Jonah Marais

Article by Brittany Ormiston

“This tour feels like a family reunion.” Jonah Marais is currently on his first tour as a solo artist, and it is certainly bittersweet. His return to the Windy City was filled with moments of reminiscence, and reminders to be present co-existing in time. Jonah experienced a “pivotal moment as an artist” when asked to perform at Digifest in Chicago almost 10 years ago. He recalled standing behind the piano on Navy Pier while looking out at the crowd, and knowing with 100% certainty he wanted to be an artist for the rest of his life. In 2017, he performed at Lincoln Hall with his band Why Don’t We. Jonah performed on that very stage this past weekend where he laughed, cried, and danced with countless fans who have supported him for years.

Emerging in a customized Cubs jersey, Jonah was all smiles the second he set foot on stage. He jumped right into performing ‘Twisted Lullaby,’ the first song he wrote for his project The Jonah Marais Mixtape. “This is going to be a good show,” uttered Jonah in response to the crowd singing every word. To introduce another track off the EP, Jonah mentioned the closest you can get to heaven is singing together as one. Each person wrapped their arms around their loved ones, and swayed to the beat. “Heaven here with you,” sang the crowd as they pointed to Jonah in unison. “I love you!” he whispered and blushed a little. Jonah gave a preview of his next project by performing unreleased songs such as ‘Miracle Fruit’ and ‘Love Me.’ Both tracks displayed more mature lyrics, rock influences, and breathtaking vocals. The infectious vibes were well-received by the crowd, and they wanted those songs released immediately. 

Nostalgia entered the chat when Jonah performed ‘War Paint,’ and even he was not prepared for the crowd’s energetic response. To conclude the track, a humorous audio clip from a fan’s TikTok echoed from the speakers as Jonah giggled incessantly. He made it a point to include a few Why Don’t We tracks in the setlist to recall the good times… and the bad ones (if you know you know). ‘Grey’ was never performed live with the full band, and a rollercoaster of emotions emerged as Jonah graced the piano keys one note at a time. As the instrumentals for ‘8 Letters’ began, fans raised signs to the sky that wrote, “Chicago <3’s You!” Jonah placed his hand over his heart as he delivered an effortless performance of the track. It is no doubt that no matter how much time passes, ‘8 Letters’ will always resonate on a different level. “I want tonight to be a celebration of Why Don’t We,” stated Jonah confidently. 

Before wrapping up the set, Jonah mentioned how his fans saved him. They are a major reason why he had the courage to step onto a stage again. Jonah has shown remarkable resilience over the last few years despite the curveballs life has thrown his way. He continues to be the most humble, genuine, and optimistic human on and off the stage. Jonah’s ability to make fans feel at home in his presence is quite rare, and deserves to be noted. The Young and Optimistic tour is just the beginning for Jonah, and it sure feels like he hit a home run.    

Lincoln Hall in Chicago, IL on August 31, 2024

Photos by Everly Ormiston