Nourishing a Music Career While Savoring the Journey with Jon Sandler (Great Good Fine Ok)
Love Music More · hosted by Luke F. Walton (Scoobert Doobert)
Guest: Jon Sandler
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Host note
The title comes from how Jon Sandler of Great Good Fine Ok talks about his own career: nourishing it while savoring the process, not just chasing outcomes. He's written and toured behind songs with The Chainsmokers and played rooms opening for X Ambassadors and Tove Lo, and over a decade in, he's still building.
We talk through his move from Brooklyn to Los Angeles and what that shift did to his songwriting sessions, the tension between chasing a hit and just writing a great song, and the reality of touring: the highs, the unpredictability, and merch as the thing that actually keeps a band solvent between tours.
His advice for anyone trying to stay in it long-term is blunt: the friends who made it are the ones who didn't quit.
Selected moments
- Jon on moving from Brooklyn to L.A. 3:35 Discussing the shift in his songwriting environment.
- The dynamics of songwriting sessions 16:42 Explaining the collaborative process in creating music.
- Balancing artistic integrity and commercial success 18:00 Jon emphasizes the importance of focusing on great songs.
- Experiencing the ups and downs of touring 27:03 Sharing insights on the unpredictable nature of live shows.
- Collaboration and community in music 20:45 Discussing how collaboration enhances their sound.
- The significance of merchandising 33:47 Expressing how band merchandise supports financial stability.
Selected excerpts
I love the journey of it. The more creative I can be, the better that journey is, regardless of what the outcome is going to be.
The only thing I can tell you is the friends that made it didn’t quit. Friends that don’t make it quit. So all I can say is don’t quit.
We’re trying to make it work and we’re trying to create music every day.
Touring is really like a gift that we want to give our fans. It’s a labor of love, but still a labor.
Sometimes it feels existential when you’re in a band, but the universe keeps rewarding us in unexpected ways.
FAQ
What is Jon Sandler's background in music?
Jon Sandler is a musician from the band Great Good Fine Ok, known for their collaborations with big names in the industry and their unique approach to songwriting.
How does Great Good Fine Ok manage touring and finances?
Jon discusses the challenges of touring, including the importance of merchandise for financial stability and how ticket sales fluctuate based on various factors.
What can musicians learn from Jon Sandler's experiences?
Jon emphasizes the importance of resilience, collaboration, and focusing on the creative journey in sustaining a music career.
These pages are host notes, not a full transcript. The episode itself is on the listen links above.