown Seattle with his trio Ayron Jones and the Way, he was noticed by producer Sir Mix-a-Lot and lead an independent career until he signed with John Varvatos/Big Machine.[1] His first major album was released on May 21, 2021.

Ayron Jones
Ayron Jones live at the 2015 Macefield Music Festival in Seattle
Ayron Jones live at the 2015 Macefield Music Festival in Seattle
Background information
Born (1986-08-23) August 23, 1986
Seattle, Washington
Genres
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • bass
Years active2005–present
Labels
Websiteayronjonesmusic.com

As an opening act or fellow participant in festivals, he has shared the stage with names such as B.B. King, Guns N' Roses, the Zombies, Patti Smith, Living Colour, The Presidents of the United States of America, Janelle Monae, Public Enemy, Rakim, Robin Trower, Spearhead, Train, Jeff Beck, Slipknot, Lamb of God, Theory of a Deadman, Run-DMC and The Rolling Stones.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]

He has participated in festivals such as Bumbershoot, Mount Baker Rhythm and Blues Festival, SXSW, Sasquatch! Music Festival, KISW's Pain In The Grass, and Summer Meltdown.[2][3]

Early life

Ayron Jones was born at the University of Washington Medical Center[9] to a 19-year-old mother and a father who "was never around". At the age of four, he was adopted by his aunt while his parents struggled with drug addiction.[10][5][8]

As a religious person, his aunt surrounded him with soul and gospel music, which instilled a passion for music on him. Jones learned how to play the piano, the drums[7] and the guitar alone and later chose the latter as his main instrument.[11][4] He also took violin lessons at school, and despite saying that he was "terrible" at the instrument, he recognized that learning it helped him better understand music theory[4] and allowed him to acquire some compositional skills.[9] His first instrument was an acoustic guitar given by his neighbor.[1] Later, he bought himself a Squier Stratocaster.[1] The first song he learned to play was Lenny Kravitz's "Fly Away".[4]

At the age of 19, he started to perform at local bars.[11] He would later recall being treated poorly in some places prior to performing, because he and his band "didn't look like the usual Rock band".[5] He also claims that police were called numerous times to intervene in his shows following noise complaints.[6][8]

Career

2010–2017: Beginnings, Dream and Audio Paint Job

In 2010, he founded the trio Ayron Jones and the Way,[2] inspired by important rock trios like Cream, Jimi Hendrix Experience, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble and Prince and The Revolution.[7] In 2012, while performing at a dive bar in Seattle, they were discovered by Sir Mix-a-Lot, who made it possible for them to record their debut, self-released[12][8] album one year later. The effort was titled Dream[13][2] and featured DeAndre Enrico on bass and Kai Van De Pitte on drums,[14][12] with Mix-a-Lot producing it[4] pro bono.[12] The album was released on October 29, 2013,[12] with a release show taking place a couple of days later, on November 2.[14]

Following his debut, he was invited to work with Deep Cotton, but rejected an offer to tour extensively with them in order to focus on his solo career.[4] In 2015, his two band members left the group and he decided to continue as a solo musician.[7]

In early 2017, he signed with the Agency for the Performing Arts.[6] Later that year, on June 2, he released his second album Audio Paint Job,[15] which has been described as "autobiographical".[11] Produced by Barrett Martin[8] (who also performed on the record and distributed it via his own label Sunyata[10]) and Jack Endino,[13][16] it also featured the Way, at that time consisting of Bob Lovelace on bass and Ehssan Kirimi on drums,[16] and some guests, such as Scarlet Parke on vocals, Andrew Joslyn on strings and Evan Flory-Barnes on the upright bass.[17] The album release show took place on June 24 at the Neptune Theatre.[17]

On November 2, 2017, he guest performed on the Levee Walkers's song "All Things Fade Away".[18][8]

2020–present: Major career, Child of the State

In 2020, he signed with Big Machine/John Varvatos and released his debut single "Take Me Away" in the middle of 2020.[10][19][20] On October 5, 2020, a video shot in Seattle was released for the song, which discusses his abandonment as a child.[21][7][22][23] The song was produced by Eric Lilavois at London Bridge Studio and featured Lovelace on bass, Joslyn on strings, Martin on drums and Parke on vocals.[23]

On September 20, he performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" before an NFL game between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots.[24]

In February 2021, he released his second single "Mercy" and its accompanying lyric video, discussing the 2020–2021 United States racial unrest.[25] In the same month, the song was selected as one of the eight Classic Rock's "Tracks of the Week".[26]

In April 2021, he was announced as one of the 25 artists from all the world selected by Fender to take part in the company's Fender Next project, a program that intends to assist the roster with marketing, gear and social media presence.[27][28]

Also in April, he released his third single, "Spinning Circles", which discusses toxic relationships.[29] It was also selected for another Classic Rock "Tracks of the Week" list released in April,[30] and readers elected it as the second best of the eight.[31]

His third album (the first via a major label), Child of the State, was released on May 21, 2021.[29][5] In an interview for Loudwire, he said he would be playing the bass in some tracks.[7] It featured the three singles among its tracks[29] and it was elected by Loudwire as the 27th best rock/metal album of 2021.[32]

In August 2022, he released his first single since Child of the State titled "Filthy".[33]

Musical style and influences

Ayron Jones's music is described as a mixture of blues, hip-hop, grunge, hard rock and soul.[26][10][8] Jones himself once described his own sound as "like if Michael Jackson played guitar like Jimi Hendrix in Kurt Cobain's band".[9]

Jones cites the beat as the most important aspect in his approach to songwriting[11] and says he wants his sound to be representative of Seattle.[12] When asked about the usage of noise in his music, he said that he had "developed this theory that what captivates people about an instrument or tone are the imperfections, because that’s the true reflection of human nature. [...] Your imperfections make you perfect."[4]

Jones's playing style has been compared to Gary Clark Jr.'s and Stevie Ray Vaughan's and his singing style has been compared to Michael Jackson's.[26]

He cites Hendrix, Freddie King, B.B. King, Roy Buchanan, Mike McCready, Kim Thayil and Cobain as guitar influences and Vaughan, Stevie Wonder, Dr. Dre, Rage Against the Machine, Nirvana, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Derek Trucks and Michael Jackson as general music influences.[1][12][4][20]

Personal life and other activities

Jones is married and has four children.[11][1] Since 2017,[9] he resides in Alki Beach,[10] after living in the Central District for all his life until then.[9]

Jones played for the same Ultimate Frisbee team as Sean Foreman (3OH!3) in the 2004 World Championship in Finland.[15]

Discography

Studio albums
  • Dream (2013)
  • Audio Paint Job (2017)
  • Child of the State (2021)
  • Chronicles of the Kid (2023)

Singles
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US
Main.
[34]
"Take Me Away" 2020 5 Child of the State
"Mercy" 2021 1
"Supercharged" 2
"Hot Friends" 2022 27
"Filthy" 18 Chronicles of the Kid
"Blood In the Water" 2023 1
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Music videos
Year Title Director Album
2020 "Take Me Away" Michael Rivera Child of the State
2021 "Mercy" Chris Berooty
"Supercharged" Steve Jawn
2022 "Filthy" Keith Leman Chronicles of the Kid
"Otherside" John Varvatos
2023 "Blood In the Water"

Awards and nominations
Year Award CategoryNominee(s) ResultRef.
2022 iHeartRadio Music Awards Best New Rock Artist Ayron Jones Nominated [35]

References
  1. Rigg, Paul. "Ayron Jones". Guitars Exchange. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  2. "Ayron Jones & The Way to play concert on Bainbridge". Bainbridge Island Review. Kitsap News Group. June 7, 2015. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  3. Fleischer, Lou (September 5, 2017). "Today's Millennial Rockstar, Ayron Jones Is Announced On Theory Of A Deadman Tour". The Big Takeover. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  4. Beaugez, Jim (September 2020). "Ayron Jones on Dynamics, the Seattle Sound and Building the Next Generation's Rock and Roll Guitar Tone". Guitar Player. Future plc. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  5. "Ayron Jones (bio at label website)". In De Goot. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  6. "Ayron Jones". The Masquerade. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  7. Schaffner, Lauryn (July 10, 2020). "Rising Rocker Ayron Jones: Our Beginnings Don't Have to Define Us". Loudwire. Townsquare Media. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  8. Sharp, Johnny (June 1, 2021). "Ayron Jones: the new sound of Seattle". Classic Rock. Future plc. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  9. Madigan, Grace (September 18, 2020). "Local Music Lowdown: Ayron Jones". The Evergrey. WhereBy.Us. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  10. Rietmulder, Michael (August 12, 2020). "Ayron Jones and Dempsey Hope are the latest Seattle artists to sign big-league record deals". The Seattle Times. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  11. Lane, Alexandra (June 27, 2017). "AYRON JONES Discusses New Album 'Audio Paint Job'". Performer. William House. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  12. Smith, Owen R. (October 29, 2013). "Ayron Jones and his 'dream' come true - Concert Preview". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on November 7, 2018. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  13. "Ayron Jones & The Way". The Wild Buffalo. Archived from the original on April 25, 2021. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  14. "Ayron Jones and The Way". Ride Festival. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  15. Flesh, Lou (June 2, 2017). "Ayron Jones Is The Next Generation Of Rock And Roll". No Depression. FreshGrass Foundation. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  16. Ralph, Caitlyn (March 24, 2017). "Produced by legendary drummer Barrett Martin, Ayron Jones' new album sets release date". Alternative Press. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  17. Uitti, Jakes (June 22, 2017). "Seattle's Ayron Jones: We need rock 'n' roll more than ever". The Seattle Times. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  18. Reed, Ryan (November 2, 2017). "Guns N' Roses, Pearl Jam Supergroup the Levee Walkers: Hear Cathartic New Song". Rolling Stone.
  19. "Rising rocker Ayron Jones sings of his "humble beginnings" on debut single, "Take Me Away"". KUPD. Hubbard Broadcasting. October 5, 2020. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  20. Luebbers, Julien A. (June 26, 2020). "Up-and-comer Ayron Jones releases his first major-label single 'Take Me Away'". The Spokesman-Review. Cowles Company. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  21. "Ayron Jones Releases Video for 'Take Me Away'". BroadwayWorld. October 5, 2020. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  22. "Ayron Jones releases debut single 'Take Me Away'". Original Rock. June 22, 2020. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  23. Macie, Bennett (June 2020). "Ayron Jones Signs to Big Machine, Releases "Take Me Away"". American Songwriter. Savage Media Holdings. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  24. Daly, Taryn (September 22, 2020). "ICYMI: Ayron Jones played the National Anthem before the Seahawks game". Audacy. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  25. Childers, Chad (February 5, 2021). "Ayron Jones Issues Powerful Video for New Anthem 'Mercy'". Loudwire. Townsquare Media. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  26. Glass, Polly; Lewry, Fraser (February 8, 2021). "Tracks of the Week: new music from The Treatment, Ayron Jones and more". Classic Rock. Future plc. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  27. Scott, Jason (April 22, 2021). "Fender Next Reveals Class Of 2021". American Songwriter. Savage Media Holdings. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  28. Childers, Chad (April 19, 2021). "Ayron Jones, Nova Twins Among 2021 'Fender Next' Class". Loudwire. Townsquare Media. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  29. Bienstock, Richard (April 11, 2021). "Rising rock guitar star Ayron Jones announces new album, Child of the State, drops new single". Guitar World. Future plc. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  30. Glass, Polly; Lewry, Fraser (April 12, 2021). "Tracks of the Week: new music from Massive Wagons, Ayron Jones and more". Classic Rock. Future plc. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  31. Glass, Polly; Lewry, Fraser (April 19, 2021). "Tracks of the Week: new music from Myles Kennedy, The Struts, Royal Blood and more". Classic Rock. Future plc. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  32. "The 45 Best Rock + Metal Albums of 2021". Loudwire. Townsquare Media. December 10, 2021. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  33. "Ayron Jones' New Single 'Filthy' Lives up to Its Name". Loudwire. August 26, 2022.
  34. Peaks on the Mainstream Rock chart:
  35. "2022 iHeartRadio Music Awards: The Complete Winners List | Entertainment Tonight". www.etonline.com. March 22, 2022. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
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