Joshua Scott Jones’s New Single “Honk (If You’re Tonky)” May Be His Best Work Yet
By Kimberly Dunbar
Attention country fans! Remember the country duo Steel Magnolia? Joshua Scott Jones, one half of the now defunct duo, has gone solo and recently released his debut single,
“Honk (If You’re Tonky).”
Jones’s newest offering is different than his work as one half of Steel Magnolia (their best-known singles “Keep On Lovin’ You” and “Just By Being You (Halo and Wings)” were dripping with sweet, sappy love and emotion). There is no doubt that Jones is embracing his newfound independence with a fun and free attitude that is reflected in his music and makes it all the more magnetic; it’s a style I immediately associated with that of Brooks and Dunn (think not quite as edgy as Luke Bryan or Jason Aldean).
In the three years since Steel Magnolia’s self-titled debut album dropped, Jones has been through a lot ~ including a stint in drug rehab, a broken engagement to Meghan Linsey (the other half of Steel Magnolia), and the official split of the band (although there are reports that the duo will play a handful of shows together in 2014). His new album The Healing, which is slated for release later this year, is a “…candid reflection of his life and the changes he’s experienced since first arriving on the scene.”
Jones explains about his new single, “I feel like at this point in my life as an artist, I can’t be anything but candid. The record certainly reflects my headspace over the last few years and tells the story of what I’ve gone through, especially the title track of the record, ‘The Healing.’”
My guess is that the trials and tribulations Jones has recently endured will add to his music not just that sense of being “unshackled,” but also a depth that will infuse what we hope are many upcoming solo albums.
Listen to “Honk (If You’re Tonky)” here or purchase the single on iTunes.