Jhonny K

“I am a results/solutions oriented person.  I have failed A LOT. However, I take those failures and learn from them both musically and business-wise.  I am willing to change and be adaptable.  In the music industry, you have to be willing to shift and change when necessary, but also stay in touch with who you are as a person, so you don’t lose yourself to the next big thing coming out.  Its an interesting balancing act.” @jkandcrew

 

Listen to the interview: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/avaliveradio/2015/10/08/episode-263-ava-live-radio-behind-the-music-with-jacqueline-jax

Jacqueline Jax logo photo

GETTING TO KNOW JHONNY K
by Jacqueline Jax host of A.V.A Live Radio

The biggest challenge you have faced is…
making engaging content and letting my personality shine, instead of trying to be someone else.  Its finding what I have to offer and then not being shy about offering it to people.  My message is important and I can be just as big or impactful as any other mainstream artist.
On overcoming failures…
I am a results/solutions oriented person.  I have failed A LOT. However, I take those failures and learn from them both musically and business-wise.  I am willing to change and be adaptable.  In the music industry, you have to be willing to shift and change when necessary, but also stay in touch with who you are as a person, so you don’t lose yourself to the next big thing coming out.  Its an interesting balancing act.
My personal definition of success is..
Being known nationally as a positive influence, and having national recognition and measurable success on YouTube or Facebook, as well as having over 1 million fans on each.
You are most proud of…
the music that the band and I have created. I am also very proud to have played at some cool places like UPROAR Rock Festival, Sundance several times, and Comic Con in Salt Lake City, UT.  I am also very proud of the ARISE suicide prevention album, and being a part of something bigger than just myself.
Jhonny K
My over all goal for my life & career is…
to have the impact that Lindsay Stirling has had and to be nationally known and influential while still keeping my independent status.  As far as life is concerned, I want to raise a family and create a legacy of inspiration for my kids and wife.

The three ways that I challenge myself are…
1.) Cowrite with pros and people outside my genre
2.) Ask for help from people better than me in music, video, and marketing
3.) I challenge myself to re arrange a pop every week or write a song every week
I would love to have 5 minutes alone with…
Christ. I am very religious, so that would be my top pick.  Others that are not attached to religion would be Tesla, Ben Franklin, Elvis or Jim Carrey.  Every one of them has inspired me personally and would love to pick their brain on success, life in general, what makes them effective with people.
On being trendy versus staying true to yourself…
There always is that pressure to be current and trendy, which is not always a bad thing.  If it makes you lose yourself, then I think its a negative thing, however if you are always pushing yourself to do something different, I think it can be fresh for you and everyone else listening.  It goes back to that balancing act of being true to who you are and your message, but not limiting yourself to making music that no one wants to hear.  Unless your goal is just to write music for yourself, then it doesn’t matter. But if you want to write music that others and you experience, then you have to take into consideration what is happening currently in the genre or industry you are in. Once you recognize that, it helps you to help form the direction. Kurt Cobain wasn’t the first to use hard hitting guitars, he came after all the hair bands of the eighties, but his way of writing and playing was different then the polished pop rock of the eighties. Its the same with any artist now.
You got your start in music by…
playing classical and jazz trumpet. I did a little singing, but did not do a whole lot of it until my sisters pointed out how many girls liked guys who sang in high school! I picked up a guitar a few years later. I did not get really serious about performing or writing until my last year in college, when I was a back up singer for a buddy of mine. I loved the rush of being in a band and on stage for an audience.  Since then I have lived in Nashville, played all over North America and play regularly with my rock band.
Your song “ARISE” is about…
calling forth the greatness inside of each of us; the struggle between choosing darkness or light.  I wrote it as a part of a suicide prevention album that I produced last year. All the proceeds from that album go to nonprofits who help people that struggle with depression and suicide.  There is so much more to us than what we see, and this song is a reminder of our power and the audacity of the human spirit.

The back story behind this song is…
I spent a good year writing this song, from the words to the lyrics, making sure everything is how I wanted it.  Some songs just come to me fast (like another song on the same album only took me two weeks to write and I love it a lot too), but some take longer.  ARISE just needed some tender care and after some careful thought, it finally came together.  I wanted an epic sound that fit inside the suicide prevention theme, so I took it very seriously.  It is all me. I wrote all of it, from top to bottom. I produced it  and I played all the instruments, except drums and the choir.  This is one of my proudest moments as a songwriter, singer, and producer.
You started writing music because…
I wanted to write music that touched, inspired, and moved people.  That’s why I do music. This album of “ARISE” is the culmination of that desire-to create music that reaches someone in the worst time of their life, to motivate someone out of darkness, and to help someone feel comfort in time of loneliness.  It was a mixture of talents all brought together for a bigger cause and I am so grateful to have led and been a part of it.  Our marketing is ongoing through TV interviews, radio interviews like this one, and YouTube marketing, as well as live performances for kids in schools.
The music scene in Salt Lake City is…
 above average compared to some of the other places I have lived. Comparing it to Nashville, LA or Chicago, its not very good, but compared to where I grew up in Idaho its amazing! Honestly, its been a challenge to find the right fit here with my particular kind of music because southern pop rock isn’t as big here as it is out east, so its been a challenge to find where we fit.  I have an amazing fan base who come regularly to my events and I love every single one of them!  HI FANS!
Tell me about one fun thing you like to do that can be music or non-music related.
I will give you two. I love singing in hospitals for people who are there long term, and I love anything in the mud-mud football, mud volleyball, mud ping pong, whatever! Just give me mud and I’m happy.
The music business is…
a massive challenge. It is different than any other experience I have encountered.  I think we have more opportunity now than artists ever had in the past, but with the expanse of opportunity comes huge competition, so its imperative that an artist knows who they are so they can carve out their niche. There is no one path, which is both a blessing and a curse..  In sports, you know exactly what you need to do or where you need to go to get to the professional level.  In music, that path is not as clear. Its an open game which makes it hard, but also makes it filled with possibility.  Some pros that I enjoy is that anyone, truly anyone can make great music and do what they love and have lots of people enjoy it.  It all comes down to marketing and getting the word out there about your music and your message.  I like that.
 Social media makes it…
easy to get your music out to a ton of people.  I run all my events through Facebook, and that’s how I keep in touch with my fans for the most part.  It has been awesome to watch things grow from there.  The next thing I am going to tackle is to post more videos on YouTube and Facebook.
On releasing a single versus an album…
I have recorded or been a part of 6 albums.  I used to be all about the album, however, I am shifting my thinking to singles for a couple reasons.  Firstly, singles more cost effective. Secondly, I plan on releasing a single a month so I can be at the top of my fan’s minds, instead of  being forgotton because I only released something only in a whole year. Thricely, everything is going to streaming, its becoming more about the song instead of the album.  People just want good songs, if you have an album of amazing songs you will sell the album, but even then, when people have the option of streaming your one song for free, why would they buy an album?  the only time I sell albums is at live concerts. I may do a collection of singles after a year of recording, but I think singles is the way to go.  That is where the industry is heading with technology.
I am most afraid of…
Godzilla being real and eating me! Haha.  Although watching the fire and carnage would be fun.
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