American Idol & X Factor USA star Jon Klaasen exclusive interview with myself,
We talked JLO, Bullying and the Perfect Date…
Scott: Tell us a little about yourself Jon?
Jon: I am 18 years old, 19 in January. I have one younger brother who has been accused of being my “twin” since we were little. I was born and raised in Indiana and I’ve been singing since I could talk. I’m doing this for the impact I can have on the lives of others who can relate to the music I write and because it’s what I love.
Scott: Tell us 3 facts about yourself that no one else knows?
Jon:
-I LOVE sports. Growing up in Indiana I played a lot of sports as a kid. Basketball being the main one.
-I have a little birthmark in my hair on the back of my head. I’ve never seen it but my hairstylist always comments on it!
-My family and I are big milk drinkers. It’s not surprising if we go through 2 gallons a day.
Scott: You appeared on US X-Factor and American Idol, How were these experiences for you?
Jon: They were great! It’s an awesome opportunity to have and I really appreciate it. My favourite part by far is hanging with the other extremely talented contestants. You get the best jam sessions you’ll ever be a part of. I’m still really good friends with a few of them!
Scott: What are the audition processes like?
Jon: They can be pretty nerve-wracking on both shows. You see a lot of people crying or just looking down when they come back out. Very few come back with a smile. In the end, it’s more of an adrenaline rush.
Scott: You had amazing comments from Harry Connick Jr,Keith Urban and Jennifer Lopez that must have been a huge confident boost, right?
Jon: At first, yes, it can be! Too many people let it get to their head though. If you’re not humble in this business, you’ll be torn to shreds. But yes, it’s pretty nice to hear those things from people as experienced and gifted as the judges.
Scott: You made some awesome music like “Coming Back,” “Persistence,” and now your new song “Irreplaceable”. All of them had great feedback and your fans loved them. How would you describe your music genre, or do you like to experience all types of music?
Jon: I don’t really have a name for my genre yet. It will probably be categorised under the pop genre. Pop is such a large and vague description, I like to describe it as acoustic-driven-pop-rock-with-sub-bass!
Scott:The X-Factor in the UK has just started have you seen any episodes? If yes, who do you like so far?
Jon: I haven’t yet actually. I have recently been extremely busy with several projects which you might find out more about in a little bit 😉
Scott: What advice would you give someone trying to break out as an artist or thinking about going on shows like X-Factor / American Idol?
Jon: Don’t forget yourself as an artist. Too many people try to be the next Justin Bieber or the next Taylor Swift. The thing is, there is already a Justin Bieber and a Taylor Swift. Be yourself, and create a brand for yourself that stands out.
Scott: Will we be seeing you on Tour any time soon? And any plans for the UK?
Jon: There are talks but I can’t make any promises yet. If you follow me on all my social media as soon as I know about any shows you will too!
Scott: If you could perform with any artist in the world who would it be and why?
Jon: It varies, but right now it would be twenty one pilots. I recently got to go to their show and it was honestly the best concert I’ve ever experienced. I would LOVE to be a part of that.
Scott: What are your plans for 2016 / 2017?
Jon: Well, I will definitely have more songs coming out. Music videos as well! I’m also moving out to California! I am in Cali a lot but currently live in Indiana, so the official move will be happening soon.
Scott:What would be your perfect date?
Jon: Skydiving, then driving up to a gorgeous look out at night. So, if you’re down to skydive… hit me up!
Scott: I brought out my first book earlier this year called “OUT” its my true life story about getting bullied for who I was and how I overcame it. Did you ever suffer from bullying in school or in your life?
Jon: I did get bullied at some points. Mainly in middle school because I was a late bloomer and didn’t grow much until my junior year of high school. Some of the athletes would pick on me because I wanted to grow up to be a “rockstar”. I always had my family’s support and that helped a lot. The main thing that helped me get through was my faith. Whenever I felt alone I just remembered God’s love for me. It sounds cliché, I know it does, but it made a big difference in my life.
Follow Jon on Twitter here… Jon Klaasen
Scott McGlynn 