Jonah's Onelinedrawing

This was an interview that was kinda weird to put together. I mean, I talk to Jonah on his web board (go to www.onelinedrawing.com), so it was odd doing an official "interview" but here's what came out of it. For those of us who don't know, Jonah plays a good pop style, "Cheap Trick meets Nick Drake, or a boy Sinead O'Connor", as he puts it. Normally it's just him and a guitar, but sometimes friends show up.

Now it doesn't really seem like most people know about the Far situation and what Onelinedrawing is, can you tell me where you are as in bands/projects?
My favorite thing to say about Far is that if we ever do things again, it will be for all the right reasons. We just always had an agreement that if it wasn't totally happy and positive for any of us, we'd take a break. I really have no plans. It's not that I don't like plans, but I've learned to just make music and see where it goes. It may sound goofy, but it's worked.

So you've been touring, how has that been going?
It's been great. I just got off the plane, so I'm still a little bit wacked out. Crazy year, from February to the end of May, I will have played 60 shows throughout 60% of the country, and the UK. I sometimes wonder about the sanity of it, but I get better, I have fun and I continue to learn and figure out what I want to do.

Your music has changed since the Emo-core of Far to the more pop of Onelinedrawing. Was it a conscious move, or progression?
I don't consider Onelinedrawing to be that different from what I put into Far really. Just trying to make music that's not stupid. With Far that was more a rock thing, and this is more melodic and song-oriented. I think that one thing that has happened is that I would run away from certain subjects because it would be considered too poppy. I had to just get over that and say I'm going to make music. A turning point was the chorus to "14-41"(sketchy E.P. #1) and I was scared because it was such a pop song. But I finally said fuck this, and wrote one of my favorite songs. I've decided to just let myself write what I want and let people choose whether or not they want it.

On the Web site, there is a message board that's become somewhat of a community, rather than a rumor mill and a place for people to talk about how much they love you. What made you decide to make a board like that?
I've always had the ideal of just getting past the usual lines between artist and audience, and it sort of happened miraculously, people just were really eccited about it. I normally don't think of myself as one who makes new ideas, but I don't think I've ever seen an artist make a guest book and regularly be a presence on it. The good things about it are that I think people realize that they can't post bullshit and go unchecked, but at the same time I think people realize they don't have to listen to me, I'm not going to go flame them. I consider it a house that I built, and that we all inhabit. I tell people, pretend it's my living room and I have friends over, so don't come in and fuck with it, but while you're here, have fun.

What do you think about mp3s?
They don't bother me, I see the Internet as a tool and I think the net is amazing. I've put the label on the first Far tapes and my old acoustic tapes that say "unauthorized duplication is ok if it's for a friend". I think it all goes back to what kind of relationships you make.

I agree, I can't see myself stealing from you because I've gotten to know how you are.
Right. If you create a feeling of trust, then it encourages higher ethic. Laws are generally bottom level ethics, you're supposed to be higher than the level that the law promotes. I'm sure that some people have gotten my stuff for free, but I still would imagine that people want to pay, especially if they know how I do things, and if I make it easy enough and pleasant enough, then they will be interested. Thanks to the Internet, I'm able to get it around the world that if they want this shit, they can buy it at a reasonable price and pretty easily.

Why do you prefer living room shows over clubs? Aren't they more draining because of the intimacy?
They all wear me out, but it also fills me up. To know these people are here and that this is working is so good. I've made some money this year, and to have as much fun as I've had, and make a living, it's stunning to me.

So your still having fun and payin the bills?
Yea, it's the most fun thing that I can think of to do right now.

How do you react when people tell you how you've influenced them?
It's really, really humbling. I'm still just getting used to this, people come to me and tell me that things I've done or been a part of have been the best thing to them ever. It's baffling to me. And to these people all I can do is say thank you so much because it's truly humbling, the last thing that comes to me is ego, but I'm not guilty about it, I'm happy to play that part in someone's life.

What's some of the stuff your listening to these days? What's in the CD player?
I was turned on to this band Wheat, they where on a mix CD that my friend made me. Also, this Swedish band called The Wannadies, which is a sugar-pop thing. I recently stayed at the house owned by the friends that made the CD, so I put the CDs onto my computer, I'll go find the full records as soon as I can.

What's up with Virgin/Immortal? They gave you some cash, and you've got plenty of songs. You've put out two E.P.'s (Sketchy Eps 1&2, both available on the site and at shows), when will we see a full length?
I'm talking to a lot of labels, to start the rumor mill, Immortal/Virgin, Mojo...

Mojo? isn't that a ska label?
For the most part, but there's a guy named Eric there that helped us when he was with Immortal, so I work with people whom I've kept in touch with this whole time. I'd heard Mark and Tom(Blink 182) had said nice things about Far on the radio, and they I figured they'd be great on Visitor (the forever-in-the-works full length album idea), for some of the pop songs, because I think they're a fucking stunningly good pop band. Anyway, I called their management and ended up talking to Tom for a while, so as we speak I'm sending them some demos. So who knows? A lot of weird stuff going around. There's also a New York - based internet label called eMagine, they're doing some neat things. And SOME Records, which is run by Walter from Quicksand and some other cool people. I just want to find the best way to do this, whether it's alone or with a little label, or a big one.

So where do you see OLD going?
Straight to the top, baby (laughs). I have absolutely no idea, and I really enjoy that.

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