Hi Jonny, how are you doing?
It feels like I’m always busy, but in a good way … trying to juggle creative projects — music, writing, and design — alongside having a family life too.
Where are you from?
I live just outside of Boston. I’ve always lived in the Northeastern United States, but have traveled all over the world.
What are you working on now?
I’m working on songs for a new album, which musically draws on 90s drum and bass and synthpop. The work is inspired by our relationship with nature and the world around us.
How did you first get started with music?
I was lucky to grow up in a household that supported creativity of every kind, from writing to art to music. I also benefited greatly from my mother having a piano studio, and starting me on the instrument at a young age.
What’s your favorite musical era?
While I’m truly inspired by ‘80s synth music, I think that ‘70s rock was so inventive, groundbreaking and experimental. If you forced me to make a choice, I’d have to pick the ‘70s as the creative era to emulate.
What films and books inspire your work?
Oh, I'm a sci-fi geek. In particular, I’m a sucker for all things cyberpunk, from William Gibson to Neal Stephenson to Tim Maughan. But, my adolescence was informed by Stephen King, who is the undisputed master of horror writing in my opinion.
As for movies, I’d have to pick, Alien, The Terminator, and Blade Runner as the best of the best. Throw The Matrix and Predator in there too.
Who are your musical influences?
My musical influences include a lot of ‘90s electronic music — from Underworld to Orbital to The Chemical Brothers — and industrial — Nine Inch Nails, KMFDM, Ministry, etc.— as well as ‘80s synth music — like The Pet Shop Boys, New Order, Duran Duran. I think you can hear the mix of these influences in my debut album, Cybertherial.
Can you describe your creative approach?
I learned a disciplined approach to creative endeavors early in life. Creative projects are finite, but creative work is for the long haul. So, finding time to do it on a daily basis is key. Having the discipline to write, compose music, draw or whatever it is, at a regular time for a regular amount of time each day is powerful habit that will pay dividends in the long run. I think my training as a designer and work in the world of software development has made me further appreciate a structured approach.
Creative work, for me, is a mixture of the controlled and the uncontrollable … discipline and inspiration … chaos and structure … I think, in my current project, writing songs for a new EP, and working with a variety of collaborators, I really need to let go of controlling every aspect.
What are some memories that you had when you first started writing music? How has this changed from childhood to adolescence to creating music as an adult?
When I started recording music it was an all analog process. I have fond memories of recording electronic drums with an old reel-to-reel tape recorder that my father had. In high school, my band rented a Fostex 4-track to record our first demo. We recorded four or five songs and mixed them over the course of a weekend, which involved pulling an all nighter to get to a final mix down everyone would accept. Even in college, when I worked in a recording studio in London for awhile, it was mostly an analog process. Although, to be fair, that studio job also gave me my first exposure to digital recording with ProTools. I got to sit in on some amazing recording sessions, including one with a full orchestra at Air Studios.
Now that everything is recorded digitally, usually on a laptop, it feels almost like cheating. I have tons of analog equipment that I rarely use now. Although, I still pull out the synths when I’m looking for a particular sound.
What’s a particularly memorable dream or nightmare that you've had?
As a kid I would always have absolutely terrifying nightmares about being pursued by a zombie horde and having to fight them off in some sort of post-apocalyptic burned out city. This was in the 80s. So, it was before The Walking Dead and most of the zombie movies and TV shows that are so popular now.
In the nightmare, I recall hiding beneath a couch in a pile of rubble and waiting for the horde to go by. What does it mean? Who knows. But, after awhile I definitely felt like scary dreams were not so bad. I was reading a lot of Stephen King at the time. So, maybe that had something to do with it.
What's your favorite soft drink?
Oh yeah. Orange Crush is my favorite. Needs to be ice cold, though.