Q&A Session with Deborah: Exploring the Impact of Art, Beauty and Friendship In Her Music Journey.
© Deborah Joan Jones - 2024
Today, we have the pleasure of interviewing the talented music artist, Deborah Joan Jones. Join us as we delve into her musical journey, inspirations, and latest projects. Sit back, relax, and enjoy this exclusive interview with Deborah Joan Jones!
GHR: What inspired you to start writing music?
Deborah Jones: I was acting and singing from a young age and later excelled at English Lit in school. I especially enjoyed poetry, which led to writing my own. I loved to sing and began my education in classical vocal training and music theory. When I started composing music, my poetry naturally segued into songwriting.
GHR: Can you tell us more about your experience performing live at gigs and what was the most memorable experience you had?
Deborah Jones: I really enjoy playing live shows. The interaction with the audience is thrilling and addictive. It’s such a fantastic space to meet people, entertain fans, and introduce new people to your music.
Throughout history, music and performance have always been an outlet for people to let loose and escape the reality of life. You can forget the problems and worries of the day-to-day, taking time to make a spiritual connection with the music and the people around you. It’s the most thrilling thing to me, whether I’m in a great crowd of people, all of us together, watching another band, or I’m performing myself for others. It’s my happy place. I love making people feel good with great music and a fantastic show.
The most memorable show was at a bar in Texas. I was in the middle of shooting a music video with my band Stealing Wishes and we needed a bar scene, so we decided to take over a Texas bar for a night. Nobody knew what was happening (apart from the bar owner), and it definitely ruffled some feathers, but in the end, the patrons enjoyed a great show and got to be extras in a music video. We made some fantastic memories and friends that night, and I’m always welcome at the bar, so I must have done something right.
GHR: How is your process of songwriting set around?
Deborah Jones: I’m a singer-songwriter, so I write everything myself—lyrics, melody, and music—so it’s fast. I write on either guitar or piano but usually favor guitar as it’s mobile, and you never know when inspiration will strike. Carrying a piano around didn’t really work for me. You get funny looks.
I’ve written hundreds of songs now, and my craft is honed, so my process is fairly simplified as I don’t have to overthink the technicalities of melody, music, or lyrics. I usually start with an idea, what the song is about, what I want it to communicate, and I grab the guitar. Using my phone’s voice recorder and notes, I start the outline of the verse and chorus, then second verse and the middle 8. I love good hooks in music, and in lyrics, so I usually think with getting some real punch there. I also love great bridges to the chorus, so I make sure that’s interesting and diverting, and develop it from there. I can write 4-5 songs a day, or more if I’m on a project that demands it.
GHR: What motivates you to create music and bring awareness to different situations through your songs?
Deborah Jones: I love music and people, and I love that we’re all here at the same time living this crazy life together. I think people are amazing. Just look around social media, and you find so many seemingly regular, beautiful people hiding huge talent, and a lot of the time, they don’t realize just how incredible they are. Life’s tough, and it can bring people down until they feel small and powerless, and sometimes they need reminding that they’re definitely not. I love writing uplifting songs. That I can bring someone I’ve never met away to another place and make them feel something from an idea I thought up in my head is mind-blowing to me. It’s art. I love it.
GHR: Could you share some insights into your next projects?
Deborah Jones: I’m making plans to get back into the studio to record the next album and looking for people to collaborate with. I was on a long hiatus from my project after Stealing Wishes guitarist, my co-executive producer, and my good friend, David Zychek, died.
The songs will deliver more of the big production tracks that Stealing Wishes is known for—rocking, commercial, and catchy—some rock ballads, and a couple of electrorock type, rock/EDM crossover songs (think the EDM mixes of "Edge of Seventeen" by Stevie Nicks). I’m interested in working with various producers to get a broader sound and looking into working with up-and-coming producers for the EDM tracks. I’m promoting my two already released Stealing Wishes albums, For the Beatless and Taste it Twice, which can be heard streaming on music apps now. I’m excited to start planning shows and to see how the music is received. I have also had great success writing for other artists and am continuing that, with two of my songs now ready to pitch to two best-selling music artists.
Additionally, I’ll be on screen in an upcoming music documentary about David Zychek and his illustrious musical career, from his time signed to Columbia Records with his band Airborne to the amazing projects, bands, musicians, and industry people he worked with throughout his life. The documentary features stars such as Ted Nugent, Brett Tuggle, Kelly Keagy, Brad Gillis, Kirk Tatom, and more. The film is produced and directed by the amazing team at Texas-based Shawtime Productions and is set to premiere at a soon-to-be-announced Film Festival in Summer 2025.
I’ve been so fortunate to work with amazing people on my journey—the far-reaching Stealing Wishes family, award-winning musicians, multi-platinum producers, and record industry professionals. I’m excited for this next chapter where I can give back to the incredible people who have supported me along the way and show them they were right to invest their valuable time and energy into me and Stealing Wishes. And I’m excited for new beginnings, new music, and new followers, fans, and friends.
Thank you to Frank at Goathead Records in LA for finding my music and for inviting me to be a part of the story. Much love. The future is beautiful.
Don't Forget To Follow Deborah On Instagram and Listen To Her Music On All Streaming Platforms
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