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Vintage Vibes: Jonathan Plevyak Brings Retro Rock and Soul to Nashville

today17 July 2024 15 5

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Vintage Vibes: Jonathan Plevyak Brings Retro Rock and Soul to Nashville

Growing up surrounded by the classic sounds of Elvis, Roy Orbison, and Billy Holiday, it’s no surprise that musician Jonathan Plevyak has a deep appreciation for vintage rock and soul music.

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    Jonathan Plevyak Kat Y (Ginge)

Grandma’s Old Tunes Inspire Maryland Songwriter’s Retro-Infused Sound

The Maryland native, who now calls Nashville home, recently talked about his musical journey and the inspiration behind his unique retro-inspired sound.

“My grandma would always have those old tunes playing in the house,” Jonathan reminisced. “That was my introduction to the kind of music that would later become a huge influence on my own songwriting.”

Jonathan’s passion for music was further ignited when his father took him to an AC/DC concert in middle school, sparking his love for classic rock. “That concert just blew my mind,” he said. “That’s when I knew I wanted to get into music myself.”

After receiving his first guitar in high school, Jonathan began honing his skills as a singer-songwriter, drawing inspiration from artists like Tom Petty and John Mayer. But it wasn’t until he moved to Nashville, right before the COVID-19 pandemic, that Jonathan truly found his musical niche.

“During the lockdown, my friends and I had all this free time on our hands, so we just started jamming together,” Jonathan explained. “That’s when I really fell back in love with the vintage rock and soul sound.”

Inspired by the energy and authenticity of classic acts like Elvis and Motown, Jonathan assembled a talented group of musicians in Nashville and began crafting his own unique take on retro-inspired tunes. “I wanted to modernize that old-school vibe, to give it a fresh new feel,” he said.

Retro-Romantic Charm: Jonathan’s Anticipated ‘Lover Boy’ EP to Captivate Listeners

Jonathan gave us the scoop on his highly anticipated new EP “Lover Boy,” which is set to be released later this year.

The EP follows Jonathan’s debut project, “Made in the Shade,” which he describes as a more eclectic mix of 50s-inspired sounds, from bluesy rock to Motown-flavoured tunes. But with “Lover Boy,” the 24-year-old artist aims for a more cohesive, conceptual vision.

“I wanted to make something that felt like if Frank Sinatra or Ricky Nelson were an artist in 2024,” Jonathan explained. “It’s a loose concept album, with each song representing a different ‘chapter’ in the story of this fictional ‘Lover Boy’ character and the various themes of love.”

The project’s lead single, “The Drive-in”, which Ginger and Nuts’ listeners have been raving about, kicks off this narrative. “It’s all about falling in love – that innocent summertime feeling,” said Jonathan. “I was really inspired by the movie American Graffiti and that whole Ricky Nelson, ‘Travelin’ Man’ vibe.”

And the singer-songwriter isn’t just relying on the music to tell the story. He’s collaborated with a talented illustrator friend to create a 1950s-style digital comic that will roll out alongside the EP, further developing the “Lover Boy” storyline.

“I just feel like a lot of modern music isn’t very romantic anymore,” Jonathan mused. “So I wanted to write something fun and heartfelt that captures that classic, timeless feel of falling head-over-heels.”

Listeners can look forward to the next “Lover Boy” chapter when the second single drops on August 2nd. In the meantime, watch for those digital comic teasers – this is one love story you won’t want to miss.

Written by: Kat Y (Ginge)

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