Jon Check

Collection Contents

#		Title	Length
1		If You Come With Me	3:53	Play
2		I'll Never Know	3:57	Play
3		Prince Charming	4:31	Play
4		Whatever	3:42	Play
5		Balconies and Bended Knees	4:04	Play
6		Heroes	4:37	Play
7		For the Life of Me	4:16	Play
8		Straight Talk	4:30	Play

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Description

Its not a give or a take/ to make it or break it, sings Jon Check, in the opening line of Whatever, the 4th track on his self-titled, self-produced debut album, which hits stores on November 11th.
Sometimes you just have to roll with the punches, he says. No one moment or decision should make or break what you believe in. Basically, that song is about having the patience to persevere and not be deterred by obstacles. Its about understanding the middle-ground.
For Check, a 22-year-old Pittsburgh-based Singer-songwriter, the past year seemed full of those types of make-or-break moments, as he self-produced his record in Pittsburgh while still finding time to tour through some of the Northeasts hottest clubs: Baltimores 8x10, Phillys World Caf Live and New Yorks Coda. Not too shabby for an artist without a record deal or an album.
Every time Id get on stage, or make any type of choice regarding my career, or go into the [recording] booth Id be telling myself this is it! This is your only chance to get it right! But thats not a realistic way to look at things. Since then Ive learned to relax a little bit and take it all one day at a time.
Regardless of Checks inner struggle to chill out, the fruits of his labor reflect profound confidence, as well as musical and songwriting ability.
The albums eight songs run the gamut in style, arrangement and approach. If You Come With Me, the gospel-tinged number that opens the record, features screaming B-3 organ, uplifting lyrics and a standout background vocal performance by Rusted Roots Liz Berlin. Ill Never Know is a short and breezy rock tune propelled by smooth acoustic strumming and electric piano trills --- until the end, when it explodes into a soaring, exuberance fade.
Yeah, we did that one completely live, he adds. What you hear is what we played once.
Two slower songs, Heroes and For The Life of Me showcase Checks balladeer side, while Prince Charming and Balconies and Bended Knees are upbeat, party numbers featuring beautifully arranged horns. Whatever and the dramatic closer Straight Talk round out the album with a more modern-sounding pop approach.
Featuring numerous guest appearances and credits including speech pathologists and life coaches, the album is sort of a whos who of Pittsburghs musical community, the city that welcomed him five years ago and refused to let him go. From the very first month he arrived, he says, he was playing in bands all over the city and eventually hitting the road with projects like Cornbred and Flowdown.
Various connections within the community eventually got him in the Rolodex of Mr. Smalls Funhouse, a studio and performance venue whose artistic outreach wing, Creative Life Support, funds qualifying musicians to make records.
That was how the studio connection came up, he explains. I just sort of made myself a familiar face up there, going in to record on session for different people. Then one day I mentioned that I wanted to do my album and they were into it.
So he entered Smalls newest studio in February, following a legacy that includes 50 Cent, Ryan Adams, the Darkness and Rusted Root.
Basically they said Go for it. We trust you and we believe in you. Record all you want and dont worry about the money. That was really encouraging to hear.