Jon McLaughlin - Forever If Ever

Jon McLaughlin - Hoosier-based piano-man says he knew his major label time was up when "I heard myself say fourth quarter budgets" in the middle of some leather-chaired executive meeting. Now happily suit-free and independent, McLaughlin returns with a dozen new songs...self-producing and utilizing his touring band instead of label-directed session players, McLaughlin says of his new project, “It’s the first time that I’ve listened to something at the end of each day in the studio and I loved it, every single day..." // Release: Forever If Ever (Just out, independent) // Sounds like: nicely textured piano pop may be almost excruciatingly sincere and edge-free but that's not to say there's not some well-honed, razor-sharp melodies laid out with a breathless sprint...captures much of what makes McLaughlin's live shows such a skillful display of showmanship and songcraft, all written in bold, colorful letters...

Quote: "It feels really good to have a record that I’m working on that I can really deliver wholeheartedly knowing that the fans are getting a piece of me,” he continues. “There isn’t a note on the record that I didn’t spend hours scrutinizing over, or at the very least sitting with and playing over and over again. I feel like it’s a real connection to me." What we like: "Summer Is Over" should dispel any doubts as to why McLaughlin is the real deal -- a nicely nuanced piano intro fades as the Fray-Coldplay thrust kicks in, the gently sanded vocals melded in stunning harmony..."Maybe It's Over", featuring nice vocal interplay with Xenia (from TV's The Voice), is one of those classic, defiantly mainstream wide-screen pop songs that they just don't play on the radio anymore...

Jon McLaughlin - "Summer Is Over" (from Forever If Ever)

Jon McLaughlin - "Maybe It's Over" (w/ Xenia) (from Forever If Ever)

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Jon McL is one of the most amazing singer-songwriters working today; seeing him live is an unforgettable experience!