Jon Vinyl’s latest single, “Star-Crossed,” is a common file that Vinyl hopes will assist obtain his objective of reaching and provoking a wider viewers. “This one is special. It can translate easily to different outlets and audiences. If you hear it, you can appreciate it,” he tells Billboard.
Vinyl is premiering the visible for “Star-Crossed” by means of Billboard at this time (Sept. 17). The promenade night-inspired visible is Vinyl’s first, and it options the crooner in a 1970s promenade swimsuit swimsuit with “Black Toe” Air Jordan 1s in tow on his approach to his date. Vinyl tells the story of a love that’s destined to be — regardless of the universe pondering in any other case. “The video is an ode to that high-school-type-of-love. That addicting mix of emotions, for that crush we all had,” Vinyl says of the visible.
Vinyl is an R&B singer out of Toronto, and his music proves he’s sensible past his years. Despite being solely 20 years outdated, Vinyl has the potential to be a masterful R&B artist, given his monitor file of finding out the musicians which have got here earlier than him. Inspired by the greats like Stevie Wonder and Otis Redding, Vinyl creates music that evokes feeling and depends closely on emotion to convey his listeners right into a world full of charming metaphors and dreamy resonance.
Music has been part of Vinyl’s life ever since he was a baby watching BET and catching visuals by Usher and Ne-Yo. His mom would expose him to artists like Jodeci and Boyz II Men whereas he helped her cleaned the home. When Vinyl moved to Pickering, a city 40 minutes out of Toronto, the sounds of Miguel and Frank Ocean stuffed his audio system and helped him develop the sound he has at this time.
His profession is in its early levels, however he has gotten off to a strong begin. Vinyl’s debut single “Nostalgia” racked up over 39,000 performs on SoundCloud, grabbing the eye of the native Toronto space. His highschool buddy, Shawn Mendes, found the track and added to the excitement by sharing it to social media. Vinyl boosted his hype releasing “Life,” “Cherry Blossom,” and “Storm” with every track securing over 25,000 thousand streams on SoundCloud. The three songs have been fashionable amongst listeners and earned spots on a number of Apple Music playlists, together with Breaking R&B and OVO Sound Radio Episode 57.
As he continues to develop inside the music business and thru his music, Vinyl is aiming to encourage folks by means of the positivity in his music. Billboard spoke extra with Vinyl about his artistry, his transition from Toronto to Pickering, and why he calls himself the “singing J. Cole.”
Check out the video for “Star-Crossed” beneath, and the remainder of our Q&A with Vinyl after the soar.
Why do you’re feeling music was your calling at such a younger age?
When my mother performed all these old style information and R&B throwbacks together with the music I heard in Pickering, it simply form of impressed me subconsciously to need to make music. I did not even comprehend it. At a younger age, my brother advised me to start out singing, and from there, we did a number of tracks then transitioned into releasing them and now we’re right here.
What was the primary R&B track you listened to that piqued your curiosity in music?
The track that I actually could not cease fascinated with was Luther Vandross’ “Dance With My Father.” After I first heard that track, I by no means forgot it. It was simply wonderful to listen to the emotion that was put into that track and the way it might actually made you’re feeling a [certain] manner. I feel that entire feeling is what I caught on to as properly. It’s highly effective that you may really feel one thing after listening to a sure vocal or lyric.
You don’t actually have a definite Toronto sound. What are you able to attribute that to?
I feel the artists who’re within the areas exterior of Toronto all have a distinct sound, as a result of when you’re in a inventive metropolis with a bunch of people who find themselves doing the identical factor, your music will sound related. There are folks exterior the town who’re uncovered to their very own factor and motion as a result of it’s not there — the sounds that you simply get out of it are a bit of bit completely different from what your counterparts are listening to within the larger metropolis.
Back in February, you talked about that you simply get hit with sure emotions if you hear one thing. What have been the sentiments you have been experiencing whereas making “Star-Crossed?”
“Star-Crossed” provides me that feeling the place you are simply rolling down the road with the solar shining and it is simply speculated to be a great vibe. It’s that feeling of home windows down in your automotive with the wind blowing. For the video, we wished to seize scenes displaying the concept that not all the things works out regardless of your ardour for loving somebody, and your dedication to dropping all of the games and boldly going and doing what you’re feeling is correct.
At the tip of it, you do not know what occurs, however I’m simply sitting there singing the lyrics with the flowers nonetheless in my hand. Despite the hassle you set into one thing, you may by no means know when you’ll get what you actually need.
What was carried out otherwise on this track versus the others?
For this track, we really had some assist with the manufacturing and writing. It was me, a author from South Africa named Bubele Boi, Ndumiso Manana, and David Balshaw. They all despatched me variations of the track and I form of simply reviewed it. I did a bunch of tweaks to it for some time after which it simply turned out to be what it was. That was my first time ever doing it that manner.
Why do you name your self the “singing J. Cole?”
I like to write down about constructive and informative issues and I feel J. Cole is unbelievable at doing that. He excels at getting a message throughout to somebody and having it keep on with them for a very long time. That’s what I aspire to be. I would like my music to assist encourage folks and have it keep on with them. J. Cole clearly has one of many nastiest pens and I really feel my pen may be on that degree.
You bought a very good push due to Shawn Mendes sharing “Nostalgia” on social media. What’s the key behind the camaraderie amongst Toronto artists?
I feel in Toronto, all people simply loves making music. Everybody loves making nice music, really. They actually hook up with the track that you simply make and so they’re not afraid to point out assist. You see it occur numerous quantities of occasions, the place folks would let you know to test a sure artist out, regardless of how large or small the artist is. It appears like a contest typically, however it’s additionally a respect form of factor.
What have you ever discovered from the big-time Toronto artists that got here earlier than you?
I’d say lots of them, like my buddy Shawn, join with their followers in a loopy manner. [Shawn’s] followers actually love him and are there for him. No matter what, he cannot do any incorrect to them. I feel displaying like to your followers and everybody who helps you, even when it is simply the little issues like sending them a message, that is one factor I began to remove from these Toronto artists. That needs to be the primary factor, your followers.
