Singer-Songwriter · GB · Active since 1983

Jono McCleery

Hushed, jazz-inflected folk that feels like a secret shared in the dark. Intimate acoustic guitar meets subtle electronic textures for deep late-night reflection.

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Intro

Jono McCleery creates music that sounds like the quietest part of the night. It is a fragile, beautiful intersection of traditional folk fingerpicking and the sophisticated, smoky textures of nu-jazz. His voice is a soft, soulful instrument that often feels like it is being whispered directly into your ear, wrapped in a warm blanket of analog reverb and subtle atmospheric electronics.

What truly sets him apart is the rhythmic sophistication he brings to the singer-songwriter format. While many of his peers lean into simple strumming, McCleery uses his guitar as a percussive and harmonic tool, drawing from the legacy of John Martyn but filtering it through a modern, London-centric lens. There is a certain 'submerged' quality to his production that makes the music feel timeless and deeply private.

Start with the album 'There Is' to hear his sound at its most expansive and realized. It captures the perfect balance between his acoustic roots and the electronic flourishes provided by his association with the Ninja Tune label. It is the ideal gateway for anyone who loves music that is both emotionally heavy and sonically delicate.

Our Catalog7 Albums · 2008 · 2024
Known ForWeighted across the artist's discography. Tap a trait for examples.
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