Jonah Tolchin will be releasing his Blues album Dockside on October 20th, 2023 via Clover Music Group. It was co-Produced by Luther Dickinson and recorded at the revered studio of the same name in Louisiana. You can get a taste of the album with preview track of Tolchin’s take on Little Walter’s “Blues with a Feeling”.
Dockside is also the first release on the label Jonah Tolchin has started Clover Music Group, the formation of which helps him “to stay spiritually grounded” and to which he’s already signed a second artist with plans to grow a full roster.
Raised by Jewish parents, Tolchin was inspired by the Blues legacies of Peter Green and Mike Bloomfield, and felt that there was a way to respect the Blues and find his own way within the genre. Though his own spiritual journey started with Judaism, it led him to Buddhism, especially after a retreat at Blue Cliff Monastery in upstate NY in 2015.
Creating the songs on Dockside have helped Tolchin process his own often difficult experiences in life. The song “Suffering Well,” features co-producer Luther Dickinson on guitar and takes a Buddhist angle that “suffering is inevitable but there’s a way for one to take sorrow and turn it into compassion.”
On “Nothing Gonna Take My Blues Away,” Tolchin writes from the perspective of someone who does not want his Blues taken away, suggesting that “without the pain, one can’t have growth of self.” These ideas came from the writings of Thích Nhất Hạnh, a book that he took into a prison group with his mother, a storyteller who was leading a workshop.
In a recent Instagram post, Tolchin celebrated his placement on two official Spotify playlists, Got Blues and Blues Stompers, by saying:
“The music industry is tough, and getting harder all the time with the shear mass of releases. Most artists need to tour in order to have a career, or make any kind of substantial income. One of my goals of starting this label was to be able to create a respectable income and following from streaming alone. It’s not an easy feat, but I know people who are currently doing it—so I know that it’s possible.
Even though streaming royalties have a long way to go, I just want to express my gratitude to Spotify for supporting my music over the last decade. With this kind of continued playlist support, I may be able to achieve my dream of focusing on being a writer and recording artist.
Because of my ADHD and various other mental health issues, I’ve learned that I need to be grounded and have a daily routine. It’s tough to do that on the road, and most importantly I want to be home with my family and watch my daughter grow up. Those are the things that matter most to me.”
