"Friend Speaks My Mind"

Stories from Mixed Vice Work – #1: “Grab a Pen”

Posted in Mixed Vice Work, Recording, Songwriting with tags Aesop Rock, Hip Hop, Music, Poetry, Quakerism, Spoken Word on June 15, 2009 by Jon Watts

Greetings!

This is the first of a series of five brief essays reflecting on my process of writing the new EP, Mixed Vice Work. In order to help make sense of the project and in an effort to further include listeners in my process, I’ll be sharing four more in the coming months – each in reference to a specific song from the EP.

Jon putting the finishing touches on his new EP.
As you may know from having watched the promotional video for the new EP, Mixed Vice Work is an ambitious project… reflecting on themes previously explored and turning old ideas entirely on their heads.

Each essay will contain two sections: the 1st – a brief history of…

“Friend Speaks My Mind” Study Guide

Posted in Christianity, Quakerism, The Art of Fully Being with tags Chiristianity, FGC, Music, Quakerism on June 8, 2009 by Jon Watts

A week ago I got this email from a Meeting in Pennsylvania who had some questions about the song “Friend Speaks My Mind” after I performed for them this past April. Their questions were not uncommon, and so I took the time to respond carefully and in depth and am re-posting the response here. Hope it is helpful.

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Disaster Strikes, Grace prevails

Posted in Mixed Vice Work, Newsletters, PYM, Touring with tags Music, Poetry, Quakerism on May 30, 2009 by Jon Watts

Dear Friends,

Greetings! Another beautiful and blessed arrival of summer is upon us!

When last I wrote, it was to celebrate the success of my travels in the ministry in Philadelphia Yearly Meeting in the months of March and April. Little did I know what lurked just around the corner…

Disaster!

Jon Watts with a smashed car in PYM

Need I say more? Sunday morning, after my final show (opening for Tribe One) in Philadelphia, I walked across the street to start packing my car for the trip home to Virginia. What I discovered – a crushed rear blinker, bent back axle, crumpled trunk and mysterious business card (“I seen everything”) – was a bit unexpected.

And that’s not all!

PYM Tour wrap-up and announcing Mixed Vice Work, a new EP to be release June 25th!

Posted in Mixed Vice Work, PYM, Touring with tags Music, Poetry, Quakerism on May 1, 2009 by Jon Watts

Dear Friends,

I am excited to share with you the end of my PYM trip and to bring you some very special news!

1. PYM tour wrap-up
2. Thanks yous
3. Future travel plans
4. Announcing Mixed Vice Work, to be released in June
5. Pre-order the new EP!
6. Other ways to support my music and ministry

PYM tour- Growth, Inspiration, Process

As I write this newsletter I am preparing for my final performance as an opening act for Tribe 1 on Saturday evening. What an incredible trip this has been! For an artist who is accustomed to playing once or twice a year (or whenever I release a CD), this has been a great opportunity for me to learn what it feels like to be…

Journeying through PYM

Posted in Newsletters, PYM, Touring with tags Music, Quakerism on March 26, 2009 by Jon Watts

Please hit
Dear Friends,

Greetings from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where I have been living for the past month as I visit Meeting after Meeting in this densely populated Quaker homeland!

Since last I wrote, I have shared music and ministry with the good folks at Blacksburg and Roanoke Meetings, the Young Friends of BYM, members of Stony Run and Bethesda Meetings, Lancaster Meeting, Kendal Retirement Community, The Haverford Quarter, Haverford College and Westfield, Chambersburg and Valley Monthly Meetings!

Winter and Spring tour dates!

Posted in BYM, Touring with tags Music, Quakerism on January 6, 2009 by Jon Watts

Dear Fellow Faithful Followers,

A happy new year to you! Here’s hoping that the year two thousand and nine will bring many blessings to you and the folks who hold you dear.

I am writing to let you know about my upcoming adventure(s)!

Thank you, Friends

Posted in BYM, Touring with tags Music, Quakerism on November 22, 2008 by Jon Watts

Dear Friends,

I have just arrived back at my home in North Carolina and the first thing I felt led to do when I sat down was write a letter of gratitude to the Meetings and Friends that I met and shared with on my trip.

As I may have mentioned when I was at your Meeting, the trip I just completed was an experiment. I felt clear in my calling, but following that calling was a leap into…

Greetings from the Road!

Posted in BYM, Touring on October 29, 2008 by Jon Watts

Hello Friends!

Greetings from Arlington, VA, where I am staying with some old friends from the Quaker community I grew up in and their sweet 14 month old daughter Rowan.

I just thought I would write a quick note to connect with those of you who might be interested in how my trip is going.

It’s going great! Today is Wednesday – I am halfway through the tour. I’ve got three shows ahead of me and three…

Jon Watts is coming to Your Town!

Posted in BYM, Touring with tags Music, Quakerism on September 25, 2008 by Jon Watts

Hey folks!

Gosh, last time I sat down to write a newsletter, it was on my birthday. I was in Ashland and had no idea what was going to happen next. All of this crazy transition makes these newsletters a bit difficult to write. :)

This year is looking very promising for my exploration of ministry, music, marketing, etc. I have settled in Chapel Hill, where I am learning from the local…

This is my Birth Day.

Posted in Recording, Songwriting, Spirituality on April 15, 2008 by Jon Watts

…is not just a line from “We are lovers of the Truth”, the song that I’m releasing today. I am releasing the song as a landmark… I turn 25 today.

the song (I should warn you) is not all bells and lollipops and birthday cake. I have been in a difficult and dark place since leaving Pendle Hill, losing a relationship that was very…