Jony Shelby’s newest project shares bitter moment of pandemic, how resilience took over

AUSTIN, TX – To share his story of the pandemic, amidst a break-up and other huge life changes, artist/producer Jony Shelby simply called the song, “Lately.”

Somewhere between Alternative and R&B, Shelby’s rhythm thrives with both musicality and soul. One of his latest singles, “Lately” hits heavy with its defined beat and thoughtful lyrics. It’s a special piece from his five-track EP about to drop titled, “Kiwi,” – which expresses a moment in his life when everything went sour.

“’Lately’ was put together during the pandemic and it’s an interesting track because it generally encapsulates what I was going through during that period,” Shelby said. “It's a reflection of a past version of myself – and was a natural reaction to me dealing with a lot of sudden, heavy life changes  – it’s a very straight-forward song about feeling slightly off and exploring why that might be.”

It didn’t just rain – it poured.

“This project would have come out a year ago, but my computer suffered a sudden hard drive crash and I lost the entire thing,” Shelby said. “So I had all these things hitting at once. I initially created this honest, innocent way of reflecting on everything going on at that time, lost that pure moment, and then I had to get back into that mood to recreate it all. It was an interesting exercise to revisit the state-of-mind I was in back then, when I had already moved on to a better place. But I still wanted to tell that story – so others could see the contrast with where I am now. I put myself through the ringer and came through on the other side, and I found out that losing everything couldn’t make me quit – even if I tried.”

Despite the darker shades of melancholy, “Lately” still represents a hope and resilience that Shelby knows will resonate with listeners. 

“The more personal details you’re willing to share, the more emotion you’d normally withhold from people, the more people can relate to it,” Shelby said. “The theme is we all make mistakes. We all have faults, and that’s OK. We gotta keep moving, which sounds more inspiring than the music dictates but the point is to have people relate to each others’ struggles.”

Listeners can find “Lately” and the rest of the EP, “Kiwi” on digital platforms at the end of this month. This project is the second in a three-part series in which Shelby entertains his love for continuity – his first labeled “Mango.” The third is anticipated to be released by the end of 2023, and provide a sweeter taste to his fans.

Shelby, who’s roots were established in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, says his music will definably reflect the positive upswing from his last four years in Austin, Texas. Surrounded in a great live music scene with lots of creatives – he’s loving the city and crafting new melodies.

Make sure to stay connected to Jony Shelby on all platforms for new music, videos, and social posts.

Websites:
Amazon Music
Apple Music
Spotify
YouTube

Socials:
Facebook
Instagram