We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jonathan Cyphers. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jonathan below.
Hi Jonathan, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
I think the most important question, especially when entering into a creative endeavor that is meant to be shared (like a music project), is: “why am I doing this?” The answer to this question helps define purpose, gives resolve when the creative process gets difficult, and helps clarify direction or even what to do when there’s a fork in the proverbial road. There are a lot of ways to do anything, especially in the creative world, so the “why” has always helped me narrow things down so I don’t get decision paralysis.
I found my “why” when I stepped back and saw the pattern of themes in the songs that I wrote, as well as recognized what weighed on my heart most when writing or thinking about who I was writing for. I could write songs about really anything, but I found myself most moved by songs that directly addressed the struggles we face in life with being present and finding genuine hope to continue getting back up and pressing forward after getting knocked down by life and circumstance. This was solidified for me after sharing the first few songs I’d written with close friends and family and hearing how the songs impacted them. The way they felt seen and encouraged was and is why I continue to write and release the songs that I write.
I want people to feel the hope that’s in me, even in the midst of their most difficult days.
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?
I am a Nashville based singer-songwriter. I was born and raised in New Hampshire and those roots, along with my Christian upbringing, deeply influence and impact my sound and the message of my music. I have a deep appreciation for all types of music, but there’s something special to me about folk/Americana music (which is what I grew up listening to). The importance of storytelling and creative lyricism to talk about even the most simple, day to day things has not been lost on me. If anything, it’s challenged me to develop my own abilities. I’m also a fan of alternative and pop music – artists like Bon Iver, Coldplay, and Needtobreathe were all very influential in my early days of songwriting. My goal with my artistry is to take the thoughtfulness and creative language of folk/Americana and bring it into the alternative/pop scene. I recently (July 14) released my first EP, entitled “The Comeback Kid”, which was funded via a Kickstarter. The project consists of five singles that cover a variety of topics, but are all connected in one large conversation about life, it’s ups and downs, and finding genuine hope in the midst of it all. My goal as a songwriter is to address the tension of living, the things that we all struggle with (like loneliness, longing for relationship, distraction and the struggle to be present), and not detract from the conversation by minimizing the weight of things with a brief “but everything’s awesome.” Instead, I do my best to lean into the complicated reality and tension of life and look for how to infuse it with hope.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I think the three most important qualities I’ve found to be most impactful in this season are patience, knowledge of who I am, and perseverance. There are a lot of “short cuts” in any industry, but that doesn’t mean that’s the right move to make. It’s very easy to make bad decisions if you are motivated by fear or desperation. It’s good to feel passion and desire to move forward, but patience tempers that urgency and helps you keep your head clear, so you can make wise decisions.
The knowledge of who I am has helped me find direction and gain clarity in the midst of all the decisions that I’ve need to make. There are a lot of ways to go about doing anything, but just because it worked for one person doesn’t mean it will work for you. I’ve found that it’s best to create as you would create, rather than trying to copy or replicate what someone else has done. Inspiration is useful in helping develop “your sound,” but that’s not the same as trying to duplicate what has already been done. You need to know who you are and what motivates you (your “why”) in order for any creative endeavor to be successful.
Even in the midst of knowing who you are/why you do what you do and having patience in the process, perseverance is the ultimate resource to keep things on track to the end. Generally speaking, most people quit just before they accomplish their goal. Perseverance gives you that little extra to be able to cross the finish line.
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
I think the biggest obstacle I’m facing right now is raising awareness of my music in a market that is pretty saturated. The music industry is a competitive world and it is near improbable to find success by yourself. There are many routes to raising awareness, but I’ve found in the past and believe that the best course of action is to find collaborators and advocates who can help strengthen the areas that I am most weak in marketing my music. Advocacy and connections are huge, so this is something I’ve been directly focusing on now that I have an EP out.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://cyphersmusic.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/cyphersmusic
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/cyphersmusic
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@cyphersmusic
- Other: https://tiktok.com/@cyphersmusic
Image Credits
Jeremy Cowart Alaina Broyles Grace Graber Isaac Pittman
