Artist Name: Jon Tyler Wiley & His Virginia Choir
Hometown: Fredericksburg, VA
What project(s) are you currently working on?
Jon Tyler Wiley (JTW): This year, we are releasing an EP of music we’ve written as a band, as well as an LP I wrote and recorded back in 2019. We’ve been filming some music videos, writing for LP #2, and trying to figure out what performing looks like in the times of COVID. It’s a busy time for sure, but I’m so excited to finally release some music.
What inspired you to pursue a career in music and when did you know?
JTW: Music was always just “around” growing up. No one in my family played, but we were all avid listeners. I saw the Allman Brothers Band as a 7-year-old and Tom Petty as an 11-year-old. I don’t remember wanting to be anything else.
Joanna Smith (bass) (JS): When I got to college, I had no intention of pursuing a career in music, but having taken private lessons most my life and participating in bands and orchestras throughout grade school, it made sense to take the music classes to fulfill my general education requirements. I got hooked, ended up with a double-major in music and historic preservation (what I thought my career path would be). After graduating, faced with rejection after rejection when applying for jobs in the preservation field, I found myself getting pickup gigs in local bands, then a part-time job at a music shop where I now teach. Being a bass player is great because every band needs one, no matter the genre. After about a year, I realized this could be a real thing, and, with the help of the local music community, I learned how to operate as my own business. Can’t stress enough how important it was to have fellow musicians showing me the way, and ultimately providing the inspiration to do it myself. Jon and I met at the jams downtown and the rest is history.
Eddie Dickerson (fiddle) (ED): I moved to Austin, Texas in 2013. Seeing the music scene there was the catalyst to being solely dependent on performances for a career. It was based on necessity, but seeing that scene gave me desire to make it happen.
If you weren’t pursuing a career in music, what would you be doing for a living?
Brian “Piper” Barbre (drums) (BPB): I do whatever it takes to get by and keep going. I just work. I’ve always been the type of musician who wakes up at 5:30 in the morning to work an 8- to 12-hour day. Currently, I’m an arborist for a large tree company by day, and play drums in the evening. In a perfect world, I would give up working for other people to play but also make drums. Throughout my years of playing drums and being a curious craftsman, I taught myself how to make drums from scratch. I love beautiful craftsmanship that leaks into any instrument, and there is something strange and beautiful about making something perfect to look at that you intend to smash with sticks and have it sing. The satisfaction of playing an instrument I’ve made is like no other. If anyone wants to know more, my company is called “Piper Percussion.”
What is your favorite downtime activity?
Thomas Johnson (keyboards) (TJ): Family music time: My wife, my niece, and I pick songs and play and sing them together with instruments. Then we have family game time. We usually start with board games like “Exploding Kittens” before moving on to video games like “Fortnite” and “Halo.” My wife usually doesn’t do the video games, so it’s really me making my niece play with me.
BPB: Make drums!
JTW: What’s “downtime”?
Who is your biggest celebrity crush?
JS: Definitely Harrison Ford.
ED: The Wood Brothers. All of them.
BPB: Charlize Theron.
Who is your favorite sports team(s)?
JTW: I am a diehard Cleveland Browns fan. We used to drive to Cleveland from Virginia on Sundays just to go to the games. Those were some long drives, especially on the way back, after what typically was a loss. It’s been fun the last few years, now that we’re actually competing.
JS and BPB: What’s “sports”?
What is the last movie that you watched?
TJ: “Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith.” My niece, who is 14, likes the character Ashoka Tano from “The Mandalorian,” so we have been watching everything Star Wars in chronological order. That includes key episodes from the TV shows now as well.
ED: “Star Wars Episode 6.” I’m still trying to wrap my head around the point of it. I get the “cowboys in space” theme, but I still don’t know why these movies keep being made.
What is the last album you listened to?
TJ: “Encanto Tropical” by Monsieur Periné. They are a Colombian band that mixes French Jazz with Colombian Cumbias. My wife is from Colombia, so I get to hear of lot of great new music I wouldn’t otherwise hear.
JTW: Tom Petty’s “Wildflowers & All The Rest.” I’ve been listening to the accompanying live album. Mike Campbell is one of my favorite guitar players.
JS: We (Piper and I) are in the process of selling our house and one great album to work to is Right Said Fred’s “Up.” It’s so much more than “I’m Too Sexy” and epitomizes Euro-pop.
If you could only listen to one album for the rest of your life, what would it be?
BPB: If I could listen to only one album for the rest of my life, I’d dig out my ears with a spoon! But, being a drummer, if I had to choose, it would be The Police, “Synchronicity.”
JS: The Killers’ “Hot Fuss.” It triggered my enjoyment of music outside of the stuff my parents listened to or what was on top 40 radio — the first music that was “mine,” if that makes sense.
ED: The Wood Brothers “The Muse.” “The Muse” describes life as it is, and as it could be. Its realistic lyrics help me see my world more clearly, and the clever words help remind me that it’s ok to laugh in the hard things as well as the good ones.
What is the greatest country song of all time?
JTW: It has to be a Merle Haggard song. He could rip your heart out with one song, then he could make you laugh in the next one. He was a true poet. I’ll go with “Mama Tried.” If there’s any song that could summarize the entire musical world of country music, it might be that one.
ED: “He Stopped Loving Her Today” recorded by George Jones. It IS country.
What has been your favorite city/town that you’ve visited out on the road?
JTW: I love Chicago. Three words: Deep Dish Pizza. I’ve got it down to a science: 10 minutes before showtime, I order delivery so it arrives directly after the set. I always try and dance a little harder than usual in Chicago, ’cause I know that after the show I’m going to eat about 6,000 calories.
ED: Laport, Colorado. There’s a venue there called The Swing Station. That place is amazing. I’ve been there three times.
What is your favorite meal?
TJ: My favorite meal would be the dream team of meal time: arepas from Colombia, pupusas from El Salvador, shrimp tacos, Samosas, and cheese fries from Outback Steakhouse.
BPB: Anything Ethiopian.
JS: My husband, Piper, makes pizza that I could eat every day.
JTW: Typically, it’s a Chipotle burrito with steak, chicken, white rice, hot and mild salsa, sour cream, cheese, and lettuce. However, I might change my answer so it’s the same as Thomas’.
ED: Sushi! But aren’t all foods created equal?
Who is your dream duet partner?
JTW: Definitely Harrison Ford.
Who would you like to go on tour with?
ED: Jason Isbell. I love his songwriting; it’s so thoughtful. Also, having a shred fest back and forth with that guy would be awesome.
BPB: I would really love to go on tour with Dawes or Ben Folds. Dawes performs some really powerful music, and I feel like genre-wise we would fit well together and share a similar fan base. Selfishly, I would want to go on tour with Ben Folds for the sake of it and to try to weasel my way into being his drummer. #lifegoals
JS: I think we would fit well with Brandi Carlile. Her songs tell stories and reach people in the same way we are trying to do.
What is your ultimate career goal(s)?
JTW: Besides the general goal of worldwide domination and a lifetime pass to Disney World? Well, being in the suburbs of Washington, DC, I grew up going into the city to go to shows, so to sell out the 9:30 club would be really special. Ultimate goal? Well, I’ve performed at the Grand Ol’ Opry before as a sideman playing guitar for the MusiCorps program, for whom I’m also a teaching artist. It’s a program for injured veterans, and it’s one of my favorite things to do. I’ve played the Opry twice with them. The first time we were there, we were playing “Wagon Wheel,” and Trace Adkins surprised us on stage and started singing into my mic with me. I’d love it if the five of us were able to get there and play our songs.