From hockey to real passionate songs - Jonathan Roy in Budapest for the first time
When he was a child, Canadian singer-songwriter Jonathan Roy seemed to be following in the footsteps of his famous hockey player father, but he realised that his true passion was music. He has released four albums in recent years, and after a journey of self-discovery, his latest material returns with a renewed, more self-identified sound. This is the face of Roy we will see at his first concert in Budapest on 31 May at the A38 Ship.
It's been a long, unexpected and literally winding road to Jonathan Roy's songs today. Although he had been making music for years, he felt something was missing. So like a modern-day beat poet, Jonathan decided to hit the road. Embarking on an adventurous journey of self-discovery, with no destination in mind, he set off and crisscrossed America. The musician eventually ended up in Los Angeles, where he lived for two years overlooking the ocean and it was here that the inner changes really began to unfold. One of the earliest songs Jonathan wrote during this period, the emotional Keeping Me Alive, was the first sign that he was moving in a whole new direction.
In retrospect, however, it was not the first time he defied convention. As a kid, he thought his path was to become a professional hockey player like his father, NHL legend Patrick Roy. However, Patrick encouraged his son to trade hockey for a steady education, but then shared with him that his true passion was music. So he hung up his skates and got to work. His debut album was released in 2009, followed by three more. However, despite the success, Jonathan was eager for a less polished sound and that's when the life-changing idea and the stripped-down songs he recorded on the road were born. Jonathan has further honed his unique sound on his album Life Distortions, released in February, which is the fullest expression of Jonathan's personality and artistic development.
Tickets available at www.livenation.hu