The lead singer of punk-pop band, Plainsunset, Jonathan Chan, 33, is literally, a jack of all trades. Besides jamming with his band, Jon’s also a freelance artist who’s sold quite a few art pieces!

Jon, as Jonathan is popularly known, has a musical portfolio that’s just as colourful. When only in his 20s, Jon was in three bands – Surreal, the Sonic Edge Band and Plainsunset.

One of the local music scene’s most influential bands, Plainsunset is made up of four musicians who have stuck together since 1996. Despite a 2 year break in 2004, the band, with Ronny on drums, Sham on guitars, Nizam on bass, and Jon on guitars and vocals, is still wowing fans with their explosive performances and emotive lyrics written by Jon and Sham.

It’s All in a Whistle

Jon happily tells hype his musical career all started with whistling. “My dad was a choir director and I would piss most of the choir people off by whistling. In fact, I got my dad into trouble one day by whistling when he walked by a bunch of girls, he remembers.

“They weren’t convinced until my mother coaxed me into whistling, then they let my dad off!”

The Sound of Music

It wasn’t long since then that Jon started drawing inspiration from bands like U2 and The Police for the touch of rock. His eclectic likings include also the musical comedies of composer and songwriter, Cole Porter.

However, the homeboy has his preferences. “Perhaps indie rock, but I’m somewhat drawn to the hypnotic quality of Gamelan music (traditional Indonesian music that involves xylophones, bamboo flutes and gongs),” Jon explains.

And we can hear these influences in the lyrics he writes for his band and in his solo album, Pencil Tracings, which will rock the world by end 2008.

Still, Jon believes that making music is not that different from his other passion, art.

Life as a Starving Artist

Jon studied Fine Arts in LASALLE College of the Arts for three years and has a Masters in the subject so it’s no wonder that he’s got some high-profile customers who often purchase pieces from him.

While he once received $2,000 for selling three to four pieces at one go, Jon knows that life as a freelance artist means a life of fluctuating paychecks but he says, “I get by and survive each week.”

Besides, Jon’s aware that this might not be the most lucrative business, so he’s putting together a portfolio to apply for a position as an illustrator at an animation company.

To Juggle Work and Play

Even though he’s juggling 3 bands, a solo career, his freelance artistic ambitions and soon a job as an illustrator, Jon makes time for family by working around his busy schedule.

“Family always comes first and friendships are there to keep you grounded,” Jon explains his decision to spend at least one quiet meal with his family and his girlfriend each week.

With accolades aplenty and talent abounding, Jon’s set for greater heights but he doesn’t leave his family or modesty behind when he rocks it out on stage. After all, Jon says, “Everyone has flaws and I would rather say that I’m living under grace.”