We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Johannes Formella a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Johannes, appreciate you joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

Meaning begins with curiosity. Over time, curiosity transforms into passion, giving life to a sense of purpose. Music, I believe, naturally embodies this process. When you cultivate a curious connection with your music, you contribute to the depth of your own meaning. This aligns seamlessly with creativity. It’s a fluid and instinctive approach, a natural way of doing things. Personally, I enjoy seeking out challenges, doing something I haven’t done before, going somewhere I haven’t been before. Curiosity leads you there. It serves as the guiding force, marking the essential starting point. In my projects, I embrace this curiosity, collaborating with those who inspire me and sharing time with like-minded individuals. It’s not just about productivity; it’s a genuinely uplifting experience. That’s how I create meaningful projects.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’ve been into music making since my teenage years, particularly drawn to rebellious and heavy genres. The intensity of this music resonated with me. I liked how it made me feel…very alive. As a performing artist, I’ve toured across Europe, the US, Brazil, Hong Kong, and Japan. My current musical project is GJOVA, exploring indie alternative sounds. Notably, collaboration is what this project thrives on, and I’ve had the privilege of working with exceptional musicians such as Chris Hesse from the Grammy-nominated Hoobastank, the legendary drummer Kenny Aronoff, and members of Dhani Harrison’s band. A significant highlight was recording at the iconic Sound City studios in Los Angeles. Outside of my music endeavors, I also serve as the Executive Director of The Window Music, a family-based music initiative dedicated to nurturing musicians and guiding them toward peak performance. We empower artists to make their greatest music, create a bigger cultural picture with their art, & reach audacious goals. Once again, this project intersects various curiosities of mine, making it a deeply meaningful pursuit.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

That truly encapsulates the essence of the activity itself…making music. And I think you need to get that relationship right. Establishing the right relationship with the process is essential for a meaningful musical journey. The pursuit of finding flow in my music-making is what continually pulls me back into it. The most rewarding moments occur in solitude, where it’s just you and your music. I believe any artist on a lasting and fulfilling musical journey is driven by the sheer joy of playing.

Bringing that intrinsic motivation into the collaborative space elevates the experience to a whole new level. Nurturing these two relationships, individual creative expression and collaborative synergy, is key to discovering the intrinsic rewards of making music.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Creativity is the mind of an athlete. I find clarity in that. This is something every creative would benefit from profoundly when beginning their journey. Concepts such as “Failure is the process of learning, so fail fast,” “Greatness thrives on challenges,” and “Pressure is a privilege” resonate with me. The belief that everything great begins with struggle encourages me to embrace challenges and lean into adversity. Failure, in essence, becomes the gateway to discovering one’s true self.

The application of leverage is crucial, as is the protection of focus, which lies at the heart of both performance and emotional experience. Actively seeking feedback is akin to hunting for valuable insights in my creative journey and keep improving.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.gjova.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/thegjova/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN27TVhbcJRKiahCpivoyoQ
• Other: www.thewindowmusic.com