We recently had the chance to connect with Jonté Mayon and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Jonté, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
Integrity! You can be intelligent and cleverly cheat me. Or have the best vibe and sweetest “energy” and steal from me with a smile. But integrity has straight lines. An integrous person keeps their word, is honest (sometimes brutally), punctual and prepared. Integrity makes you treat others AND yourself with respect.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Jonté Mayon. I was born and raised in New Orleans, La. Like most soul singers, my roots are in the Christian church. I started my professional career at the age of 4, singing along with my siblings in a family group called “The Landrum Singers”, at the 1984 World’s Fair. Though I would spend most of my childhood singing with my siblings in the church, and around the US. I would make at change at the age of 18. Soul and blues was calling… LOUD! And I answered, jumped in head first! The rest has been a beautiful and sometimes ugly journey. Many highs and many lows. Overall, I’ve been lucky. I’ve been able to channel all the love, hate, rough and smooth, the grit, pain and emotion into music and performing. I touch my audience’s soul… because I’m singing from the same place.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child, I believed success had one perfect, cookie cutter look. Super stardom, a bazillion dollars and the “lifestyle of the rich and famous”… blah, blah, blah. As an adult, I understand that success has many looks… for different people. My accomplishments are no greater or smaller than the next person. It’s all about perspective. Having your own set of goals is most important. Competition with anyone else is a waste of time and energy, in my opinion.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Whew, well…
Dear Young Jonté,
There are many things I’d like to say. But I was asked to say one kind thing to you. So, little 5 year old Jonté, your dark skin is BEAUTIFUL. Wipe your tears, you grow up to be a FOX!
Sincerely,
Foxy Mama aka Grown Jonté
P.S. To 14 year old Jonté, the boobs come in a year or so. Go back to class. Let them laugh now. The “skinny build” is gonna be great for your adult life.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
The public version of me is about 90% the real me. I say 90% percent because my natural personality is sort of “wall flower- ish”. I like to be present but not necessarily interactive. You would think I love and want the attention since I have the largest afro imaginable. I can’t sneak in or out of anywhere. But I’d much rather slip in and out unnoticed. I love people and I love that people want to encourage and lift you, especially after a performance. It brings me so much joy and relief in a way. But honestly, I’m just as nervous speaking to people as I am singing. That 10% of me wants to hide. Odd, I know. I’m a natural introvert.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I am absolutely doing what I was born to do. My Mama would say “girl, you were born to sing” all the time as a child and teenager. Mamas are usually right about EVERYTHING! Lol I honestly cannot see my life without singing. It’s a part of me like my hands or feet.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://landrumjq.wixsite.com/jontemayon
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonte_mayon
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jonte.thomas.1
