21st Century Bluesman Jontavious Willis shines bold and bright on “Keep Your Worries On the Dance Floor,” a smile-inducing, soul-soaked song full of stunning guitar work, sweet light, and heartwarming charm. The lead single off the Grammy nominated artist’s upcoming third album ‘Jontavious Willis’ West Georgia Blues’ will get the whole room moving and grooving, laughing and loving with an irresistible, undeniable kinetic energy.
“Keep Your Worries On the Dance Floor” – Jontavious Willis
Jontavious Willis’ latest single is a reminder that, contrary to popular opinion, the Blues doesn’t always have to be blue.
In fact, sometimes the Blues can bring the sunshine, too. The Grammy-nominated artist crafting his own 21st Century Blues shines bold and bright on “Keep Your Worries On the Dance Floor,” a smile-inducing, soul-soaked song full of stunning guitar work, sweet light, and heartwarming charm. It’s a little ditty meant to break you out of your stillness and get the whole room moving and grooving, laughing and loving – a dynamic track filled to the brim with an irresistible, undeniable kinetic energy.
I see you sister and I can tell by your step
that them children about to
worry you to death
I want you to keep your worries
on the dance floor
I hear you brother you done lost your job
You’ll find a better one
Don’t you take it so hard
I want you to keep your worries
on the dance floor
Atwood Magazine is proud to be premiering “Keep Your Worries On the Dance Floor,” the lead single off Jontavious Willis’ upcoming third studio album, Jontavious Willis’ West Georgia Blues (out August 2024 via Strolling Bones Records). Arriving four long years after Willis’ Grammy-nominated sophomore album Spectacular Class, Jontavious Willis’ West Georgia Blues finds the multi-instrumentalist singer and songwriter from rural Georgia bringing the Blues to life with exhilarating passion, offering his own takes on Delta, Piedmont, and Texas Blues styles – all while staying unapologetically true to himself.
Entirely self-produced, the fifteen-track West Georgia Blues is as gut-wrenching as it is euphoric; through fifteen original songs, Willis, who considers himself an ambassador to the Blues, explores everything from heartbreak and loneliness to celebration and self-discovery, all through the time-tested, multi-generational, centuries-spanning vessel that is the Blues.
And what better way to get the party started, than with a lively song that sends our hips – and our spirits – sky-high?
“People are invited to dance to this song – anywhere that they find themselves,” Willis tells Atwood Magazine. “It’s a message to find your peace in any space and release yourself freely. Especially in an era where people don’t dance and most concert attendees just sit and look and think ‘it’s not ok to dance,’ but it’s always ok to dance. Life is going to throw everything at you, and every emotion will be cycled through: The dance floor is a place to find serenity in all of that.”
“To express that idea, I wanted to make a soul song: A blues-soul song that felt authentic to me, not just copy a riff or make a bluesier version of the soul tunes our mama and daddy had us listening to when I grew up. It ended up a bit different from the rest of the record. It came out with an awesome feel. I love it and I hope everyone enjoy it as much as I enjoyed making it. It’s my mama’s and my girl’s favorite, so I may be biased.”
That low down scoundrel
done broke your heart
and you think you’ve under did,
under did your part
I want you to keep your worries
on the dance floor
You may have lost someone you truly did love
and they are gone to the skies above
I want you to keep your worries
on the dance floor
It’s been nearly a decade since a teenaged Jontavious Willis earned the nickname “Wonderboy” from living Blues legend Taj Mahal himself.
In the years since, Willis has established himself as one of his generation’s foremost Blues artists and performers – a multi-instrumentalist singer/songwriter well-versed in the classics, and equally adept at crafting his own unique flavors. His many awards for excellence in Blues music, including his Grammy nomination, speak for themselves, as does his touring record – a rap sheet that includes opening for Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo during their joint TajMo tour.
His formidable talents as a guitarist echo throughout his acclaimed, burgeoning oeuvre, and can be seen firsthand through the videos he uploads to his YouTube channel, and those he posts to his Instagram account.
The bluesman’s upcoming third album – his first in five years’ time – builds upon the sounds and styles of his first two records, all the while continuing to blaze a new trail.
“This new album is a reflection of my roots in Georgia as well as all different shades of the Blues,” Willis recently shared. “The original lyrics and music were written here in West Georgia and we recorded it at Capricorn Sound Studios and Museum.”
“Keep Your Worries On the Dance Floor” is just the start of something very special as Jontavious Willis revs his engines, inspiring all who tune in to his musical sunshine. Stream his new single exclusively on Atwood Magazine, and stay tuned for more to come as he slowly rolls out his third album over the coming months.
Jontavious Willis’ West Georgia Blues is set to release this August via Strolling Bones Records!
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“Keep Your Worries On the Dance Floor” – Jontavious Willis
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