Intro:
In 2001 we first interviewed Billy Jonas following his "Life So Far" CD. Now it is 2005 and we have a new CD from Billy called "Get Real". I talked with Billy after a recent Atlanta performance to see what has changed since we last talked. We talked about his family shows, his new album and what inspires him. Although he is a great performer at family shows, you cannot ignore his talent as a singer/songwriter.

E.C.: You have both "children's shows" and "adult shows" - what led you to do the children's shows?

Billy Jonas: Many of my songs for grown-ups kids enjoy, so people started bringing their kids. And then, the instruments are also very inspiring to the kids. I like to have kids feel like being a musician is an accessible thing. Hence playing on homemade and found objects, lets them realize, "Hey, I can do this too". With that in mind, people started inviting me to family-oriented events, which means generally parents with kids ages 2 to 12. It's a very different market, different press, different venues, different presenters and…it's a circuit. So, once I tapped into that I was able to pursue both - my adult's work and my kid's work side by side.

E.C.: So, do you normally do two shows in each city, a kid's show and then an adult show?

Billy Jonas: It depends on the city and the timing.

E.C.: What appeals to you doing the kid's shows, is it the storytelling?

Billy Jonas: Storyteller and educator. I like to dress up the messages so that they're not like propaganda. I like the idea that kids are learning on four different levels from a concert like this. They're getting the message of the song, it goes through their ears, and the hand motions are sort of a kinesthetic connection to the music. Then the rhythm gets in their body - its instructive in a spiritual way, it connects your body and your soul. Your heart and soul and body are what rhythm is all about. And it connects you to the earth. Which to me - getting connected to the ground and earth is a very spiritual thing. The fourth way that they are getting the message is that they are experiencing community music making. They're watching adults and other kids get involved and not let someone else make art for them, but with them. To me that's very empowering.

E.C.: When you write songs, do you think, "This is going to be a children's song" or an "adult song"?

Billy Jonas: I rarely write children's songs. I just write songs. As they are born and developed, they lean one-way or the other. But for the most part I'm writing what we call "family songs" meaning if it's an adult show its fine and if it's a family show it's fine.

E.C.: With all the traveling you do, in the van between gigs, is that a time when many songs come to you?

Billy Jonas: Yeah - it's very challenging to finish songs on the road, but I get lots of ideas.

E.C.: Do you use a portable recorder when you get ideas?

Billy Jonas: I use my cell phone a lot to call into my answering machine. And when I get home I've got all the ideas.

E.C.: About your new album - I really like your story songs. My favorite song on the new CD is "Joy". The lyrics that just struck me are "Faith is a luxury I can't afford."

Billy Jonas: Well, I don't really want to put that out as a prayer…

E.C.: Oh, no, I mean in the storyline, it is something that everyone can relate to. I can't afford this ticket and can't afford to be hauled off to jail or court on a traffic offense. "I have to be practical" is how I interpret that line. I don't see it as slamming any kind of faith; I basically see it in a humorous tone. I mean art is a reflection of life as it is of music, so I see your music as that: a reflection of everyday.

Like your new song, "This We Know" - the message seems to be that old adage: "those who ignore history are destined to repeat it"?

Billy Jonas: That's very much a part of it. To me it's a celebration of embracing reality, which is why I called the CD "Get Real". "This We Know" is a litany of amazing facts about our culture that need to be acknowledged and embraced so that we can move forward from there. As opposed to 'hoping that won't happen' - it's happened. It continues to happen. With luck it happens less and less when people are more conscious, but that's a tall order. My feeling is: the more we embrace what 'is', the better world we can create.

E.C.: Other than your story songs, what else inspires you to write? Is it a theme, maybe something you've seen on TV? Any messages that you want to get across?

Billy Jonas: You know, that's a very good question. What motivates me…is inspiration. Things pop in and they inspire me. That can be anything, it can be a turn-of-phrase, and it can be an image that I see. A picture in my travels. A character that I meet. Then it goes through this filter that is unconscious for the most part. It's the way I see the world and process the world. The filter says, "Everybody matters" and "God is in all things". How can I elevate that truth out of this inspiration? Whatever that inspiration is. That is the filter through which all my inspirations are strained: everybody matters and God is in all things.

My agenda beyond that is finding ways to connect people in three ways. To themselves, to each other and to the great mystery, if you want to call it "God" or the "spirit" or whatever. When you connect your brain to your heart, it's a very powerful thing - and I work towards that myself all the time. It's a daily challenge to keep my keep my heart and my head connected. And the opportunity to connect people that don't know each other is a wonderful agenda. And then, if people can through those other two things then find a way to connect to spirit, or the great mystery or the great beyond - my work is done.

E.C.: If you had an opportunity to sign with a major label - do you like the independence that you have now?

Billy Jonas: I do like the independence I have and would consider signing. There are advantages and disadvantages. The advantages - I make 90 percent profit on my own CD sales. Whereas if I was with a small label, I'd make about 60 percent profit. With a major, I might make 5 percent profit. But…the tradeoff is that with a major label you have publicity and the speed and spread of that media. But it's a tradeoff and I'm open to considering that.

E.C.: How do you think your own music has progressed?

Billy Jonas: I believe that I started out relying on 'cleverness' and 'spectacle'. I got a lot of mileage out of that. I would hope that I've moved towards 'heart' and 'soul'. I believe the 'cleverness' and 'spectacle' is still there, its just not the thing that I put forward first in my writing or my playing.

E.C.: You want a balance?

Billy Jonas: Absolutely a balance.