Q&A: Out Singer-Songwriter Jo Stones


Jo Stones

Jo Stones

When you hear out singer-songwriter Jo Stones make some sweet love to a keyboard, you know the guy has got talent: The Philly Gayborhood favorite recently released his first single, “The Letter,” on iTunes, and will be spooking out listeners this Halloween at a free noontime concert at LOVE Park. We threw Jo some rapid-fire questions about his music, his performances, and his guilty pleasures.

If I didn’t have music, I’d be … a soulless waste of precious oxygen.

What do you do to prepare before you play a gig? I guess what most others would do: practice (I procrastinate a lot on that one), make a setlist, choose the outfit.

Worst flubbed performance?: My voice cracked while I was singing at my sister’s wedding. Let’s just say I really enjoyed the wine that night.

Jo Stones

Jo Stones

You’re a Westminster Choir College grad. Tell everyone why that’s a big deal: Westminster is a safe haven. It allowed me to grow into not only the musician that I am, but really who I am as a person today.

I get inspired to write music when … (and if) I wake up in the morning. The best ideas come in the morning.

Who do you respect in the music industry? I really respect Thom Yorke from Radiohead. He just released an album via BitTorrent. He’s testing out the waters for others to either follow or learn from. He’s an innovator of sorts.

What’s your pop culture guilty pleasure?: If the Kardashians are on you might lose me for a bit. Just saying.

Is there one song that you can’t stand to hear on the radio? Jason Derulo’s “Trumpets.” I don’t think I’ll ever really understand why he didn’t use real trumpets for the song.

I’d drop everything to see … Pink Floyd perform. That’s always been one of the main things I’m sad I can’t experience in this life.