We were lucky to catch up with Jon Millsap recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Jon thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

My first album “Premeditated.” This album is comprised of 8 acoustic instrumental songs that encapsulated my sound as an artist at the time . Before deciding to complete this, in July 2018, I had attended a weekend long guitar retreat ran by the world renowned guitarist, Andy McKee. I got to perform a few of my songs in front of an audience including Don Ross, Callum Graham, and Eric Johnson! (All legends in the guitar community ). They each gave me kind words about my music. Feeling validated, I then had the confidence and drive to actually make an album representing all the work I had put into my craft as a finger-style guitarist. For months I spent late nights in a cold and quiet garage recording until I finally was able to release “Premeditated” on Dec 7th 2019.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m Jon Millsap, a 31 year old self taught musician based in Paso Robles, CA. In the past decade I’ve transitioned from bedroom guitarist to nearly full-time singer. It started with open mics and instagram posts of me just playing my guitar and lead to some cool opportunities like opening for Journey and playing at nice hotels and wineries for a living. Growing up my guitar was my therapy, I would lay on my back and close my eyes and discover sounds that expressed how I was feeling. Refining the fruit of that exercise allowed me to create lots of original music which I play when I’m out and about. Of course I also play crowd friendly covers most people recognize, like “In the Summertime” by Mungo Jerry or “Sarah Smile” by Hall and Oates. My clients and employers regularly tell me how the perfect ambiance was set for the occasion at hand. Whether it’s walking down the aisle or dancing the night away, I can provide that service. I use live looping techniques which can add a full band sound when needed or I can play softly and make the ambiance warm and inviting for conversation. I’m grateful for the wineries, breweries, hotels and businesses who allow me to provide for my family by doing what I love most . I am proud to have a residency at Hotel San Luis Obispo, where I sing my Soul, Hip-Hop and Americana tunes every Thursday night from 6-9.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Playing so often can come at a price . I sometimes deal with throat issues. I bartend on my “days off” from music so I’ll go weeks without a day to rest. A few months back I was pretty worn down and found my voice was gone heading into a 5 gig weekend. In these circumstances I’m grateful for my instrumental guitar roots because I can still pull off an entertaining show without singing. It’s hard for me to say no to gigs and have only had to cancel 1 this year thankfully. If there’s one thing to know about me as a musician , it’s that I’m reliable . For better or for worse.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Yes. My first goal a few years ago was to do this for a living. Now that I’ve achieved it, my next goal is to record all of my music and grow a global fan base. I used to tell myself “what a shame it would be if these songs died with me”. That saying helped me push forward when I was working on “Premeditated” and now I’m brining it back for this next phase in my creative journey, where I share not only my guitar but my voice as well.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Jonmillsapmusic.com
• Instagram: @jon_millsap
• Youtube: @jonmillsapmusic1
• Other: Spotify : Jon Millsap