We have featured John Vento previously in support of his album Love, Lust & Other Wreckage. Today, I chat with John about his music, technology, challenges and the listening space he co-founded in Pittsburgh, Steamworks Creative.
Full Q&A along with links and music below.
Where are you from and what style of music do you create? (In your own words, not necessarily in marketing terms or by popular genre classifications.)
I grew up just outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in Penn Hills, but now I live a bit north of there in Gibsonia. I generally say I’m “from Pittsburgh” to those not familiar with the surrounding suburbs. The music I make is a blend of all the styles of music I have listened to while living “in Pittsburgh” through the years (such as Tom Waits, Harry Chapin, Bruce Springsteen, Buffalo Springfield, CSNY, The Stones, Dylan, etc), mixed with the styles of all of the musicians in my bands and on my team. Inspiration and collaboration has led to a sound that has been called, in marketing terms or by popular genre classifications, Classic Americana Indie Rock. What do I call it? My kind of rock n roll!
What led you down this path of music and what motivates you to keep going?
Music is in my genes, it’s in my blood… professional musicians date back to the early 1900s on my Mother’s side of the family. My relative Ron Anthony toured with Frank Sinatra for instance. Music has surrounded me from the day I was conceived. It’s what lifts me up and heals my heart. It’s what brings so many beautiful people together. It’s a connection for friends, family, musicians, promotors, engineers, photographers, videographers, playwrights, and managers of all sorts. We dance, we sing, we remember good times, we rise above the bad times, we work together to bring people together, we move and breathe together in perfect rhythm and harmony. You need to breathe to live, right? Well music is like breathing for me. I breathe in what I sense all around and inside of me, then I breathe out my love and gratitude in melodies filled with stories that I hope will make a difference in someone’s life, just as music has made a difference in mine.
How is this new release different than previous ones? Were you trying to accomplish anything specific?
I approached this project with a softer voice and less production than previous ones. “Love, Lust & Other Wreckage” is more of a cohesive story than previous projects, told with a sound that’s as raw and dynamic as my struggle as I dig through the wreckage my love life. I was so successful in making my story interesting that playwright Amy Hartman wrote a script for a stage play under the same title. “Love, Lust & Other Wreckage” will be performed on September 13th & 14th at The Oaks Theater in Oakmont, PA. It’s a collaborative multi-genre effort written by playwright Amy Hartman and directed by Robin Walsh, featuring music from my CD, that “tells the story of one man’s struggle to trace back the fracture his life has become. He bounces inside the crooked journey of heartbreak, his own cruelty and lust for his insatiable compulsion to create music. After losing all, he must climb out from beneath the wreckage he created. This struggle leads him into a dark world of chaos, love and discovery. But only for the high price of forgiveness. And it’s mostly all true!”
Name one or two challenges you face as an indie musician in this oversaturated, digital music age? How has technology helped you (since we know it does help)?
Getting paid for plays and views, and learning how algorithms work on social media are two of the many challenges in today’s digital music world. I have a great team working with me that knows how to utilize technology better than I do, so they are helping me to spread my music around the Internet and beyond. So WOW! I can communicate with my bandmates and team members, and share my music, shows dates, plans, pictures, videos and more with thousands and soon millions of people…just about any where at any time… from my phone that I carry in my pocket!!!
What was the last song you listened to?
I just listened to the entire classic album of “ Benny Goodman Live from Carnegie Hall.” Wow amazing music!
Which do you prefer? Vinyl? CDs? MP3s?
Well, MP3s are most convenient these days because I can listen to them on my phone, which I have on me most of the time. I prefer MP3s over CDs for studio mixes. I used to feel like burning CDs after each session was cooler than making cassette tapes, but kind of wasteful, unless you could find a fun way to recycle the CDs, like hanging them on walls or making mobiles. As for road trips, when I’m not needing to listen to songs I’m writing, mixing or learning, I like to pop in a CD and listen to it from start to finish, sometimes a few times in a row. Sometimes those CDs are ones I found in my archives in an old shoe box or milk crate at home. Sometimes they are my recordings from years gone by, and sometimes they are from friends or bands I’ve done shows with or who I’ve seen. Convenience of mobility aside, there is absolutely nothing like carefully plopping an old vinyl classic onto the turntable, then staring at the pictures of the music makers, while listening to the music, checking the liner notes or singing along while reading the lyrics.
How about this one…. Do you prefer Spotify? Apple Music? Bandcamp? Or something else? Why?
I prefer Spotify for much of my listening time. I have a premium account, so I can create playlists of my favorite songs and my set lists for shows, including my OWN music. “Spotify for Artists” makes it easy to manage an artist profile. The first single I released has more plays on Spotify than any other platform… “Rainbows & Lightning”, from “Love, Lust & Other Wreckage,” currently has over 60,000 plays… and we’ve only just begun.
Where is the best place to connect with you online and discover more music?
Anything else before we sign off?
I would like to talk about my favorite music “listening room” in the Pittsburgh region, which I founded and manage with a very appreciative and productive team… “Steamworks Creative.” Too often, talented musicians and singers perform in loud bars or restaurants where they are simply “background noise”. Also, many music venues don’t have enough seating to accommodate their guests (or worse yet there are no seats at all), the food & booze is way too expensive, parking is terrible (if you can even find a spot), and the shows start and end too late. With all of this in mind, Steamworks Creative was launched as a collaborative venture between a group of performers and dedicated live music lovers.
Steamworks Creative is an intimate space (max seating 50) tailored to solo, duo, and small band performances, a true “listening room”.
Additionally we encourage and welcome young people and even those on the autism spectrum to perform and participate to the best of their ability.
Steamworks is a BYOB venue (except when noted for all ages events), and folks can also bring in food. It’s quite common to see our guests with fine wine and cheese trays or their favorite craft beer! We also sell coffee, soft drinks, and snacks, and parking is free. We typically charge a cover at the door though many events including open stages are voluntary donation only. Advanced online ticketing is used for some shows.
This venue is dedicated to the performer and as a result is designed to be free of distractions and unwanted noises. These are the “rules” we created for the venue to keep the atmosphere as we intend it to be…
* Please refrain from talking during the performance.
* Please try to remain seated during the performance. If you leave to use the restroom, please be respectful.
* Please silence your phone. No, seriously, please silence it.
* Also, please bring some cash. Most performances cost between $10- $20. This will go a very long way in keeping each artist on their path to success and keeping Steamworks Creative a healthy destination for great music in Pittsburgh.
Please visit our photos page to see images of the space and schedule of events…www.SteamworksCreative.com
So, I mentioned that we encourage those on the autism spectrum to perform and participate to the best of their ability. Well we host an autism friendly open stage at Steamworks on Sundays which is sponsored by “Band Together Pittsburgh.”
Studies show what we already know: Music is the Magic!
The purpose of Band Together Pittsburgh (a recognized 501 (c) 3 non profit organization) is to employ the power of music to engage youth on the autism spectrum and their families. Music has the proven capacity to enhance social interactions, build and develop communication skills, and improve motor/sensory, emotional, and academic/cognitive functioning.
PLUS it’s FUN!
Music brings us together. Fills our souls. And creates pathways to help those on the autism spectrum to build new skills. The founders of Band Together Pittsburgh, Ron Esser and I, have decades of experience in the music scene and in the non profit youth development world. Ronny “Moondog” Esser, proprietor of Moondog’s, a well known music venue that’s been successful for many decades, has a son that’s on the spectrum, and my nephew and god child are on the spectrum as well. That knowledge coupled with a science based approach provides us with a solid foundation to provide programming.
”WHEN WORDS FAIL MUSIC SPEAKS”
For more information, check out www.BandTogetherPittsburgh.org
