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

John, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

Honestly, I think the biggest risk I ever took was moving to the USA alone to pursue a music career. I had no family, contacts, or job when I landed here. Also, building everything from scratch and writing, producing, and recording my debut album “Dreams and Lies” completely independently.

Going all in ended up being everything. The album found its audience, led to insane collaborations, and most importantly, taught me that the real risk is just being honest with yourself. Strip away the pretense, lean into the chaos, and you might scare people—but you’ll also connect in ways that matter.

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 DeMena, a rock singer, guitarist, and songwriter from Los Angeles with Spanish roots. Music has always been my way of making sense of the world, the beauty and the chaos around me—it’s the thing I can’t turn off, the thing that makes me feel alive. I started writing and performing in high school, and then I joined several bands back in Spain, traveling in a van to play very small clubs and venues, then some festivals, pouring everything I had into songs that were messy, dark, honest, and unapologetically real.

What I do now is create music that’s intense, cinematic, and emotional—songs that aren’t just heard, but felt. I write, produce, and perform everything with an eye for atmosphere and authenticity, whether it’s a solo track or a collaboration with incredible artists like Alain Johannes or musicians of Alice Cooper and Jimmy Kimmel Live. What sets me apart is my refusal to chase trends or play it safe. I aim to connect with people on a deeper level, to give them something that resonates beyond the surface—a song that sticks with you long after it ends.

For anyone discovering my work, I want them to know that it’s real, unfiltered, and meant to push boundaries. My music isn’t just entertainment—it’s a space where honesty, intensity, and connection meet.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding part of being an artist is playing live and feeling that direct connection with the audience—when a song I’ve poured everything into actually lands and resonates. It’s the moment where all my experiences, emotions, doubt, and long nights make sense, because something real in me is reaching someone else.

For me, creating is about taking your experiences, the good, the dark, and personal parts of yourself and turning them into something real that others can feel. That’s what keeps me going, what makes the risks worth it, and what gives music its power beyond just sound.

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

Yeah, definitely. I wish I’d known earlier how important it is to trust your instincts over the “rules” of the industry. There’s so much out there telling you what you should do—what sounds will sell, what connections you need, how you should present yourself—but none of that matters if you’re not creating something that’s genuinely yours.

I also wish I’d had more guidance on the business side of things—how to navigate contracts, collaborations, and distribution without getting burned. Learning that while building your art is brutal, protecting your work and understanding the mechanics behind it is just as crucial. Knowing that earlier would have saved a lot of time, stress, and missteps.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.johndemena.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johndemena
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johndemenamusic
• Twitter: https://www.x.com/johndemena
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@johndemena

Image Credits

Photo 1: Mathias Fau
Photo 2: Ezra Spurrier
Photo 3: Mike Kindel
Photo 4: Mike Kindel
Photo 5: Marco Colucci