So apparently not everyone from Iceland comes to awards shows dressed in a dead swan costume. Case in point, up and coming Icelandic singer/songwriter Jón Jónsson. In listening to his new single, “When You’re Around,” Gavin DeGraw immediately comes to mind. Jónsson’s got a smoothness to his voice that makes you hang on every word. “When You’re Around” is definitely a singer/songwriter’s equivalent to a pop anthem, in that it’s definitely more on the singer/songwriter end of the “pop spectrum” but still boundlessly sun shiny and joyful like you’d expect out of a traditional Top 40 pop track. I think it’s safe to say that Jón Jónsson’s got a fair shot at cracking the Adult Contemporary market here in America. Listen to “When You’re Around” BELOW.
Born and raised in a small town in Iceland, Jón Jónsson has always had a passion for music. After graduating from Boston University, Jónsson got down to the nitty gritty and focused on music as a career. His four Icelandic singles (“Lately,” “Kiss In The Morning,” “When You’re Around,” and “Sooner or Later“) have all been in the top 30 on Iceland radio and stayed there for weeks on end. In 2011, Jon was named ‘Best New Artist‘ in Iceland’s FM957 People’s Choice Awards, receiving an outstanding 60% of the fan votes. Already the #1 selling artist on the Icelandic iTunes Chart, Jón Jónsson is hoping for similar success here in America, with the release of his debut album Wait For Fate.
Wait For Fate has something for everyone, offering listeners a variety of pop styles, from more the Top 40-friendly stuff to a more R&B-influenced, bluesy sound. The album is essentially one big love story set to music, thanks in part to Jónsson’s “hopelessly romantic lyrics” and “bursts of energy that come from the piano/guitar-driven tracks and his raw and authentic vocals.” Jón Jónsson is definitely someone to keep your eye on, America.
Wait For Fate is available in the US exclusively via Jon’s bandcamp page (jonjonsson.bandcamp.com/) and will be released later this month via digital retailers everywhere. Stream the album on bandcamp before you buy by clicking HERE. Listen to his most recent Icelandic single, “Sooner or Later” BELOW. Very reminiscent of something off of Jamie Cullum‘s debut, no?
Check out Jón Jónsson on the web: