A Chat with Chris Jobson (31.08.25)
Interview with Karen Beishuizen (guest contributor)
Chris Jobson is a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. He is the son of legendary musician Eddie Jobson. He has released his debut album Wish You Well on 22 August. We talk about growing up with a famous dad, his debut album, the songs, working with his dad on this album, and more.
With Eddie Jobson as dad, how big was the chance you would become a singer and musician too?
Jobson: When you have some of the world’s most talented musicians like Allan Holdsworth, Bill Bruford, Marco Minnemann, Alex Machacek, Mike Mangini, Trey Gunn and John Wetton visiting your house or getting to watch these major players rehearse complicated music in varying time signatures that your father wrote, it’s hard for that not to make an impact! He has always been an inspiration to me, and I’ve always had dreams of following in his footsteps. He’s been a guiding hand in my music development from childhood, by deliberately picking cello over violin for me to learn when having to choose an instrument in grade school, to introducing me to some of his great contemporaries in progressive rock like Mahavishnu Orchestra and King Crimson. This helped me develop an eclectic musical taste and come to appreciate all types of music, be it Gustav Holst or Robert Fripp (there are more similarities there than people may think).
Your debut album, Wish You Well, was released on 22 August. How did the process of recording it go? You wrote the whole album?
Jobson: My Dad and I embarked on this project together five years ago. I would go off and write the songs and would bring them in to him when I felt like they were ready. He would listen and give some guidance on how to improve them, and we would make some tweaks together, like rewriting lyrics that weren’t working or shifting some of the structure of the song around. Then he would record me just on acoustic guitar and vocals as a guide, so we knew the basic outline of the song. From there, we would continue to discuss which songs we thought were the strongest and deserved to be completed, and then we recorded all the other instruments to start building the sonic landscape for each song.
What are the songs about?
Jobson: They all vary, but there are themes of loss, heartbreak, frustration, listlessness, complacency, and political dissatisfaction, to name a few. Whatever meaning the listener gets from the songs is the most important and will be different for everyone.
Wish You Well – how did you come up with the title?
Jobson: The name comes from the last track of the album. The inspiration for the song was about a relationship ending, but wanting it to end with love and not anger. We liked the idea of naming the album after one of the songs, and after looking at all the track names, we thought it communicated an optimistic, positive energy, and encapsulated a larger feeling of well-wishing to the listener.
Your dad plays on the album too. How did that work out?
Jobson: It was amazing to have him play on the album. He plays all piano and keyboards throughout. My favourite feature of his is on ‘Like to Believe’, which showcases our greatest blend of influences and styles. When the synth solo comes out of the vocal line, it gets me amped every time! He also added some beautiful parts to (the song) ‘Wish You Well’ that really elevate the emotion, which he’s known to do.
Do you have a favourite song on the album?
Jobson: I oscillate on my favourite depending on the day, but I think ‘Wish You Well’ is the strongest song from a songwriting perspective, and I think ‘Change’ is the most fun and the one I am looking the most forward to playing live.
What instruments do you play on the album, and who else is on board?
Jobson: This album is mostly just me and my dad, which is what makes it so special. Not only is it a work I am supremely proud of, it’s also now a family heirloom. I’m playing all of the bass and drums that you hear on the album, as well as singing all of the vocals. I also play cello on ‘Like to Believe’ and mandolin on ‘Home’ and ‘Life Gets in the Way’. The only guitars that aren’t me are the solo at the end of ‘Change’ and the lyrical solo on ‘Lost a Friend’, which were performed by my good friend and excellent guitarist, Austin Short. The pedal steel solo and parts on ‘Life Gets in the Way’ were performed by Doc Brown, and the slide guitar on ‘Lost a Friend’ was performed by Chris Arles.
(The credits for the album can be found on my website)
Describe the music genre on the album and why people should buy it?
Jobson: My dad and I have coined the new genre “progressive indie rock” to describe this album. I love this description because I think the album has a lot of laid-back energy that defines indie rock, yet it has a lot of rhythmic complexity, darkness, and player showcases, which are attributes that define progressive rock. I think it’s an interesting blend of both genres to create an entirely new one. People should buy the LP to find out for themselves!
What’s up next for you?
Jobson: The downside of playing virtually every instrument on the album is that I don’t currently have a band. So my next steps for this project are to get my live act together by finding players that can play these parts, and getting gear in place so we can recreate the sonic elements you hear throughout the album. Lastly, getting out there and playing shows!
Thanks to Chris Jobson for speaking with us. Find out more about Chris Jobson on his official website, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Spotify.
