Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how your childhood impacted your musical direction?
A: I am a queer independent music producer, film composer, and recording artist in Los Angeles. I’m currently creating and releasing my next album, Religious Trauma Syndrome and the Other Side. I’m also working with several local music artists, podcasters, and filmmakers.
I grew up in Marietta, GA, and when I was young, my parents always encouraged me and my siblings to pursue artistic interests. Their influence and support were important to my development as a musician. If it wasn’t for my mom entering my music into a competition I won when I was 13, I don’t think I would be doing music today.
I grew up very religious and that was very important to me. I initially only wrote Christian worship music, but when I realized I was gay, I started to question the religious dogma I had been told. I explored these ideas – vaguely at first, but more bluntly as time went on – in my songwriting.
Q: How are you planning on growing your fan base and sharing your music with the world? What message do you have for anyone who is about to discover “Jonathan Thomas Maiocco”?
A: Creating art that is true to me, that I am proud of, is the most important step for me. Everything else is second to that. I wish social media was natural for me, but it isn’t. I have found growing a fan base very difficult, but again, that’s not what is important to me right now. Creating art is the most important step.
The message I am conveying in my next album Religious Trauma Syndrome and the Other Side is one of resilience and hope after leaving religion. I have met so many queer people like me who came out and were rejected by family, friends, and community. It’s one of the hardest journeys to walk. It feels impossible to recover, but I promise that healing is possible.
Q: Who is the most inspiring artist for you right now? And where do you find inspiration for making music?
A: There are so many artists I love, like WILLOW, Jacob Collier, Jon Batiste, and Will Jay to name a few. But right now, Qveen Herby is my muse. She had a similar religious upbringing and writes music that inspires me. She also has a podcast called Herby House that is all about creating art and navigating this journey, which has been a huge source of encouragement for me to continue creating art.
My inspiration for my music comes from my lived experience, all of my song lyrics are directly inspired by my life. Everything I write is true for me.
Q: Can you tell us about the story or message behind the song, “Heaven.”?
A: As I said earlier, all of my music is directly inspired by my lived experience. Back in 2017, I came out as gay to family, friends, and my church community. It went very poorly. I was told that being gay was a sin and that I was going to hell. I was literally told I was talking to demons. It was all very destabilizing. At the time, I was going to a church that I played keys at, and I lost that job. I also lost housing. It felt like I had to start from scratch. I lost the respect of so many people I loved and respected. I had some close friends who were very supportive, and without them, I wouldn’t have made it through.
I struggled. I was so angry and felt very broken. It took at least five years for me to get to a place of stability, and even then, I’m still hard at work on this. Therapy and community are everything to me right now. In that journey, my song Heaven was born. It started as a whisper in my head at first, an idea that almost felt like a joke. “Have fun up there in heaven, I guess I won’t be let in.” It slowly grew into an anthem, filled with sadness, rage, and strength.
Q: How would you describe your sound in one word for potential listeners?
A: Evolving. I’m constantly learning, I’m still finding my voice. I’m always on the hunt for what will get stuck in my head and for what will give me goosebumps.
Q: Did you face any challenges while writing or recording “Heaven”?
A: I faced so many challenges while creating Heaven. I questioned myself to my core, I wasn’t sure if this was something I “should” be writing. It felt so pointed, so sacrilegious. My heart would race when I played the song for friends. I even worked with a co-writer – the amazing and very talented Brooke Tomlinson – to help me finish writing this song. I’ll never forget playing her this “silly idea I had” and she immediately said, “We’re working on that.” Our songwriting session turned into a therapy session and we worked through it together.
Releasing the song was a big moment for me. I don’t have a big fanbase, only a handful of listeners. This song is me breaking my silence, finally sharing my perspective on what happened to me, and how I feel about it on the other side.
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Q: What is the message of your music? And what are your goals as an artist?
A: The message of my music is centered around my own story; learning to accept yourself, live authentically, and find inner truth and peace.
My goals as an artist are to pursue what’s true for me, what’s real for me. I want to keep creating art that resonates with me. And I really hope, someday soon, to have the financial and social support of my art.
Q: Who is your dream artist to collaborate with? (dead or alive)
A: There are so many artists I love – WILLOW, Jacob Collier, Maddie Zahm – but right now I’d have to say Qveen Herby. I resonate with all of her work and think she’s an incredible person. I definitely want to work with her someday.
Q: What is your advice for people interested in pursuing music as a career or for those trying to enter the industry?
A: There is a difference between making art and making money. Sometimes, those two things overlap and it’s wonderful. But sometimes, they don’t and that’s OK. Right now, I’m in a season of making art. It might make money, it might not. But regardless, it will create opportunity and resonance with like-minded individuals.
I’d also say that music as a career is a lot harder than it looks. You need to be your biggest fan because you’re the one driving. Create a network of support, you are only as strong as your community. And also, rest is more important than work. Don’t fall for the capitalist lie of constantly grinding, that is unrealistic and not sustainable.
Q: If you could go back in time and give a younger you some words of wisdom, what would they be?
A: The first thing I would do is give them the biggest hug and tell them they will be OK. I’d tell them that diamonds are formed under high heat and high pressure, to remember that when life gets hard, it’s an opportunity to learn, grow, and evolve.
