Javier Colon
About
Javier Colon
Javier Colon has a lot of heart.In fact, that heart is precisely why he captivated America as winner of the inaugural season of NBC's hit television show, The Voice. It's why he never gave up on his dream of a career in music even in the face of numerous setbacks and what seemed like endless adversity. It's why every time he writes a song, it strikes a chord.
Colon is no stranger to the music business. After touring with The Derek Trucks Band for two years, he released two major label albums via Capital Records—Javier in 2003 and Left of Center in 2006. Both releases illustrated a daring creativity that expanded beyond the confines of pop music, while still retaining an undeniable sense of melody. He already began to stand out as he carved the foundation for his self-dubbed, "acoustic soul" style.
Colon eventually split with Capitol and released The Truth – Acoustic EP on his own label, Javier Colon Music, in 2010. After a decade, he'd already experienced the road, dealt with the struggles of trying to excel on a competitive and crowded major label roster, and faced the challenges of promoting his music independently. In a sense, he'd seen it all and could've thrown in the towel. He wasn't going to stop though.
Notified of the chance to audition for The Voice in early 2011, Colon took the opportunity. He'd been fighting for another record deal for five years to no avail and wasn't sure about what the next step would be. Almost canceling the audition due to other show commitments, he decided to go anyway.
"I'm glad I went because The Voice was the best thing that's happened up to this point in my career," smiles Colon. "I really try to put everything I am into my songs and performances. I never expect anything, and winning was a shock. I was one-hundred percent happy that I'd simply gotten to the final four contestants. When Carson Daly announced I was the winner, I was elated and I couldn't believe it. I'm very thankful."
Colon's humility is just as spellbinding as his voice is. Both of those elements charmed America and consequentially led to his victory on the show including a recording contract with Universal Republic Records. Whether he was performing "Landslide" with Stevie Nicks, or his fan favorite acoustic rendition of Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time," the performer captured the hearts of millions.
Original song and debut single "Stitch By Stitch" not only clenched the top prize on The Voice for Colon, but it also became something of a phenomenon. During the first week of its digital release, the song exceeded sales of 145,000 and peaked at #17 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Colon even performed "Stitch By Stitch" on the Tonight Show With Jay Leno. With its lilting acoustic guitar and Colon's palpable, powerful delivery, it's an honest and heartfelt ballad.
The song holds serious significance for the singer for myriad reasons. "It represents a broken man trying to put his life or career back together," reveals Colon. "It's about having someone there to support you when things aren't at their best, help you when you've fallen, and give you the strength to fight on and succeed. In my case, that person is my wife."
"Stitch By Stitch" is only one thread of Colon's debut. He began writing songs for the record in July 2011, and he dove deep inside himself. The next single drops in November 2011 and it promises that same honesty.
He goes on, "I feel like this is my formal debut. Lyrically, the album is going to cover all of the ups and downs that my family and I have been through. My experiences make their way into my music, and they help me stay focused. I want to tell my tale. If do this wonderful thing that I love, there's going to be a ton of work, but I'm up for it."
Colon's been up for it since he first discovered music as a kid growing up in Connecticut. His father was a DJ at a local radio station, so there was always music playing at home. "From an early age, I'd start mimicking the singers I'd hear on the radio," he recalls. "With encouragement from my mom and a few teachers, I started performing at school. After that, I wanted to be all over anything that had to do with music."
In addition, Colon writes his own songs, constantly keeping himself open to inspiration. A family man, he keeps his wife and daughters close to his heart at all times often writing about them. He continues, "I connect emotionally to the songs I write, especially if they have anything to do with my wife or my little girls. As a result, music can happen at any time. I've had instances where I'll wake up in the middle of the night with two full verses of lyrics that I hardly even have to think about. I hope people connect to that."
When they get a chance to hear the full album, they'll undoubtedly connect. Colon isn't simply following anyone else's path either; he's making his own way. "My influences range from James Taylor to James Brown," Colon adds. "I approach pop from a singer-songwriter's perspective, and I try to infuse soul into that style."
With a fresh take on pop, soul, and acoustic music, Javier's journey starts with the release of this record. He concludes, "I hope the album takes people on my journey through all of the trials and tribulations we've made it through together. It's definitely important that the songs move people."
His new album, Come Through For You, features guest appearances from Natasha Bedingfield and Adam Levine.
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