Jonnie, a band of six students at Lipscomb University had their first ever rehearsal a little over a year ago. Now, their first single, Chardonnay hit streaming platforms last month, and they have an album coming next year. 

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This lively bunch of students, Veronica “Ronnie” Bates, Jolie Wing, Ian MacGinnis, Jack French, Landon Crosswell, and Avery Roy, exemplify a loving group of friends, being close with manager Emmalyn Williams as well. 

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The group was both lively and welcoming, sharing fun stories about times they've been brought closer together, laughter filling the room with each one. 

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The six track album, August and others, will be released in August, said Bates, one of the singer songwriters of the group. The single “Chardonnay” is a song that is lyrically driven, they said, but the upcoming single “Lovely” has a totally different vibe. They said that it was much more fun to create instrumentally. 

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Each member of the group shared their love for different songs on the album that they each fell in love with, all for different reasons.

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French, the band's bassist, said, “‘Lovely’, which is our next single that's coming, is probably my favorite song from the record, and it's also the one I'm the most personally proud of.” The bass player plans to get a tattoo to commemorate this track, the hard work going into it, and  the freedom that he felt creating it.

 

“They just let me have my way with it and I felt so much creativity.” 

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Crosswell, piano player and lead producer for the group, expressed his favorite, a song titled “Elephant,” saying, “it didn't groove at first, but now it does.”

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MacGinnis, lead guitarist, said he was honored to be a part of this group, and expressed how thankful he was to make music with his peers. 

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The group recently played A Holly Jonnie Christmas, a benefit show at The Well Coffeehouse, located in Nashville, with proceeds benefiting Nashville rescue mission. The group played a mix of Christmas songs as well as originals, including “Chardonnay” as well as their upcoming single, “Lovely.”

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Over the summer, they experienced playing many shows in Chicago, which is where manager Williams said she first began getting close to the band. “All of a sudden I had six of them staying at my house, and it was the most fun ever,” she said, “that's when I knew I wanted to stick with this band.” 

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Roy, the group's drummer, who is also known as Voidletter in his personal pursuits, said that being a part of Jonnie has inspired him in his personal music projects as well. “My personal projects have been influenced by two of the best songwriters I know, Ronnie and Jo.” 

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The groups first single, “Chardonnay” is available now, and their next single, “Lovely” will be available on January 13, 2024. Stay on the lookout for the album, coming in August of 2024.