Single reviewsThe Other Side Reviews

Jonny Ong – A Moment Of Sunshine (2023)

Drawing inspiration from the energetic sounds of the 60s and 70s but adding a contemporary twist to the melodic tapestry, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jonny Ong is a vintage meets modern-day artist. Fusing blues, jazz, pop and indie-rock in a sonic wrapper, his music has captured the heart of audiences far beyond his UK borders. Coverage from international publications, radio stations, playlists and simple “word-of-mouth” recommendations, Ong is making waves across the globe. The latest addition to his critically acclaimed repertoire is the single ‘A Moment Of Sunshine’.

In his single ‘Don’t Wake Me From This Dream’, singer-songwriter Jonny Ong captured the raw passion and obsessive beauty of an unbelievably heart-pounding, passionate and intense love. He didn’t want to be woken from that perfect dream, but we can’t sleep forever. In ‘A Moment of Sunshine’, Ong shares the beauty of love and loss but in a sweet reminiscence of a fleeting summer romance.

When speaking about ‘A Moment Of Sunshine’, Ong explains it “…centres around a love that doesn’t always last, but the moment is beautiful…”, and he captures this sentiment perfectly in the melody and lyricism. A collaborative single with producer Scott Knapper, mastering by Sean Magee, and some of the finest session musicians in London, this song is a “timeless anthem that will resonate with many…”

As I mentioned, Ong brings the sound of the 60s and 70s to our ears with his music – and he doesn’t disappoint in ‘A Moment of Sunshine’. Opening with Ong’s power-pop-inspired guitar and organ (courtesy of Andy Wallace), you are immediately set adrift on a joyful, cheery, toe-tapping, bright and fun sonic cloud. Feeling the sun warm your face and send tingles along your skin, that moment is as sweet as honey…. then things start to turn.

When ‘A Moment Of Sunshine’ opened with its nostalgic feeling of The Beatles and The Kinks, I loved the pop intensity of the bright song. When the brass hit (courtesy of the Hoxton Horns), the saxophones and trombones puncture the cloud with an enigmatic blast moving from pop to sassy jazz. Ong’s bold vocals race through the melody with his guitar leading the way. In a distinctive style that is completely Jonny Ong, this pop-to-jazz-rock transition is effortless and intoxicating.

‘A Moment Of Sunshine’ is all about fleeting summer romances and the soul-stirring, breath-taking, astounding rush of music leaves you giddy. The romance may not last but the vivid memory of it stands out like sunshine on a cloudy day.


For more from Jonny Ong, check out his Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.

This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator