A great deal has happened to Jon McLaughlin between the release of his 2007 Island Records debut Indiana and his October 2008 sophomore effort, OK Now. When we last saw him, the 25-year-old singer/songwriter was giving a show-stopping performance of the Oscar-nominated "So Close", the song he sang in the hit Disney movie "Enchanted", at the Academy Awards ceremony itself. The appearance re-ignited Indiana, sending it to the #1 spot on Amazon's Movers & Shakers chart. The album's single, "Beautiful Disaster", attracted nearly half a million digital fans when featured as Single of The Week.

The singer-songwriter from Anderson, Indiana hit his stride in 2007 after getting major touring slots with Sara Bareilles, Paolo Nutini and Kelly Clarkson, along with dates with Colbie Caillat, Duffy and OneRepublic. He entered an L.A. recording studio last year intent on undergoing both a musical and stylistic transformation. The heartland piano player expanded his palette by working with new producer John Fields (Rooney, Jonas Brothers, Lifehouse, Switchfoot), co-writing with the likes of Jason Reeves (Colbie Callait's "Bubbly"), Troy Verges (Kenny Chesney's "You Save Me") and Brett James (Carrie Underwood's "Jesus, Take The Wheel").

Jon describes himself as a child of the 80's in talking about the musical direction of OK Now. A perfect example is the first single "Beating My Heart", an introspective, existential tune about nothing less than the meaning of life. The elaborate pop-rock production evokes Coldplay, thanks to soaring synths and a crackling backbeat. As for his "Enchanted" experience, "the whole thing has taken on a life of its own", he says. "I wasn't even supposed to be in the movie. I love Disney ballads, but I didn't necessarily connect it to what I do as an artist. But that image of an old-school crooner inspired me. I was able to see myself as something different, which helped me open up to try new things on this album."

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