JONO is his new project, and here we tell you what it's all about. | Jonatan Samuelsson Never Rests!!!
He’s not only the bassist for Narnia, a band that will soon be releasing new music. He also recently worked with Starmen on a new album, which we’ve already given you a sneak peek of. And as if that weren’t enough, Jonatan Samuelsson also finds time to present his own project, simply called JONO.
What is JONO? It’s the solo AOR project of Jonatan “Jono” Samuelsson, bassist for the bands Narnia and Starmen. This project began as a creative celebration before Jonatan’s 50th birthday, together with his Narnia bandmates CJ Grimmark (guitars, bass, keyboards) and Anders Köllerfors (drums). What started as a one-off idea quickly grew beyond expectations, receiving an overwhelming amount of support and encouragement. Grateful and inspired, Jonatan has decided to continue the journey, from the heart, with thanks to all who have been a part of it.
Regarding this new venture, JONO (or simply Jonatan Samuelsson) told us that “For several years, I actually planned to release a solo album before I turned 50 — but I could never quite decide what musical direction it should take. It wasn’t until I got closer to my birthday that everything finally clicked. I ended up recording two songs in a style that has meant the most to me since I was young: Melodic rock with strong 80s influences. We even played them live at my birthday party, and the reaction blew me away. The songs have received amazing feedback from all over the world and have already passed 100,000 streams on Spotify. That really inspired me to continue.”
However, Jonatan also added and clarified that “Narnia is my main band, and Starmen is a side project where I’m one of four members. But JONO is something else – it’s my personal solo project, where I create the music that is closest to my heart, together with a couple of my closest friends: CJ Grimmark and Anders Köllerfors.”
For those who want to find out what JONO is all about, two singles are available for digital release. One of them is “Don’t Look Back,” with that vibe so focused on the music of the ’80s. A true journey through time. A song that is sure to transport you to the most creative and original era of rock and music. The sound hits hard. Guitars and keyboards at the forefront and a simple, catchy structure make “Don’t Look Back” an unmissable track.
Also available is “Silver Screen,” closer to hard rock with an undeniable influence from bands like Europe, conveying the strength and vitality that rock seems to have lost. The vocals in all cases are provided by JONO himself, who demonstrates his great qualities as a singer, which is no small detail.
In any case, JONO himself explains that “Europe made a huge impact on me when I was young, so they’re definitely one of the big influences behind JONO. I’ve always loved those 80s-style harmonies and melodic hooks, and you can hear some of those musical references throughout the songs. At the same time, I also listen a lot to the “modern 80s rock” scene – bands like Nestor, Stardust and Miss Behaviour. They capture that classic feeling but with a fresh production, and I really enjoy that blend. So the musical direction for JONO is melodic rock with strong 80s DNA, but presented in a way that still feels modern and relevant today.”
JONO is not just Jonatan Samuelsson. He is accompanied by CJ Grimmark (guitarist for Narnia and participant in various projects), who handles guitars, bass, and keyboards, as well as production, mixing, and mastering. Anders Köllerfors (drummer for Narnia) also contributes on percussion.
The two excellent songs released as singles inevitably raise the question of whether there is a possibility of a full album. “Yes, it seems like the plan definitely is to continue,” Jonatan assures us. “The response to the two singles was overwhelming, much bigger than I expected, so that motivated me to keep going. I’m working on three new songs right now together with CJ Grimmark and Anders Köllerfors, who also joined me for the recordings. There’s no official release date yet, but the songs are taking shape. When it’s ready, it’s ready – I don’t want to rush it, but I’m excited!”; It’s just a matter of waiting for what looks like it will be a great album.
Jonatan Samuelsson not only works with Narnia and Starmen, he also owns his own company called, as you might imagine, JONO, which, in addition to being a record label, is also a distributor and marketing channel for the bands Jonatan works with. That leads us to think that this guy never seems to rest. “It may look like I never rest,” he clarifies, “but the truth is that I often work very slowly with my projects. I rarely release anything until it has really landed. All the JONO songs have taken a long time to shape, because I’m not the kind of person who can just throw ideas out quickly. I like things to be thoughtful and well-crafted. At the same time, I guess I always have something creative going on in the background. I’m grateful that God has given me a creative gift, and I hope I can use it in the right way — to create music and projects that point beyond myself. I want people to feel that there is more to life than just what we do; there is a loving Creator behind everything, and He is the one I want to reflect in all that I do.”
And in response to our observation that he never rests, Jonatan seems to accept our point of view on the matter. “And to prove your point…It’s actually midnight in Sweden right now, and I’m currently building a new website for one of my record labels. So yes, maybe I really don’t rest as much as I should!” This shows that JONO is indeed an active guy all the time, but he exudes quality in everything he undertakes.
While we wait for news about Narnia, and of course a future album from his solo project, we leave you to listen to the two singles released by JONO, and of course, his social media coordinates, so you can follow him and find out everything this guy is up to, which is no small feat, I can assure you!
https://www.facebook.com/jonobandofficial
https://www.instagram.com/jono_band_official
