There are some artists who provide a cerebral conversation, which renews our faith that musicians still exist who deserve more than fleeting attention. Pure Reason Revolution’s Jon Courtney is one of that pool. Perhaps as a result of the band releasing their last two albums in the relatively speedy period of two years, Courtney suffered an understandable, if frustrating, interlude of writer’s block. Assuming that this harmonic obstruction could be cured by sharpening his musical chops, he began concentrating on the more tedious aspects of musical theory.
“I spent a bit of time thinking that I really must improve my guitar and piano playing,” recalls Courtney from his Berlin home. “I started trying to get better with my music theory, thinking it would be helpful with the new compositions. But it didn’t really seem to help. My sight-reading improved a little bit, yet it didn’t broaden the chords I was going to and things like that. Then I had a couple of experiences, which weren’t super-positive ones.”
Those events Courtney references were the grief triggered by the loss of his 17-year-old and much-adored dog, and an unexpected brush with asbestos that generated an overwhelming fear of death. Such fears of impending doom and the death of a home-enhancing pet are feelings that many will be able to sympathetically relate to.
“Yeah, and I think a lot of people will connect with this because they have dogs and cats, and have been through this,” agrees Courtney. “We had this dog here and then had to take him to the vets. You question if it was the right time. I thought I was emotionally prepared for it, but I was just way off the mark. Then maybe eight weeks after this, I had a possible brush with asbestos. I was doing this renovation work and it really tipped me over the edge. It was totally irrational. I really thought that death was imminent.
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