Talkin’ Shop With Jonathan Plevyak

There are few musicians more authentic than Jonathan Plevyak. The Nashville crooner has a distinctly retro rock & roll vibe and never takes shortcuts as an independent artist. He always tracks with a full, live band in the studio (with a horn player). He’ll never use AI for content. He even hosts an annual vintage-styled, community-driven prom night called Jukebox Jam.

In the past few years, Jonathan has released two successful EP’s, Made In The Shade and Loverboy, and has just put out a new single titled “She’s The One!” This is the fourth single in the lead up to his next record, which thankfully, he was willing to share some details about with CLIFTN. I recently had the opportunity to meet with Jonathan for a chat:

Hey Jonathan, thanks for joining me today.

Jonathan: “Great to see you, Julian.”

Always a pleasure. Congrats on the new single, it’s a killer song. This is building up to an album?

Jonathan: “Yeah, it’s the fourth single and we’re also announcing the album, called Soul Man. I’ve put out a few EPs before, but this is the first full-length album.”

Incredible. I can’t wait to hear it. So… I have to ask, who is she? And is she the one?

Jonathan: “She is my girlfriend, and she is indeed the one. This song was written pretty soon after we first met, I think a couple months and you know, I try to write songs for the most part that are equal parts personal and equal parts relatable to people who have no idea who I am. To me, the chorus lyrics are how I felt personally at the time when I met her, but the verses tell a bit of a story that can be more outwardly reaching to new people.”

Is this the happiest track on the album?

Jonathan: “Definitely. I think it’s the happiest song I’ve ever written. I don’t know what would top it, maybe ‘The Drive In’? I feel like those are the two most joyful songs I’ve written. But yeah, definitely the happiest track on the album. I wanted it to feel like what falling in love feels like, but sonically and musically in a different way than I’ve done love songs before. It’s groovy, it’s poppy, there’s a cool bounce to it. It’s light, it feels like cracking open an ice cold Coca-Cola on a hot summer day.”

If “She’s The One!” was hypothetically released in a bygone era, what year do you think it would be most at home?

Jonathan: “That’s a really good question. I feel like maybe 1972 feels right. But also too, it feels like it could’ve come out in 2010. I feel like this is the most John Mayer-y song I’ve put out before.”

Why do you think it is so easy for you to write love songs?

Jonathan: “I feel like in a way, for most artists, love songs are the easiest songs to write. Not that I’m doing it to be easy, but if you look at most music from the early 1900s they were all love songs. Music started diving into deeper concepts in the late ‘60s when social activism and major political things were happening and people had the courage to speak up and go against the grain and challenge things. But yeah, for the most part music from the ‘30s to the early ‘60s were romantic songs, whether it was love or heartbreak or the in-between.

“I grew up listening to love songs by my songwriting heroes and it sounds cheesy, but if we’re trying to make sense of life at all, like why we are here in the first place, at its root love is at the center of it. For me, I just like to write about love whether I’m writing by myself or with collaborators. If it isn’t a personal song about love then I think it’s fun to make up a story and create an old Hollywood movie in my head about love. I hope to keep writing them for a long time to come.”

Do you feel a responsibility to ‘bring romance back’?

Jonathan: “I don’t feel it as an artist, but more so as a man to bring it back.”

Go on…

Jonathan: “You liked that one, Julian? I think the song is a vessel for what the artist believes. The movie is a vessel for the director and the canvas is the vessel for what the painter sees in his head, and creates with his hand. But I don’t think the artist has a responsibility to do anything other than what they are called to do. On the subject of romance, I feel more of a responsibility as a grownup with maturity in today’s world to be a gentleman and bring romance back.

“It’s taken me time to learn the right way to do that, but at this stage in my life I do feel that a lot of people are forgetting manners and being cordial and that men have an obligation to do that. If I can do that in a non-pushy way via music then that’s a win-win.”

Do you think your fans, and listeners in general, are craving human connection in our algorithm-driven world?

Jonathan: “Absolutely, I think now more than ever. Whenever we see the news or open our phones, we see a new announcement of an AI partnership or integration into something we use daily that, for the most part, none of us have asked for. It’s like, can we have one thing that is solely human at this point? As we keep diving into that world, it’s just realigning with the mission statement I’ve had since 2023: there are going to be more and more people seeking a community based on human touch and connection with art that is made with the sentiment of love and humanity.”

How does it feel to be so close to releasing your debut full-length album?

Jonathan: “I feel excited. I’m trying to figure out how vulnerable I want to answer this… I definitely feel like in this past year I’ve been in a bit of a rut in terms of social media and promoting, things that all artists are working their way through, so I’m trying to give every song their due attention because I’ve never put out a record with this many songs and I believe in all of them. It’s a little easier when you’re just doing singles and can let each one shine, but when you put out a bunch of songs at once you have to give a little bit of love to each one.

“I’m excited, I’m nervous. Usually for artists, putting out their debut album is a really big deal, but for me it doesn’t feel that way. It’s not a negative thought at all, I think honestly in the past three years I’ve released so much music across multiple projects that in general releasing stuff doesn’t have the same weight for me that it used to.

“I remember a little while ago when I would put out songs I’d stay up all night and feel the adrenaline, my heartbeat going, kind of like that screaming, crying, throwing up meme. But over time, in the best way possible, it’s now like going to the grocery store or getting an oil change like, ‘oh, now it’s time to do that again.’ So yeah, I’m excited.”

I have a couple more for you.

Jonathan: “These are great questions, Julian. Keep ‘em coming.”

Do you think you’ll ever go back to the 1950’s sound of your first two records?

Jonathan: “The question everyone is dying to know… I never want to make the same record over and over again. To me, that sounds like a death sentence. Since I’ve started putting out music I’ve gone from pop singer-songwriter to ‘80s Springsteen to crooner and then with other projects I’ve gone from Rage Against The Machine and Beastie Boys-style to a Kings of Leon and Sam Fender vibe. I’ve tried to cover the full spectrum of my influences, so I always want to keep it fresh.

“Soul Man felt like the perfect evolution from Loverboy to touch on some sounds and palettes that I haven’t before and see how far we could stretch the ‘retro meets modern’ production approach. But I do think as an artist that sound from the ‘50s is definitely a sweet spot for me in terms of writing and my voice. If there is an era I want to spend more time in, it’s that. There’s so much music from the ‘50s that inspires me.

“I want to do a jazz record, I want to do a rockabilly record, I want to do an outlaw country record like Marty Robbins. I think there’s a way to move forward and keep the heart of it in that ‘50s territory, but make each record a little bit different.”

Anything you can share about the much awaited Jukebox Jam 3?

Jonathan: “So for anyone new that doesn’t know what Jukebox Jam is: we do it one night a year, now in its third iteration, and it is essentially a retro dance party or prom night where we decorate the venue, all the guests dress up, we have fun interactives and vendors, and it’s kind of a night for all nostalgia lovers and hopeless romantics to come together, leave their phones in their pockets, dance and meet new people. We try to take attendees back in time to an era in the past and we feature a mix of local and out of town acts to play a blend of covers from the ‘50s and ‘60s as well as original music that matched the vibe.

“I think this one is gonna be the best one yet. We have a really great lineup, including some artists from Detroit that we’re really excited about. There’s an amazing music scene happening right now in the home of Motown. We’re going to double down on all the elements that made the first two Jukebox Jams so special while also moving to a new venue, which is going to be The Mil at Cannery Hall. We’re going to have more space and freedom to make it as immersive and cool of a night as we can. There’s 30 shows any given evening in Nashville, so we want people to have an experience they can’t get anywhere else, for that night only at Jukebox Jam.”

Well, I’ll certainly be there.

Jonathan: “As will I, Julian. As will I.

Any parting message you have for the readers?

Jonathan: “About music or in general?”

Anything.

Jonathan: “I remember watching an interview with… what’s his name? He sings ‘Werewolves In London’ I think?”

Oh, Warren Zevon!

Jonathan: “Yeah, you like Warren Zevon, Julian? He’s got a few good songs.”

He’s got a couple.

Jonathan: “Yeah, I remember he was giving an interview on a late night show and was asked if he had any life advice to give to the crowd and he said, ‘no matter where you are or what you’re doing in life, remember each day to have a good sandwich.’

“I remember my dad showing me that clip when I was a kid. I think about it often the older I get. To anyone reading this today, have a good sandwich. Have a good meal. Have a good bite.”

Best sandwich in Nashville?

Jonathan: “Probably the Little Hats chicken parm sub. That would be my number one.”

Great choice. Well, thanks for your time Jonathan. I know you’re very busy. We’ll be seeing you at Jukebox Jam 3 and good luck with the new album.

Jonathan: “Thanks for having me, Julian. It was an honor.”