A New Year’s Eve party four years ago would end up setting the course for Olivia Jones’ music career, one which finds her heading to Nashville on May 1 with an artist development deal with a well-known producer.
That party was hosted by her mother, local musician Liz Grove, and attended by a number of the State College area’s musical performers.
‘She had a bunch of musicians over and everybody was jamming,’ Jones said. ‘I sang a song with someone and they said ‘Hey, you should do this women-in-rock thing.’ ‘
That would be the benefit concert ‘A Celebration of Women in Rock,’ at The State Theatre in January 2013. It was her first real public gig and caught the ear of longtime local musician J.R. Mangan, who was looking for a new singer for the J.R. Mangan Band.
Mangan asked her to join the band and they’ve been performing regularly since then. Around the same time, Jones, a Penn State student at the time, joined the Pennharmonics a cappella group.
‘Those two outlets started for me at the same time, like within three months going from doing nothing to gigging four times a week,’ Jones said.
By 2016 Jones knew she wanted to pursue a music career. As an integrative arts major with a focus on music technology and arts entrepreneurship, she landed an internship with Castle Recording Studios. While she was there, she recorded eight songs with veteran musician and producer Mac Gayden.
When she left at the end of August, Gayden offered her a contract.
‘The contract is in effect from the day I move down. And from that day it’s a yearlong contract, basically an artist development agreement where Mac is investing money and time into creating an album with me,’ she explained. ‘Hopefully we will connect with a publishing company or a record company.’
When she first thought about a career in music, she didn’t think Nashville would be her destination. As many do, she associated it with country music, which isn’t her focus. But she would soon learn that all kinds of genres are being produced in the Music City.
It also afforded her the ideal environment.
‘I’ve always been interested in Nashville because as a musician you really only have three options to start out with. LA, New York and Nashville are the three meccas of music,’ she said. ‘Nashville always had an appeal to me because I’m kind of a country girl at heart – not musically, but from a landscape perspective. I love being outdoors and rolling hills. I grew up in Boalsburg on Mount Nittany. I wanted the excitement of the city but I wanted room to spread out and explore.’
Her sound, meanwhile, is still developing. As she grows as a songwriter, Jones said she sometimes finds herself in a soul-funk style, but often leans toward a heavier, blues and rock sound.
‘I’m just starting out when it comes to developing and creating my sound,’ she said. ‘I’m still in the process of figuring out who I am and who I want to be as a person. Now that I’m starting to write it’s going hand in hand. I’m figuring out where I want to be, who I want to be and how I want to sound. It’s really pretty eclectic right now.’
Jones, a State College Area High School graduate who earned her Penn State degree in December, credits a legion of local musicians for helping her grow as a musician and prepare for her career.
But it all started with her mom.
‘She’s just really been the person who motivated me and pushed me to do these things,’ Jones said. ‘I didn’t want to do the Pennharmonics audition and she said ‘You need to get your butt off the couch and go do it.’ I couldn’t be happier that she did that.’
In recent months, Jones has been performing in a trio with Grove and Steve Christensen. They’ll perform together for Jones’ farewell show from 7-9 p.m. on Tuesday at American Ale House.
Grove and Mangan, meanwhile, are just some of the local musicians who have helped guide Jones.
‘Really there are so many musicians I seek advice from,’ she said. ‘I know what I’m getting myself into, but I’ve just always been someone who looked to people who are older and have more experience for advice. All of the local musicians in the area that I’ve been able to hang out with and play with have been great in giving me advice and little pieces here and there that I’ll take with me.’
And that advice has made her all the more ready for her move.
Growing up in the State College area and going to college at Penn State, she feels like she ‘delayed leaving the nest’ but she believes that worked out for the best for her personal development and her career.
‘I’m incredibly excited. I’m nervous too,’ she said. ‘I’m nervous, but I think I’m ready. Everybody in the community who has supported me through growing up and helped me through everything has been influential in grounding me, not only giving me a platform to practice but also guiding me in the right direction. I know if I had moved there when I was 19 I’d just be a hot mess. I think it’s a good time now.’
IF YOU GO
What: Olivia Jones Farewell Show (with Liz Grove and Steve Christensen)
When: 7-9 p.m. Tuesday (April 25)
Where: American Ale House, 821 Cricklewood Drive
Details: Reservations can be made by calling (814) 237-9701
Here’s the JR & Olivia Band performing Prince’s ‘Purple Rain’ at Cafe 210 West in October 2016.
