So as many of you know, and probably just as many of you don’t know why, they call me Jonny Thrash. Well why and how did I come to be called this? … Well that’s a story for another blog. One which I may soon write. The definition of Thrash is as follows.

Thrash (verb): 1. To beat soundly in punishment; flog. 2. To defeat thoroughly.

Also it is a  term used to describe particular styles of heavier music ie. Punk and Metal.

A great nickname, if I do say so myself, bestowed upon me by a long lost friend. It describes not only my steadfast and sometimes aggressive nature; but also a big part of my musicality as a musician.

Recently I have been talking a lot with one of by best friends, a talented guitarist and someone I have come to see as a musical and personal inspiration Christopher Beckwith aka Young Jimmy.

Young Jimmy and I have been talking a lot about the transitional period  of life between the late teenage years and young adulthood that specifically a young man must make. And the struggles and responsibilities that you must face in this stage. A subject that I have been in deep thought about for some time now and constantly find as the topic of discussion between many of my friends.

On top of that we’ve discussed dreams, career aspirations and the road to success. Young Jimmy and I are both musician and aspire to become famous professional musicians in rock bands. Not just your average local band playing a couple of gigs a few nights a week. I’m talking about MTV, VH1, Fuse, Playing music festivals and touring the world type of bands.

A couple of years back he left New York City and moved to Ithaca, NY for close to two years before moving back to the city almost a year ago. He had to get away from it all, the fast pace, pressure, doubters, struggle, family, friends, comfort. Whatever it all is about New York City that makes, a New Yorker, a New Yorker, he grew to hate it. He had to escape the city life, get away from it all and make it on his own as a man in this world.

Upstate he got an apartment a job and started working hard on his music. He dedicated him self to his passion and supported himself at the same time because he had no other choice. He wrote over 100 songs in Ithaca.

I myself have been doing the same thing for the past couple of years when it comes to my music. Although admittedly not with the same intensity or vigor. To my defense I am somewhat of an over perfectionist when it comes to the music I create. Some songs it has taken me years to get to just right, building more and more steadily, chipping away at the excess… Other songs I can write in hours or minutes. Those however usually get subjected to the same scrutiny as the others. A lot musicians have to vibe and jam on ideas and build quickly on repetitious concepts. When I hear in my head or play a simple melodic line, I can hear the whole orchestration in my mind, the feel, the mood, time signatures, tempo, guitar, drums, bass, vocal lines. I’m not saying I am Motzart or anything, I just create differently from many musicians.

Recently Young Jimmy’s band has been playing more and more shows in the NYC area, and with that notoriety and experience grows. Unfortunately at the height of this he has had to make some changes in the line up of the band.

As I was wondering how to take my music career to the next level and he about the future of his group, we sought each others council. Together we discovered this: That  why music is a creative collaborative process; there are a lot of things that co into successfully co-habituating with your band members besides musical skill and talent. For instance creative integrity, emotional wellness, ego and respect. I think that those are some of the major barriers that many bands run into. I believe like in any relationship when it comes to those issues you have to be able to collectively give and take. More importantly everyone must equally give. All voices should be heard.

Young Jimmy stance on this slightly varies. But it has come to inspire me and give me the extra push that I needed to become fully dedicated to creating, sharing, and showcasing my music. In the end you have to focus on your self, and ending up with what you want and where you want to be no matter what the cost. Because in the end the most important thing is yourself. You ultimately have no control of other people.

We talk also about my rock’n’roll spirit. Something I have let fall to the way side in recent years. The essence of Jonny Thrash what that is and what that means to me. Jonny Thrash is devil may care, because he has God on side. The understated warrior who charges into the fray, knowing the outcome of the battle and that he remains standing, looking down on his defeated enemies. Jonny Thrash is freedom of self expression. Jonny Thrash is meticulous, yet sporadic and inspirational. Jonny Thrash is a leader. Jonny Thrash is an innovator. Jonny Thrash is a creator. Jonny Thrash is me. That was something I forgot for a while. But I am glad I remember now.

Thanks for being there to help me on my journey YJ, you are always a great friend. I will always return the favor.

And congratulations to Young Jimmy and his lovely fiance Lexi Bella on their baby girl. Can’t wait till she gets here.

-JNYTHRNVRDIEZ