Jonathan Sparks, the Atlanta-based rocker, has released a new single titled "The Paint Between," showcasing his exceptional musicianship as a singer, songwriter, and guitarist.
Sparks is no stranger to the music industry, having worked with seasoned producers like Ross Childress and Peter A. Barker, who have collaborated with renowned artists such as Guns N Roses, Fall Out Boy, Jeff Beck, and Black Label Society. Jonathan Sparks musical style is characterized by a heavy blues jam, which he skillfully combines with his insightful lyrics that delve into the timeless subject of lost love.
In "The Paint Between," Jonathan Sparks tells the tale of the lament of a love lost, but he manages to infuse a touch of humour and wry analogies into the song that prevents it from sounding maudlin. The lyrics reflect on the impact of a lover's departure on the Jonathan Sparks life, with lines such as "Before you came around, there was only one season" and "My rivers quit flowing until there was nothing left to plow." The song's chorus repeats the phrase, "You didn't give me no lines to paint in-between," which adds to the wistful and regretful mood of the track.
Jonathan Sparks skillful guitar work is a standout feature of the track, with his heavy bluesy riffs and solos providing the perfect backdrop for his soulful vocals. The instrumentation is layered and dynamics and the songs production is top-notch. With Barker's engineering expertise in the mix, it creates a powerful and polished sound.
"The Paint Between" is a standout track from Jonathan Sparks, showcasing his talents as a musician and songwriter. The song's heavy blues jam, insightful lyrics, and skillful instrumentation make it a must-listen for rock and blues music fans.
Welcome to BuzzMusic, Jonathan Sparks; cheers to letting your soul out on "The Paint Between." Can you tell us about the inspiration behind the lyrics of "The Paint Between"? What emotions and experiences did you draw upon when writing this song?
I was single for a long time, and I had all my shit figured out—everything was in its place; I just felt dry and hollow. There was just too much control. It reminded me of living in LA—there was only one season. I needed the seasons, though. I needed that rain and winter. A woman brought all of that. She brought chaos and life with her. It was hot. I tried to pull that heat into the song; it was a steamy ordeal and thrilling, but eventually it overwhelmed me. Your collaboration with producers Ross Childress and Peter A. Barker has produced outstanding music. Can you talk about your creative process when working with these talented producers and how they influenced the sound of "The Paint Between?"
Peter is like Occham’s razor—he cuts deep into a song's heart and pulls its essence out. It’s such an honour to work with him. Ross has a way of magically making music sound like it did in my head when I was first writing it. It’s hard to describe it. There was an episode of Star Trek, TNG, where these devices would automatically play the music in your head. Ever since I saw that episode, I’ve been trying to find it. Ross is that brilliant. He’s on another level. The song's chorus repeats the phrase, "You didn't give me no lines to paint in-between." Can you explain the significance of this line and how it ties into the song's overall message?
I remember being told I had to paint between the lines as a kid. I was also proud of how good I got at following the rules. Those rules, though, link back to the first verse. If you follow all the lines, you lose; there’s no “life” when everything is so organized. The woman I was with when I wrote the song was all beautiful imagination; she was so deeply rooted to the fantastical that there was no structure, there were no lines that I could paint in, the colours just bled into one another, and we were left with a brown paint blob. But it was magical. I’m grateful for the experience. "The Paint Between" deals with the timeless subject of lost love. How do you hope listeners will connect with the song, and what message do you hope they take away from it?
It’s a vibe, I guess. There’s a real arc to the story in the song, and I hope, at least, that capturing that feeling and story in music is much more rewarding than living through it. What direction do you see your music taking in the future as a musician?
My goal is to write good lyrics that mean something, maybe catch a part of life that we’re going through but hadn’t expressed before, and tie it to good music, music that we can rock out or dance to, or feel. That’s my goal, anyway. Are there any new styles or genres that you are interested in exploring? I love how modern music pulls from so many different genres these days. Pop artists have an emo vibe mixed in with something sultry and jazzy, and rappers have spots that sound like a Miles Davis album from the late 70s and then clock you with a hook like an old country song. I’d love to combine more genres and join in the mind-expanding musical renaissance we’re all hearing.
