As we gear up for Cody Jon's appearance at the Oxford Art Factory's Holiday Hoedown this week, we're hitting repeat on the artist's new release, STAGEFRIGHT. The lowkey guitar-led ballad navigates "the social anxiety of initiating an important conversation with someone in your life," Cody explains. "The fight between the part of you that knows conversation could solve the unresolved tension and the part that knows it could make everything end in flames." STAGEFRIGHT comes to life in the very visually-2000s-esque music video, creatively directed and edited by Cody himself, giving major Matrix vibes. "I took inspiration from The Matrix not only because it aesthetically depicted how I saw the song in my head, but also because the STAGEFRIGHT lyrics explore that same concept," Cody says. "Learn the potentially unsettling truth or remain ignorant and unaware. It was a perfect pairing." We like his sound, we like his visuals and we love his conceptual mind, so we talked to Cody about writing, directing and the highlights of 2022, including supporting Tai Verdes:

We love the STAGEFRIGHT video and of course, the song. When did you write this track and what was on your mind?

"I wrote this track almost 2 years ago with legends Cyrus Villanueva and Ned Houston. It was actually my very first ever writing session (I had only written solo in my bedroom). I was hella nervous because I didn’t know how it would go down. I was in the midst of my first break-up (of sorts) and I’d never experienced anything like it. It was all I could think about so I shared the sitch with Ned and Cy and we got to writing!"

Tell us about the music video, it’s great. What was on the mood board and who did you work with to bring it to life?

"Thank you! I always make a collage of images that come to mind when I finish writing a track. STAGEFRIGHT was green, grey, and grainy, with the matrix, fight club, dark clouds, isolation, you know, all that nice and light imagery!

I worked with Alex O.Smith on this video and what he captured was amazing. Alex’s eye is very refined and he used a wide-angle lens from the 60’s. I’m grateful that Alex allowed me to really get in there and collaborate with him. This is the first music video that I’ve had the opportunity to edit and colour-grade myself (I enjoyed it)."

You’ve created a cool trilogy with your last three music videos. Which films or perhaps directors inspire you visually?

"The trilogy of Becky's Plan, Dirty Dancing, and STAGEFRIGHT are all connected and are snapshots of my coming-of-age experience. It’s been awesome having full creative freedom and scattering in all my inspirations.

I spent months preparing for the MV’s, making mood boards, storyboards, gathering and creating props and clothing and so each video has a bunch of hidden secrets and references to the other MV’s in the JON-IVERSE.

I plan to get more into directing down the line so having the opportunity to start with my own projects is amazing. Wes Anderson was a huge inspo for Becky’s Plan. I’ve also referenced a lot of 2000s movies like Freaky Friday, Mean Girls, Scooby Doo, Princess Diaries and Ella Enchanted because a lot of my music evokes that similar warm, nostalgic, playful feeling as those films do."

You’ve said STAGEFRIGHT is more personal than anything you’ve released - how do you feel letting it go?

"I was a tad nervous to put it out but now so much time has passed since we wrote it. I'm grown now and it actually feels great to give the song to other people who may need to belt-it-out at the top of their lungs in their car. Even though at the time it felt like my world was collapsing I didn't want to make it a super heavy song so I kept a bit of my usual sarcasm in the track and music video."

Has it been a cathartic experience to be this vulnerable in your songwriting?

"I’d say yes. I usually write conceptually and imaginatively about experiences or types of people I've encountered rather than one specific person, this way the song can apply to whoever I need it to at any point in my life. Being vulnerable and simply sharing what’s on your mind is always cathartic, sometimes a song-writing session becomes a therapy session real quick."

How do you hope people listening feel when they hear STAGEFRIGHT?

"I’m pretty sure everyone over-thinks a situation to the point it consumes their every waking thought every now and then (or maybe not). I hope people think about someone in their life that they need to have an important convo with. Bite the bullet and do it before it’s too late.

I also want people to have a sing and a dance. Jump around in anger or have a chill groove, the beat is multipurpose."

You’ve had a huge year. What did you learn supporting Tai Verdes on tour?

"Opening for Tai was mad. They were the biggest venues I've played my own music at so far and I really got to use the space and dance around. It was a full house and the audience went offfff. I wanna be playing my own headline shows at those venues next year."

Which artists would you love to collaborate with? Who is on the Cody Jon bucket list?

"When I was in LA I made friends with so many great artists. I'd love to make a tune with Forrest Nolan or Claire Rosinkranz. I’m also really into the group Flo and think we could make magic together."

What’s been the highlight of 2022 for you?

"I’ve gotta say the past two months that I spent in LA were a highlight for sure. I missed Australia and was very happy to be back but I just gotta say I had a crazy good time. I wrote a bunch of music, I went to more concerts in the first week than I had my entire life, somehow immediately made a bunch of awesome friends, got to go trick-or-treating for the first time (first and last time, parents were brutal), went to a college halloween party, went to Elton John's final tour at Dodger Stadium, went to 4 friends-givings (surprising considering I only had 1 friend there when i arrived), also met a bunch of my favourite artists and actors, in summary, It was wild."

What’s next? Is there an EP or album coming?

"SURPRISE yeah there is an EP coming… in a matter of weeks. It’s been ready for ages! I'm currently working with Cam to get the final tracks mixed and ready to go.

Also I'm heading back to the states in March for South by South-West !! I’m gonna be playing for the first time in the US of A which will be a milestone accomplished."

Listen to Cody Jon here.

@codyjon