Review Fix Exclusive: Jon Notar Talks ’To Ourselves’ And More

July 6, 2020 Patrick Hickey Jr. Music 0

Review Fix chats with singer/songwriter Jon Notar, who discusses his new single, as well as his goals in the industry.

Review Fix: How did you get involved in music?

Jon Notar: I’ve always been interested in music. As a child, I have a distinct memory of banging on my father’s paint cans and how much fun it was. My folks told me I wasn’t really interested in toys as a kid, only small musical instruments. I started piano at the age of 10 and took every single music class and opportunity they offered. I even started playing gigs in high school with my band. My folks really supported me every step of the way.

Review Fix: What’s your creative process like?

Notar: For this album, half of the songs were written before the studio session using Logic Pro X and multi tracking my piano parts. I then referenced those sessions while recording parts on the grand piano. Each take was a full take from beginning to end without punching parts. That really gave the songs an overall arch dynamically and helped keep them feeling honest and improvised. The other half of the songs were written and recorded during the studio session and are a bit simpler. Working in incredible studios on amazing instruments is a big part of what made the record sound the way it does. I just tried to show up and feed off of that energy and do what I could to make it sound good.

Review Fix: What inspires you?

Notar: Great music–jazz, classical, pop, songwriter, film scores. Taking that music in and internalizing it is really the most important part. Then it’s about coming to the studio prepared, mentally and physically. And taking a break from music can also help a ton. Some chill lighting in the studio helps, too.

Review Fix: What does music mean to you?

Notar: Music is a language. It’s a means of expression. It’s universal and instinctual. I think we all have it in us and just express it differently.

Review Fix: How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard you?

Notar: I’d say the music on this album is like a film score for the quiet moments of your life.

Review Fix: How are your live shows different from your studio work?

Notar: I’m not playing live right now.

Review Fix: What inspired your latest single?

Notar: To Ourselves was one of the songs that was improvised in the studio. It was just about being present and listening to my engineer and producer.

Review Fix: What are your goals for the rest of 2020?

Notar: The hope is to continue releasing and promoting this album and start working on my next one.

Review Fix: What’s next?

Notar: My new single Cascade will be released on 7/10 and a new music video for it will be released on 7/24. 

Review Fix: Anything else you’d like to add? 

Notar: Just want to add that my full album will be out at some point later this summer! And thanks!

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About Patrick Hickey Jr. 14263 Articles
Patrick Hickey Jr. is a full-time Assistant Professor of Communication & Performing Arts and Director of the Journalism program at Kingsborough Community College and is the chairman of the City University of New York Journalism Council. He is the Founder and Editor-In-Chief of ReviewFix.com. He's also a former News Editor at NBC Local Integrated Media and National Video Games Writer at Examiner.com where his work was mentioned in National Ad campaigns by Disney, Nintendo and EA Sports. Hickey was also the Editor-In-Chief of two College Newspapers before he received his BA in Journalism from Brooklyn College. Hickey's work has been published in The New York Daily News, The New York Times, Complex, The Hockey Writers, Yahoo!, Broadway World, Examiner, NYSportScene Magazine, ProHockeyNews.com, GothamBaseball.com, The Syracuse Post-Standard, Scout.com and the official sites of the Brooklyn Aces and New York Islanders. His first book, The Minds Behind the Games: Interviews With Cult And Classic Video Game Developers was released in April 2018 and is chock full of interviews with legendary developers. His second book in the series, The Minds Behind Adventures Games, was released in December 2019. His third book, The Minds Behind Sports Games, was released in September 2020. His fourth book, The Minds Behind Shooter Games, was released in March 2021. The Minds Behind Sega Genesis Games and The Minds Behind PlayStation Games were released in 2022 and The Minds Behind PlayStation 2 was published in January 2023. Hickey is also a contracted comic book writer, currently penning his original series, "Condrey," as well as "The Job," "Brooklyn Bleeds" "Dem Gulls" and "KROOM" for Legacy Comix, where he serves as founder, owner and Editor-in-Chief. Hickey Jr. is also a voice actor, having starred in the 2018 indie hit and 2019 Switch, PS4 and Xbox One release, The Padre (also serving as English language Story Editor), from Shotgun With Glitters. The sequel, The Padre: One Shell Straight to Hell was released in February 2021- Hickey also served as a Story Editor and Lead Voiceover performer. He has also done narration and trailers for several other titles including The Kaiju Offensive, Relentless Rex and Roniu’s Tale. Hickey is also the lead voiceover performer on Mega Cat Studios’ upcoming title WrestleQuest, responsible for nearly 90 characters in the game, as well as Skybound's Renfield: Bring Your Own Blood, where he voices both Dracula and Renfield, as well as several other characters. He also stars in Ziggurat Interactive’s World Championship Boxing Manager 2, where he performs the VO of nearly every male character in the game. He also worked on the Atari VCS’s BPM Boy.

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