We recently had the chance to connect with Jonah Hernandez and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Jonah, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
I’m usually pretty reclusive since I work from home both for my day job and creatively so there are periods when I don’t leave my house for days at a time, but recently I’ve found a lot of joy in taking time to get out and go do things with my fiancé. Literally just the simplest, smallest things like grabbing coffee, visiting somewhere new or simply just being in sunlight can be a reset if you’re stuck in your own brain most of the time like I am. I know, those are very “normal” daily things for most people but not for me haha.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a producer, songwriter/ghostwriter, artist manager and vocalist for Blightfeeder, Grieved, Philosophy of a Knife and Necrotoxaemia.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who taught you the most about work?
I’d say it’s a combination of a few people. Mostly, my old bandmate Jon Gilyeat (RIP) taught me a lot about the music industry before he passed away and I’ve carried that knowledge through my career to this day. I also have to give a lot of credit to my old booking agent Niki Nicosia and my old band’s manager Patrick Instefanidis for also showing me the ways when I was younger, and also just believing in me enough to share their knowledge.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
So many times.
With today’s climate, it definitely feels like the music industry is rigged against the artist and only the corporate few truly benefit from it. It almost feels impossible to even consider things like touring or branching out in larger ways that seem worth it because you will inevitably end up broke and at square one, unless you build a super strong financial foundation.
With all that in mind, I’ve wanted to give up multiple times. Why would I willingly lose thousands of dollars when I could use that kind money towards something beneficial in life, like investing in a house or further my education in a craft that will comfortably secure my future? I think every artist goes through the motions of that. In the end, you gotta just keep doing it because you love it and let things naturally roll out.
If it’s meant to happen, it will find a way to happen.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What important truth do very few people agree with you on?
Not everyone is meant to succeed in this industry. Not everyone has “it” and that’s a harsh truth.
The other side of that harsh truth is that, that’s also completely okay. I probably am one of those people too.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What do you think people will most misunderstand about your legacy?
That I have learned to live for the now and don’t care about my legacy.
When I die, I will live on through my music that is left behind but the reality is that it doesn’t matter if you’re an artist, world leader, politician- or even if you changed the fuckin world, we will all one day be forgotten. I will be gone- tf am I gonna do about it?
Contact Info:
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Image Credits
Photo Credits: Eric Villarreal & Benjamin Zeitlow
