Jonah Nilsson, lead vocalist for Dirty Loops, a major YouTube sensation, shares his cover of the Michael Jackson classic “Bad”, adding his own spin and signature vocal range stylings to make a track that’s more powerful than ever. The track features Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater), Anomalie and Justin Lee Schultz. Music industry legend Quincy Jones has championed the Swedish singer and multi-instrumentalist, taking him under the wing of his management team. Now, Nilsson has been added to the recently launched Jammcard Records roster to release his first full-length solo album Now or Never on July 29.
He’s different though, he’s got the perfect balance of right brain creativity and left brain music theory. It’s in his blood,” praises Quincy Jones. “He’s got soul, with one of the biggest ranges I’ve ever heard.”
Jonah’s take on “Bad” beams with all the elements of a worldwide pop star in the making, while paying homage to the soul and spirit that originally made the track a hit in 1987, and adding a modern flavor that gives this version an entire life of its own.
“The song takes me back to my childhood,” Jonah reminisces. “Playing video games, swimming, and running around outside of our country house, just being a kid. With my version, I wanted to keep the essence of the song as well as stretching the musical elements as far as I could without losing the original feel, which inspired many of those childhood memories.”
The funk-pop artist has come a long way since his childhood dreams of becoming an artist. Singing has been part of his life essentially since birth. Jonah started singing at his parent’s church choir at the tender age of one. Then, at the onset of his skyrocketing career, Jonah’s life changed overnight when he and a couple long-time friends uploaded their own covers of huge pop hits like Lady Gaga’s “Just Dance” and Justin Bieber’s “Baby” to YouTube. The unique covers spread like wildfire in the music community, garnered them millions of views, and got them the attention of many acclaimed artists, namely 16x Grammy Award winning producer David Foster. David took them under his wing and signed the trio named Dirty Loops to their first record deal at Verve Records. And just like that, Jonah went from singing in his friend’s basement to becoming an international touring star.
Jonah has made a name for himself through his pop sensibilities and masterful knowledge of music theory from his studies at the Royal Academy of Music, which set him apart in this new democratized era in which almost anyone can call themselves an artist.
Since Jonah’s early rise to fame, he’s since got a few headliner world tours under his belt and has acquired a significant fanbase of high-profile musicians, including Maroon 5 lead singer Adam Levine, Brian McKnight, Rodney Jerkins, Dallas Austin, and the incredible Stevie Wonder. Even though that’s enough for some, Jonah’s humble demeanor continues to push him forward. His cheery outlook on life gives you the sense he’s unphased and ready to continue giving the gift of music.
“It’s a little scary and wonderful at the same time because I have the chance to explore and share a new side of myself that my fans haven’t seen before. I’m really excited, and I can’t wait to see what happens.”
Jonah’s debut single, “Coffee Break”, featuring Richard Bona, was self-produced and released in 2018 one version which also features LUCAS from the massively popular K-pop group NCT and released by SM Entertainment. Since then, he has also released a cinematic single “Borrowed Time” and the jaw-dropping performance video of “Work Shit Out” with Dirty Loops. Jonah will continue to share new music, and when asked about how his music will differ from Dirty Loops, he says that the music will continue to have the flirtatious and cheeky sound that they were notorious for, but with more R&B and pop elements.
“I never in a million years thought I’d be here,” confesses Jonah. His piercing blue eyes and huge smile gives you the feeling that he’s wholeheartedly telling the truth. “Living in the present has kept my feet on the ground. I just want to create meaningful music… everything else that happens is extra.”
