We recently connected with Tim Jones and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Tim, thanks for joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
For me, creativity wasn’t just a hobby, it was a guiding star. Ever since I first wrapped my fingers around an instrument (at 5) I knew my path was intrinsically linked to music. I couldn’t escape it. From strumming tunes in school bands to commanding the stage in theatrical productions, I embraced every opportunity to express myself through performance. Never letting ANYONE tell me jack squat. I still don’t to this day. This unwavering passion wasn’t a fleeting fancy; it was a deep-seated conviction that performing and being an entertainer would help write the soundtrack of my life.
This obsession solidified in my early twenties when I had the life-altering chance to tour with a band in New York City. It was only my second time leaving the state for music. I was away from all of my friends, and knew no one except the drummer of the band. It was the first time I was away from the city for more than a few months, all because of music. The experience ignited something within me, fueling my ambition and providing a somewhat tangible glimpse of my dreams materialized.
Coming home from that tour, something profound shifted. At first, there was a depression. I had come home unhappy from New York. The band didn’t work out too well, and one day at work I cut my finger within millimeters of the tendon, almost losing my index finger. It took about a year of being home, trying to relearn how to play before I finally went out. The fire of passion had been fanned into a roaring flame of purpose. I had forgotten what it felt like to play live. To me, there’s no better feeling than the drums and bass kicking in time with my heart beat while I’m ripping a solo. I knew what I needed to do. It wasn’t enough to simply play anymore though; I yearned to create, to collaborate, and to build something bigger than myself. This yearning birthed the seed of what is now known as Altruistic Vision.
Altruistic Vision isn’t just another band; it’s a collective, a tapestry woven from individual stories and experiences. Each member brings their unique perspective, their own personal “first time” that sparked their love for music, much like my early start. While our journeys may differ, we are united by a common thread: a dedication to our craft and a desire to share our artistic vision with the world.
Tim, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
A Delco native, I cut my teeth and my hands playing in local bands before taking a shot at the bustling New York music scene. I was 15 when I joined my first band. I went on my first tour with a different band at 19. At 21, after establishing myself as a pretty good guitarist, I moved to Long Island. That was…a lesson. While the allure of the New York proved short-lived, the experience instilled in me a deeper understanding of the industry and a renewed appreciation for the vibrant talent simmering back home. It made me realize what I would and would not deal with moving forward. I had felt stripped of my personality, being forced to play music I loved, with people who didn’t love the music, or the people around them. As individuals everyone was amazing, but as a band it just was not a good fit. Being put in situations and outfits that didn’t represent who I was as a person, just wasn’t for me. Returning to my roots, I set out to build something different, something that would become Altruistic Vision.
But AV isn’t just another band; it’s a collective, a living, breathing organism nourished by the individual contributions of its members. It’s a tapestry woven from unique stories and perspectives, where artistic expression thrives in an atmosphere of collaboration and mutual support. We host live events for local creatives and we provide music for any event from our in house band.
Our impact can be seen in the diverse range of events we’ve graced with our presence, from vibrant pride festivals to bustling night markets. We’ve also had the amazing pleasure of performing at weddings. I believe our incredible range is what sets us apart from most of the groups and bands in our area. I will gladly bet money that if you’re coming to an AV show, it’ll be one you’ll never forget. I will put AV up against any band fully confident that we will be the most memorable. My band mates work so hard on their instruments, perfecting our shows, and perfecting setlists. Im so grateful that they are all so patient with me, because I know I can be overwhelming at times. Once I see potential in you, I will spend my life attempting to bring it out. Sometimes, that can be overbearing. Every band member has gone through what we call “boot camps” Theatre kids might know it as hell week. We pride ourselves on being the best, and we truly think we are. I am so incredibly proud of all of them. I love them all so much. I honestly don’t know where I’d be without everyone in AV. There’s a total of 9 of us. Id like to especially thank Kate, the COO, our band manager, solo artist manager, collective photographer. She also does the social media, marketing, and promotion for everything AV. She allowed me to be the fully creative being that I am, while keeping me grounded.
Kate and I are most proud to have such amazing, kind hearted people in our collective. Whether it’s music, comedy, acting, or whatever they feel like doing, their dedication to individual growth and community contribution is the heart of Altruistic Vision’s success. Some of our artist have went on to their their own shows, host open jams, and do fun competitions for the community. It’s a reminder that the best music, and the most impactful art, often comes from a place of genuine collaboration and a shared desire to uplift those around you. It’s never just for us. It’s not just about us. That’s why we’re called Altruistic Vision. We take that name incredibly seriously.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
What would be beautiful is if people actually paid artist. I feel as well that people need to take stop taking entertainment in all forms for granted. Music and art are languages that everyone understands. Pay us what we are worth. As a general contractor, I have put much time into the crafts that keep my day job going. I have put DOUBLE that time into learning music and perfecting my craft. When you pay a carpenter, you don’t pay him for how long it takes the job itself. You pay for what he knows, the time it took to learn those skills, and the tools it takes. The same should go for musicians. There is no reason I or anyone should be bringing all of their equipment to a show, setting up, running sound for multiple groups, running the show, playing, and breaking down, and not getting paid. My guitar is more expensive than my drills. My amp cost more too. That goes for most musicians. We are constantly belittled by people who are afraid to follow their dreams, so they try to stop us from following ours. There’s no reason we shouldn’t be able to follow our dreams and make a viable living. Especially when everyone except us are profiting from our blood, swear, and sometimes literal tears. People are just too greedy. Many venues, promoters, and labels just pick and throw artist away because there’s so many of us. We need to start standing up to these places. Stop spending money where they don’t support artist. Don’t go to shows at venues that don’t pay us right. It not just the consumers. People know that we will do anything for our outlet. We can’t survive without releasing our art, and they will use that against us. We are just as important as everyone else. We deserve the love, passion and respect everyone expects us to give them from the stage. Venues will charge $200 door fees and rip off splits, or just flat out not pay musicians. If a musical audience is what you’re aiming for, we are just as important as your bartenders, waiters, and cookstaff. We all need to be taken care of. We’re undervalued and under appreciated. Pay us what we’re worth. Respect our dreams. Respect us.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
This is going to sound incredibly arrogant, but I thrive off of spite. I love to prove consistently prove to everyone who told me I couldn’t do what I wanted, that I can.
Not to get all preachy, but I firmly believe with a strong will, a good head on your shoulders, and a spiritual intuition, you can do anything. My anger for how musicians and artist are treated drives me. I will die for artist rights, and I mean that literally. My life goal is to get musicians and creatives the respect we deserve. I feel since the world needs to be changed, and no one else will do it, I will. I desire to be the change that I want to see, and that constantly keeps myself and those I surround myself with growing. I will forever spend my life fighting for those who fight with and for me. We are the reason there’s soundtracks to movies, tv shows, video games. The reason you have the radio, Apple Music, Spotify, and all of that. The world without art would suck, and people need to start acting like it.
Contact Info:
Image Credits
Jesse Gimbel
Kate McFadden
Meghan Dougherty
David Bupp
Sarah Taddei