We were lucky to catch up with Jonas Woods recently and have shared our conversation below.
Jonas , so great to have you on the platform and excited to have you share your wisdom with our community today. Communication skills often play a powerful role in our ability to be effective and so we’d love to hear about how you developed your communication skills.
Music is a strange medium. It has the ability in some ways to lull the listener into a sense of euphoria. Where time and space almost disappear. Those moments are intrinsically human experiences. But they only last a moment. From one song to another there are these moments that are left bare. What does an artist do when the momentum shifts into a slump? Does one charisma carry the moment? Perhaps, but the truth, as far as I’ve experienced it, is that it requires a great deal of calm and effective communication. The development of my communication skills are derived from being on stage, in front of people from the age of 5. The fear of being in front of a crowd was long gone by the time I began to tour as a full time recording artist. The first step to developing a skill in communication is removing the element of fear. Understand that the audience desires for us to keep the momentum moving. I found the easiest form of communication with a new audience every night was humor and relatability. I know that if I’m able to get people to relate on an intimate level to what I’m talking about or what a song is about, they’ll be more inclined to stay along for the ride. If I interject humor and personally deprecating stories that remind the listener that I’m a normal human being. That I hold no special abilities beyond their reach, I can touch their heart. As a Christian recording artist, my highest priority is to encourage people to seek after the heart of God. To recognize that they are created with a purpose and that despite their lives not playing out the way they may have hoped, God is not surprised and He is still in control.
I enjoy meeting and developing relationship with my listeners. To have a “fan base” makes me cringe. Having people who know me, my heart, my mission, fills my life with joy. When those people are engaged in the music, in the story, they are friends for life. Communicating with people who come to listen, who feel like they know me because they know my heart is rich! They feel that way because they do know me!
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
My wife and I started a band in 2004 called Farewell June. Those years had us touring coast to coast and overseas, playing at times nearly 150 shows a year. We garnered mild success as we were played on MTV. When the band broke up, my wife Becky and I kept moving forward as solo recording artists.
A few years into the new journey Becky was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. It was the most devastating news we could have imagined. Having a 4 year old and 3 month old at the time made it even more dramatic. We shut down music for the better part of a year as Becky underwent treatment. And as of today, she is 100% cancer free! Thank you Jesus!
We now tour coast to coast and overseas full time as a family. It is the joy of my life. I am producing records for artists and helping to write new albums all the time. We will be releasing new music soon! Our music is found everywhere online under JONAS WOODS.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
3 things that deeply impacted my career starts with support. Without the understanding that my family had my back. That it was ok to take a leap of faith and fail, I’d never have survived this. Secondly, I knew that this wasn’t something that I was supposed to try for a time and get out. I knew early on that this was to be a career. More specifically, a ministry. With that understanding at the beginning, I knew that the key to survival would be longevity. Staying power as an artist is paramount to “success.”
Thirdly for me was a deep routed faith. I don’t strive for fame or recognition. I long to share love. To make a serious attempt to bring peace and to give hope. That stems directly from my faith.
Starting out in this career there are many snares and traps. I know this from personal experience. Protect yourself by surrounding yourself with people who have your best interests in mind. Work on your craft. Strive to be the best version of yourself that you can be. Fall in love with the art and NEVER take yourself too seriously. Nothing is more of a turn of than an artist who thinks they’re special.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I am always looking for new or old artists to work with. It’s an absolute pleasure to help other artists develop a new idea. If you’re a new artist, feel free to reach out to me. I have a papa bear heart. I genuinely want to help people navigate the deep ocean is the music industry.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jonaswoods.net
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/jonaswoodsmusic
- Facebook: https://Facebook.com/jonaswoods
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
