We were lucky to catch up with John recently and have shared our conversation below.

John, appreciate you joining us today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

This work – and I call it work loosely – brings me great joy. I find performing in front of a live audience extremely therapeutic. I actually still do have a regular job – I’m a partner at a well-known investment firm in Santa Monica. Fronting this incredible band has been a great outlet for me as I manage the demands of my day job.

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’m John Nagle, the lead singer and bandleader of the Los Angeles-based tribute to The Doors, Mojo Risin’. I have the great honor of portraying the legendary rock singer and poet, Jim Morrison. I started singing and playing guitar at the age of 16 while attending Salesianum High School, an all-boys Catholic preparatory school in Delaware, and subsequently played in some original and cover bands while attending the University of Delaware. I moved from the East Coast to southern California in my mid-20s, initially to pursue a career in music while supporting myself with a day job in investment management. Upon starting a family, music took a back seat as I focused on survival and providing for my family. All that changed in 2020 with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic – I went from spending five days a week in the office and making several business trips per quarter to working on an entirely remote basis. I know this abrupt change proved difficult for many, but for me, the shift to remote work and resulting saved commute time allowed me to return to my passion of making music. I soon starting jamming with my brother, drummer Eric Nagle, and guitarist Matt O’Neill, whom I had met at a birthday party my son was attending (my son and Matt’s son are school friends), and the core of Mojo Risin’ was formed. At this party, Matt and I discovered our shared admiration of the Doors’ music, and after nearly two years of playing together, we are now recognized as one of the top Doors tribute bands in the country. We are even proud to call some members of Jim Morrison’s family as fans who regularly attend our shows. It really is an honor and a surprise that our little COVID jam sessions have turned into something this significant!

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

There is nothing in this life like playing in front of a live audience. Without question, the audience reaction to these timeless songs is the most rewarding aspect of being an artist. People, young and old, still really, really love The Doors. It truly is a testament to their genius. Whether its the crowd chanting for an encore after we’ve exited the stage, or fans requesting selfies after the show, witnessing an audience’s response to this classic music is a uniquely powerful experience, and we are not even the authors of it! We are merely a conduit and are honored to be performing the music of The Doors in a live setting.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

There have been two major pivotal points in my business life: after the birth of my first son, I shifted my focus to my career in investment management and moved my musical aspirations to the back burner. I have no regrets – rock music had been falling out of favor for some time (and unfortunately still is, as Jim Morrison predicted in a 1969 interview), and finding success in an original rock band seemed nearly impossible at the time. My day job has allowed me to provide for my family in one of the most expensive cities in the world, and I’m forever grateful for it. My second pivot came, again, in 2020 with the COVID pandemic. Working on a mostly remote basis afforded me the time to return to my music, which also happened to coincide with the tribute band explosion and Mojo Risin’s success. Everything seems to have worked itself out at the proper moment, and I’m thankful for it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mojorisintribute.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mojorisintribute/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Mojo-Risin-Tribute-61557081352317/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZR3KnscAvy13RMPDoLisWQ

Image Credits

Mathias Fau