We were lucky to catch up with Johnny Groove recently and have shared our conversation below.
Johnny , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is my current band, The Irie. That’s not to say my previous project, The Veragroove, wasn’t meaningful—it absolutely was. It served as a stepping stone and a valuable learning experience that helped me get to where I am today. I’m especially grateful to my mentor, Corey Groove, for teaching me the importance of hard work and the dedication it takes to be taken seriously in a professional band.
What makes The Irie so meaningful to me is how my singer and I came together to completely reimagine the project. We decided to scrap all the old material and rebrand, which was a bold and risky move. But it was exactly what needed to happen. While The Irie had been around for years before I joined, the vision I had for the band wasn’t shared by the previous lineup. That led to a turning point, where we realized that to succeed, we needed to align our goals and commit to treating this as a professional endeavor.
Being part of this project has taught me the value of hard work, accountability, and showing up—not just for myself but for my bandmates. This isn’t just a band to us; it’s a way of life. My singer and I grew up knowing only music. If we weren’t recording, playing shows, or jamming, we’d probably be getting into trouble. Music is our therapy, our purpose, and what drives us to wake up every day ready to tackle the next challenge.
Ultimately, The Irie is meaningful to me because it’s a culmination of everything I’ve learned and everything I’ve invested. I’ve put all my eggs in one basket with this band, and so far, we’ve achieved incredible things together. I’m excited to see where we go next.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
My name is Johnny, and I’m the drummer for The Irie, a reggae/alternative band from Phoenix, AZ. The group features Lead Singer/Guitarist George Ruiz, Bassist Marcus Mapes, and myself, Johnny Groove, on drums.
The Irie is a project I’m incredibly proud of. We create music that blends reggae, alternative rock, and hip-hop, offering something fresh and unique for our listeners. Our songs often touch on themes like resilience, self-discovery, and the human experience, all wrapped in a vibe that feels like sunshine and soul. Beyond just the music, we’re about creating a sense of connection and community. Music has always been therapeutic for us, and we hope to provide that same outlet for our fans.
Since forming, we’ve been fortunate to achieve some amazing milestones. We released our second EP, Can’t Get Enough, on February 5th, 2021, which debuted at #1 on the iTunes Reggae Charts, #12 on Billboard’s US Current Reggae Albums chart, and #75 on the Overall iTunes Charts. Our first full-length album, Planet Paradise, debuted on June 24th, 2022, and includes features from Andy J and Nathan Aurora. The album debuted at #7 on Billboard’s US Current Reggae Albums chart, reached #3 on the iTunes Reggae Charts, and peaked at #6 on Amazon’s Reggae Charts. Most recently, our acoustic release of Mango Island debuted at #1 on Global Reggae Billboards.
One of our proudest moments was playing at Red Rocks Amphitheatre—a dream venue for us—for a sold-out show with Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, supporting Sublime with Rome. These experiences have fueled our passion and motivated us to keep pushing the boundaries of what we can achieve as a band.
What sets us apart is our willingness to take risks. Rebranding and rebuilding The Irie from the ground up was a huge leap of faith, but it allowed us to create something authentic and aligned with our vision. We’ve also had the honor of collaborating with incredibly talented artists, including The Elovaters, Iya Terra, Aurorawave, Katastro, and hip-hop artist bluthecolor, which has helped us expand our sound and push creative boundaries. We’ve been featured on playlists like Apple Music’s Dub Essentials.
Being part of this band has taught me the value of hard work, accountability, and showing up—not just for myself but for my bandmates. For us, music isn’t just a job—it’s our therapy, our outlet, and our way of life.
For those who are just discovering The Irie, I want you to know that we’re here to create music that resonates, inspires, and feels real. Whether it’s through a live show, a recorded track, or a simple jam session, our goal is to connect with you and remind you that you’re not alone. We’re incredibly thankful for our fans and supporters who’ve been part of this journey, and we’re excited to see what the future holds.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
My goal and mission driving my creative journey are deeply rooted in honoring my past bandmates who tragically lost their lives to opiate addiction. Every time I step on stage, I remind myself—and them—that they are right there with me, playing alongside me in spirit. Everything I do, I do for them.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Absolutely. One of the most defining moments of resilience in my journey came during the transition from my previous band to The Irie. At the time, my former bandmates and I had put years of effort into our music, but it became clear that the project had run its course. It was heartbreaking to let go of something we’d worked so hard to build, but I knew it was necessary to move forward.
When my current bandmate and I decided to rebrand and start fresh with The Irie, it was a leap of faith. We scrapped all the old material, redefined our sound, and poured everything into building something authentic from the ground up. It was an intimidating process—stepping into the unknown and taking a risk on a new vision.
At the same time, I was navigating personal grief over losing close friends and former bandmates to opiate addiction. Their memory became a source of motivation for me. Every time I step on stage, I feel like they’re there with me, and that thought drives me to keep going, no matter how hard things get.
Fast forward to today, and we’ve achieved milestones I could’ve only dreamed of—topping charts, playing incredible venues like Red Rocks, and creating music that truly resonates with people. That journey wasn’t easy, but it showed me that resilience isn’t just about pushing through tough times. It’s about embracing change, honoring where you’ve been, and using your experiences to fuel where you’re going.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.theirieband.com
- Instagram: @theirieband
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theiriemusic/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqRXazKvi8NBjg_KEX9aJDw
- Other: Personal IG – Johnny_Groove
