Us at Original Rock are massive fans of Jonny Ong here, and the announcement of his upcoming full length (Isolation is released on the 16th April 2021) was met with excitement in the (virtual) office. The Ballad of J and J is the lead single for this upcoming release, and it’s a spectacular jewel in Ong’s crown. In parenthesis, called “(Are We Over)” and tagged as ‘cinematic rock’ on Soundcloud, this song lives up to its a dramatic tale of heartbreak in Jonny’s unique and beloved style.
“Are we over like the past? Are we over like yesterday?” This is the heart-breaking refrain of the song, which allows us a peek into the mind of a man trying to put his life back together through art. The lyrics act like a personal diary, something so secretive and personal that it seems we are privy to his private rooms as – it feels – we watch him paint pictures for us in song form.
But where Jonny Ong truly shines, as ever, is the exquisite instrumentation and arrangement. The textures created through his production is a luscious mixture of hand pan, strings, layers of vocal harmonies all with Ong’s powerful voice sitting atop the expertly crafted mix. The effect is one of sumptuous excess, something reflecting the overwhelming nature of these emotions that he experiences in the wake of the most painful of breakups.
Throughout the releases from his upcoming album Isolation, Ong has been painting a picture of an artist who creates beauty from pain, revelling in the emotions provoked by a truly life changing experience. He is determined to have something to show for all the hardships he has experienced, determined to create a net positive in his life and his art.
In Ong’s own words, “if you have something negative in your life, try and do something positive to get over it. No matter what happens, there’s always light at the end of the tunnel.”
‘The Ballad of J and J’ is out everywhere tomorrow, with the full album, Isolation, out on the 16th April 2021.