On Facebook, X and Instagram… You asked… and he answered.
In this Q&A, Jon Davison answers questions from YESfans ahead of The Classic Tales of YES Tour 2024 – tickets available now!
#askYES: Jon Davison
Lennon Ashton:
Hi Jon! Now that you’ve done three albums with the band, I was wondering what your favorite track from each of those three is and why. Also, as a vocalist, do you have a single favorite lyric from a YESsong? I’m sure that can change all the time, but I was wondering if there is one that really stands out to you or connects with you. Best wishes for the upcoming tour!
Jon:
Hey Lennon,
Putting aside Heaven and Earth, (which in the band’s opinion was never properly finished or fully realized,) it’s hard for me to look at The Quest and Mirror to the Sky and find favorites. After having worked so intimately on crafting the songs of these albums, I’m too close to it all to have the objective ability to make such distinctions. Or, I guess you could say they’re all my favorites for the unique and special features each song possess.
I really find compelling and a joy to sing, Jon Anderson’s rhythmic and chant-like phrasing on the masterpieces, Close to the Edge and Awaken.
Thank you for your questions!
Danny Helios:
What was the process like, recording Living Out Their Dream on the new album? It’s in a very different register for you compared to the rest of the YES catalog, so I’m curious if this led to any changes in the way the vocal melodies were crafted, vocal warm up, etc?
Very much looking forward to seeing you all in Liverpool, Bristol & Birmingham!
Jon:
Hi Danny,
That’s an interesting question as I’ve often reflected on how different that song was for me to sing. I always love a new challenge that points me in a unique direction from where Jon Anderson has gone before. By breaking out of that mold, I can explore more avenues that are distinct and more geared towards helping me develop my own style as a singer.
See you soon in the UK!
Agustin GE:
I would love to know what’s the composition ritual of the current band to make those beautiful and well constructed pieces. What are their harmonic plans for the piece, if it is planned before or after the lyrics.
Love from Argentina!
Jon:
Hola Agustin,
I’m happy to hear you are enjoying the new albums. As far as the ritual by which we create, I think it’s different for each of us. I will say my own M.O. is generally starting with lyrics that can consist of anything from only a few thoughts and/or a striking title to a full fledged concept. We typically start creating lyrics and music on a personal level and then share our ideas to the rest of the band. Once ideas are taken on collectively, they blossom and develop in diverse and unexpected ways that only a fully contributing band can construct.
Jeff Cooper:
Do you write your new material by getting together collectively in the same room or studio… or because of locations is everything done via file sharing these days? How do you feel about each approach and what works best for YES in 2023-2024 etc?
Jon:
Hey Jeff,
We physically get together whenever possible, which is our preferred method, and from there, share our individual rough ideas with each other. Then hopefully one’s idea makes it to the next level, which is where the band fully takes it on and contributes by adding other themes and/or fleshing things out to a full band body of work.
@Eggdipie:
Will there be more Mirror to the Sky songs during this tour? Really hoping for All Connected or the title track!!! Also, what is everyone’s favorite song from Mirror to the Sky?
Jon:
Hello,
There will be at least one song from Mirror to the Sky, and in the spirit of surprise, I’ll refrain from saying anything further. I really enjoy ‘Mirror’ as a whole and can’t really say I have a favorite song. Although I will venture to add that the album is my favorite of the YES albums I’ve worked on!
Paul Lively:
How or who comes up with the setlist for the shows? ✌🏻
Jon:
Hey Paul,
Generally Steve starts with a general idea or concept for the set. He gets quite excited about outlining something and then is often enthusiastic when the rest of us chime in with, “that’s great… and what if we then try this…?” Or, “there’s a pattern here within these songs, why don’t we call the tour this…?”
Donald Thompson:
What modern artists (if any) inspire you, and why?
Jon:
Thank you for your question, Donald.
Father John Misty inspires me for his rich velvet vocal tone and for his intelligent and cleverly descriptive word play. I like The Shins a lot, especially the melodic sensibilities of songs like, Phantom Limb and Sea Legs. MGMT is really interesting with songs like Electric Feel. These artists being more Indie and in no way falling under the specific genre of Progressive Rock, still exhibit in their respective styles a spirit of challenging boundaries and ‘progressively’ pushing the envelope.
Isobel Wood:
Whats the most exciting song to play live?
Jon:
Hi Isobel,
Off the top of my head, I just love performing the song, Close to the Edge. It’s got a bit of all the unique and exciting elements that make YES great.
Milo Miller:
What are your favorite old and new YESsongs??
Jon:
Hi Milo,
Well, that’s a hard question to answer because my favorite live songs to perform seem to often shift depending on my mood. The title Mood for a Day seems to describe me best. Most of the time I crave to perform a song that we haven’t done live for quite sometime. For example, when we were putting together our most recent set list, I suggested to Steve that we put back in Turn of the Century which hasn’t been performed since 2014, when Chris was still with us. I’ve really missed doing that one. I’m starting to get an itch to perform Gates of Delirium and Awaken again! Hopefully soon we’ll bring those back into a set.
Simon Malia:
How do you know when a song you’re working on is finished?
Jon:
Howdy Simon,
That’s a great question. At one point a song almost speaks to you when it has reached complete maturity. Meaning, as your going along striving or even struggling at times for developmental definition, there’s a suddenly a point in which an exponential creative flow takes over in songwriting and everything just falls into place. As a songwriter, I get a frisson of excitement whenever this eureka moment occurs! It’s one of the most rewarding feelings a composer can experience!
The CLASSIC TALES OF YES Tour 2024
Hot on the heels of their hugely successful ‘Classic Tales Of Yes’ American Tour, YES, are poised to hit the road in Europe and the UK once more between April and June 2024.
‘The Classic Tales Of Yes Tour’ will see YES mining their rich catalogue to deliver a career spanning set of classics, rarely played vintage cuts and new songs from 1970’s ‘Time and a Word’ right up to ‘Mirror To The Sky’, their 23rd album released last year, together with a special section celebrating the 50th anniversary of their momentous ‘Tales From Topographic Oceans’ opus.
Every show will feature a Roger Dean gallery in the venue’s foyer area. Dean’s masterful artwork of striking other-worldly landscapes has graced classic album covers and posters. Roger is planning to be at each show on the tour, to meet with fans.
2024 Tour Dates:
Date
Venue
Tickets
Tuesday 30 April, 2024
Sagres Campo Pequeno
Lisbon, Portugal
Show rescheduled from 2023, all tickets remain valid.
Lisbon, Portugal
Show rescheduled from 2023, all tickets remain valid.
Zurich, Switzerland
Show rescheduled from 2023, all tickets remain valid.
Arnheim, Netherlands
Show rescheduled from 2023, all tickets remain valid.
Mönchengladbach, Germany
Show rescheduled from 2023, all tickets remain valid.
Paris, France
Show rescheduled from 2023, all tickets remain valid.
Manchester
Show rescheduled from 2023, all tickets remain valid.
Glasgow
Show rescheduled from 2023, all tickets remain valid.
Liverpool
Show rescheduled from 2023, all tickets remain valid.
Southend
Show rescheduled from 2023, all tickets remain valid.
Birmingham
Show rescheduled from 2023, all tickets remain valid.
Gateshead
Show rescheduled from 2023, all tickets remain valid.
VIP Tour Package
- Limited Edition Roger Dean Print
- Exclusive YES Coaster Set
- Commemorative Tour Laminate
- Limited Availability
VIP Tour Package can be purchased as an upgrade from On Location Live.
Please note the VIP Tour Package does not include a concert ticket. If you do not purchase a concert ticket in addition to this upgrade, you will not be admitted to the event.
