To see Rebekah Jon live is an intimate encounter. On May 24, we saw Rebekah play at MiddleCoast Brewing Company and were gifted with an amazing set, which was her first time out playing a show in about a month. When Rebekah Jon sings, people listen. She adds layers of intensity to the covers she performs, truly making them her own with a special level of endearment and respect for each one. With a sweet stage presence and genuine gratitude for her audience, she also plays originals with the best kind of emotionally dark lyrics and melodies. To say that Rebekah Jon is talented is an understatement.
Storytelling comes naturally to Rebekah. She shares the meanings behind the songs, inviting everyone to lean in closer to her music. Her softer vocals and more powerful belting are both done beautifully as she switches off between acoustic and electric guitar. She kicked things off with Taylor Swift’s "Fortnight", causing a few younger members in the crowd to stare in awe and sing along. She informed us there would be plenty of Tay-Tay in the set and later on I really appreciated her rendition of "Death By A Thousand Cuts".
Her original song "Sweat" with the memorable lyrics of “I think she’s lost it this time” is "a song about not feeling like yourself", Rebecca tells us. The rhythm of this unreleased tune really presses into you. "L.O.V.E." is one of the first songs that Rebekah ever wrote and was dedicated to “all the crusty exes out there”. “Over It”, released last year, is another one of my favorites.
Rebekah Jon told a wonderful story about first hearing Natalie Imbruglia’s "Torn" at her babysitter’s house as a child and feeling that the song represented "what music is all about" before launching into an awesome cover of it. She plays a fun array of cover songs including Tracy Chapman’s "Fast Car", "Somebody Else" by The 1975, and KT Tunstall’s "Black Horse and a Cherry Tree".
Tomorrow, June 11, Rebekah is going to be releasing her latest single "Northern Lights" and hearing the acoustic version live brought tears to my eyes.
“I wish I could have you back/ You were never mine”
Jon says the song is about "rebirth and a journey with grief" and she sings it with vulnerability and passion. I asked her a bit about the new single and some other questions about her life and musical background. The following is that interview:
The Jam Files: Have you always lived in Traverse City? What do you love most about the area?
Rebekah Jon: My husband and I moved to Traverse City about 10 years ago from the Metro Detroit area. We originally relocated for him to attend the Great Lakes Maritime Academy; during that time we fell in love with Traverse City and decided to stay long-term.
What I love most about TC is that access to the outdoors. If I’m not at home working on music, you can usually find me on a trail somewhere with my dogs.
The Jam Files: When did you first know you wanted to make music? Is it something that’s been with you since childhood?
Rebekah Jon: I started playing piano as a child and instantly felt a connection to music. I started out writing instrumental pieces about the world around me. My first song was a piano piece titled "Tiny the Squirrel" about a squirrel that would perch up on the deck and listen to me practice every day. I’ve always dreamed of making music for a living and have been writing throughout my whole life, but it wasn’t until the last 5 years that I developed the confidence to pursue music as a career.
The Jam Files: We’re big fans of your song "You Are Enough" from the Harper EP. Can you tell us a bit about what’s behind the song and its lyrics?
Rebekah Jon: Thank you! That is one of my favorite songs, and I’m so happy you connect with it. I wrote "You Are Enough" in 2020, during a period of self-reflection and realization that in certain relationships I was putting others before myself, and my happiness was suffering. The lyrics in the verses speak to the struggles being faced, and the pre-chorus and chorus are my internal dialogue and feelings in response to those struggles. “Oh, but I can hear the ocean as it’s calling out to me/like a mother cries when her baby just won’t sleep” is a metaphor for the knee-jerk decision to run from my situation and the desperation inside of me when I felt that. When you’re willing to do almost anything to feel some reprieve. When the chorus comes around, I am more coaching myself through the hardship and reminding myself that I am enough. I wrote the song to be viewed from multiple perspectives. The listener can take the words as a reminder to themselves or as well-wishes for a loved one. Ultimately, I wanted to convey hopefulness and strength during difficult times.
The Jam Files: Who or what inspires you the most?
Rebekah Jon: What inspires me to write a song is mainly a personal experience, and the desire to create something good out of a negative feeling or event. I take a lot of inspiration from nature, whether that be visual or auditory, and hope to create music that evokes deep feelings from the listener. I’m a deep feeler myself, and one of my favorite places to get lost is within music, and my goal is to create a similar experience for the listener.
The Jam Files: What music are you listening to right now? Do you have any musical influences or artists that keep you going?
Rebekah Jon: Currently I have TTPD on a steady cycle. I’ve also been listening to a lot of Chappell Roan, Palace, Radiohead, and Ariana Grande. Other artists who inspire me are John Mayer, David Gilmour, Lana Del Ray, Post Malone, and Florence Welch. Taylor Swift, Pink Floyd, John Mayer, and Florence + The Machine are the artists I listen to most, especially when I am going through it.
The Jam Files: We’re anticipating the release of your new single "Northern Lights". What was the production and process of it like?
Rebekah Jon: I recorded "Northern Lights" with Second Circle Productions. Ryan Younce, the owner, is also who produced my last single "Over It", and who I am currently working with on new releases as well.
We usually start by building the instrumental foundation, lay down the vocals, and then go in and add in all the little extra elements that really fill out the song and bring it to life, such as layering instruments and vocal ad libs, or samples. This is usually the most fun part for me because of the creative aspect as well as watching the song grow.
For "Northern Lights" I wanted to recreate the feelings I experienced seeing the Northern Lights for the first time, and have the music sound like you were floating in the sky while they were going on. The song is about grief, self-reflection, and hopefulness, and it was really important to me for the instrumentals to capture the comfort that eventually comes after losing a loved one, and you get a sign that tells you they’re still out there somewhere, and they are at peace and ok. For me that comfort transferred and allowed me to begin to believe that I would also be ok eventually.
I worked with Chris Sterr who really brought the atmospheric elements to life by layering multiple melodies played on a lap steel guitar. Brandon Smith plays drums on the track, and has been a long-term creative partner and friend, and Mike Hunter, of One Hot Robot, is featured on bass.
The Jam Files: What do you love the most about performing live?
Rebekah Jon: Connecting with the audience and feeling the energy of the room. I can be a pretty shy person and sometimes experience social anxiety, but playing live opens up doors for me to meet new people and learn about others around me while sharing parts of myself as well.
The Jam Files: Usually people ask what you would tell the “you” of the past, whether it be high school “you” or childhood “you”. We’re switching it up a little and asking you what you would want to tell your future self, let’s say the “you” of 10-15 years from now. Any advice or words of wisdom you’d share with future “you” from the perspective of now?
Rebekah Jon: It’s ok to slow down, remember that you’re not alone, and I’m proud of you. Whatever you decide to do going forward, you’re going to be ok and you know you can trust yourself.
The Jam Files: What’s next for you as a musical artist? Do you have any plans for a full length album?
Rebekah Jon: I’m currently working with Ryan Younce of Second Circle Productions on my latest project, and we are in the early stages of production. I’m really excited to share more about this further into the year!
We swung by Middlecoast again on June 7th to catch the end of another Rebekah Jon set hoping we would make it in time to hear "Northern Lights", and lo and behold we did. The song touches so many. You can see it on the faces in the crowd. It’s a song that grabs you by the heartstrings and doesn’t let go. Rebekah is very candid about the meanings behind her music and the raw emotion of her performances are tangible. Be sure and put this one on repeat when it comes out tomorrow.
Check out Rebekah Jon on Spotify, Apple Music, Instagram, Facebook and by visiting her website at rebekahjon.com
Jennifer Patino lives in Traverse City and loves music. Visit her blog at thistlethoughts.com