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

John, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

Yes, I have been earning a full-time living from my creative work for over a decade. It’s had it’s ups and downs, but this journey has been very rewarding. I started DJing and performing in bands for fun, which eventually led to part-time employment and pay. When I was in my late 20s, I decided that I no longer wanted to work for anyone else, so I quit my job and took a leap of faith to be a full time DJ and Musician.

It was challenging from day one. I wasn’t sure how to navigate the business side of things including taxes, invoices, and contracts. I tried my best to be professional, but I made some mistakes along the way. With each challenge, I learned something new, which is something that continues to this day. I am certainly more aware of how to conduct myself within the music business, but there is always more room for growth.

John, 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?

Ever since I was a child, I have been interested in music. I started playing saxophone and guitar at a young age, and I picked up DJing and music production in my teenage years. When I was in my 20s, I moved to New York City to pursue a college education and learned a lot about DJing and music outside of my classes. After graduating college, I joined the Peace Corps and lived in rural Guatemala for two years. I continued to play music at this time, but my focus was on building infrastructure projects and helping the Guatemalan community that I was living in.

My journey as a full-time professional musician began when I returned to live in Washington DC and started to pursue DJing and Music as a career. This was an era of my life that was quite successful and I was able to accomplish a lot of wonderful things. I performed and had residencies at some of the best venues in DC including The 930 Club, The Kennedy Center, 18th St Lounge, and The Eaton Hotel, to name a few. After 10 years in DC, I decided to level up my career in a bigger market and made the move to LA in 2019.

Over the years I am proud of the fact that I’ve been able to travel and perform throughout the United States and abroad. I’ve DJed or performed as a Saxophonist in Chicago, Detroit, Austin, New York, Washington DC, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Victoria & Winnipeg Canada, San Tropez France, Malaga Spain, Lima Peru, Goa, Delhi and Jaipur India, and Antigua, Xela, and Guatemala City Guatemala.

My approach to DJing and making music is holistic and intentional. I consider the emotions of the crowd, the space, and the reason that I am hired to perform. It’s important for me to connect with the people in the audience and make sure that the music is expressing the emotions that are necessary for the event. The way that I play a wedding and a nightclub will be very different. The specific vibes of the environment and the people are going to influence how I perform.

Because of my fluency in Spanish (from living in Guatemala) and time spent playing in Latin Bands (Merengue, Salsa, and Cumbia), I bring an international perspective to the dance floor. I love to DJ music from around the world and I incorporate sounds from various countries into my sets and original music. I love music from the Caribbean, Latin America, Africa, Europe, and more.

I am very proud about the volunteer and community work that I do as a DJ and musician. Here in LA, I create events in which we raise money for various non-profits, and people who are experiencing homelessness. Myself and a team of DJs and activists use music as a powerful method to heal and raise awareness about the injustices that surround us. The goal is to raise money, and donations so that we can give back to our community. I also spend my time volunteering to teach music and DJing.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

The particular goal/mission driving my creative journey is multi-faceted. First and foremost, my creative journey is about my spiritual relationship with music and the joy that it brings me. Music, more than anything else in life, has challenged me and taught me about myself and the world. It’s given me an outlet to express myself and in turn, bring joy to others.

I am driven to create and mix uplifting, inspirational music that can unite people from different cultures and backgrounds. As a DJ, I thrive to curate spaces that are welcoming, healthy, and creative. Spaces where everyone feels at home and can be free to dance and express themselves.

As a musician, my goal is to honestly and authentically express myself and share this art with others. My favorite projects are ones in which i collaborate with other artists. I currently am hosting a monthly open mic with my band The LA Limes at The Stowaway in DTLA. This event has brought a lot of different musicians and singers together and created a safe environment for people to get on stage experiment with new ideas. We are in the process of creating a record label as well to showcase all of the amazing and talented artists in our network.

At the end of the day, the goal is love, and to use music as a vehicle for social change and joy.

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

Currently, I am in a transition point or pivot in my career. I have been a full-time DJ and Musician for over a decade, and still very much enjoy what I do. Owning my own business, creating my own schedule, and traveling around the world has been an amazing experience, but it has it’s drawbacks. I am usually working when everyone else is off. I am usually off when everyone else is working. I tend to stay up late in order to DJ or perform at nightclubs, weddings, and parties. There is a lot of insecurity with the money that flows in, and the work tends to be seasonal. Sometimes there is a lot happening, other times the gigs are slow.

At this point in my career I am pivoting from a performance-based income to becoming a music teacher. Although I have a BA in History, I never formally studied music before. For the past two years, I have been earning undergraduate music credits at LACC in East Hollywood. In the Fall, I will transfer to an MA program in Music at Cal State LA. I will certainly continue to DJ, perform, record, and create music, but the goal in this next phase in life is to become a Music Teacher and give back more to the younger generation.

I am really interested in the intersection of music and community service. This path of becoming a teacher will fulfill me in those two realms. The great thing about the schedule of a teacher is that I will still be able to tour and perform during the summer and on weekends. Getting my education in music has been an amazing experience, and I honestly wish that I had gone back to school even earlier.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.johnmcgrathmusicproduction.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnmcgrathmusicproduction/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwjn2s6Pqz-mZAA5mmHgZ7w
• Other: https://soundcloud.com/johnmcgrathmusic