Jon Moon | Brighter Day Review

By Elberton Cisnero

Jon Moon is a multi-instrumentalist and producer from Berlin. Over the past twenty years, Moon has worked with Alabama 3, Amy Winehouse, Alexandra Burke, Blue, The Buzzcocks, Daniel Beddingfield, Dionne Bromfield, Dirty Pretty Things, Example, Faithless, Fun Lovin Criminals, John Mayall, The Jersey Boys, Jessie J, The Kooks, Lemar, Mark Ronson, Mel Blatt, Mick Taylor, Ms. Dynamite, N-Dubz, Ny Gray, Remi Nicole, Roger Waters, The Rumble Strips, Sam Fox, Glen Matlock, Yasmin, and Yusuf Islam formerly known as “Cat Stevens.” Behind the console, Moon has recorded and mixed a variety of live concerts, using sound to picture and 5.1. Credits include: Bryan Adams, Bullet For My Valentine, Clare Maguire, Deacon Blue, Diana Vickers, Earth Wind and Fire, Elton John, Florence, and the Machine, Jose Gonzales, Ke$ha, The Magic Numbers, Michael Jackson, Nina Simone, Paulo Nutini, The Pretenders, Sparks, Stevie Wonder, Sting, Tina Turner, The Two Door Cinema Club, Van Morrison, We Are Scientists, White Lies, and Whitney Houston. Film and TV contracts include: The Buzzcocks’ Live 30th’, Alabama 3 ‘Hear the Train a Comin’, Soundtrack for ‘Bad City Blues’, theme and strings for ‘Russell Brand’s Got Issues,’ the soundtrack for ‘The Great North Run’ and the mixing of Cornbury and Eden Project Festivals. Moon is now releasing his latest Reggae infused EP titled Brighter Day on Yutman Records.

“Brighter Day” had all the recording of the vocals and instruments and the mixing take place at Planet Earth Studios in Berlin, all by the founder of “Yutman Records” himself. Each song stems from a very personal place for the singer, musician, songwriter, and producer. With a piano sound keeping a steady pulse, the music leads to the Reggae feel and Moon’s singing the storyline. All the instruments sound full and are mix to perfection. The vocal harmonies build the melody line. Moon always adds details to his songs that add sonic complexities without distracting from the song. The horn writing adds texture and fills-out spaces of emphasis.

“Economical Crisis” is Moon dealing with the current global situation with the Corona Virus. He reunites with Cape Town-based artist Crosby. Together the two wrote the riddim at the legendary South African “Azania Band” but had to complete the song spatially and temporally separated between Berlin and Cape Town due to the pandemic. This selection has many elements of traditional Reggae with added elements of electronica and hip-hop. Moon and Crosby sound good in this setting and playoff each other’s energy, and their sound combines well.

Brighter Day is a series of songs that stems from a very personal place for Moon. In his music, Moon sings about the Rastafarian spirit, role models like Vaughn Benjamin, and his positive attitude towards life. At the same time, he shares political content paired with spirituality and meditation. Moon dedicated “Messenjah” to the deceased Vaughn Benjamin, aka. Akae Beka. Brighter Day is a Reggae EP with real depth.

Release Date: November 20, 2020

Label : Yutman Records

About the author

Elberton Cisnero

Author