We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jonathan Mancha. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jonathan below.

Jonathan , appreciate you joining us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

Songwriting is a very backwards craft. In my own life, as I mention in some of my other responses, early on in the process of learning songwriting there is an idea that there are things to be learned and elements in songwriting that can be formulaic. A great deal of other professions are similar in that idea, the more experience you have doing a job or performing certain tasks you will become more efficient and more capable in that sphere of work. That is very true in regard to musicianship and the practice of writing but the backwards part of songwriting for me is; I believe I know less about what makes a great song and what patterns to follow in the creative process than I did 10 years ago haha. Songwriting is backwards in its essence, the longer you do it the more it is necessary to be open to anything that connects with you, anything that bypasses the formula. Again, this isn’t to say a lot of pop music or multiple genres don’t have some formulas and are popular with what they do. This is more on the creative end of things, bringing something extraordinary and out of the norm. Songwriting requires a basic attribute, I believe at least, and that is humility. Being open to the idea that you don’t know what is coming and allowing yourself to get out of the preconceptions of what should be.

One example I remember I started writing a song very early on in my songwriting process. It was for a local church, as mentioned in another response. I had very little experience but was trying to just capture what I felt from God and place it into a musical concept. A lot of the people in that community told me how much the song connected with them. That was one of the first songs I wrote, now about 10 years later I am trying to find that same result. What is funny about it is I have much more experience now and a bunch more knowledge. That is why songwriting is backwards, years later I am trying to go into the process with less on my mind and less influence from what I’ve seen done, very similar to when I had very little understanding or knowledge writing my first few songs. It’s a process of gaining experience but also unlearning expectations.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Jonathan Mancha, I go by Mancha now as my artist name, but I’m an independent singer/songwriter. As a young kid, my Dad played a couple instruments and sung. He did this for a few different local churches during that time. I was kind of fascinated by it and eventually asked if he could teach me some guitar. At about 13 I received my first guitar and totally loved it. My name is Jonathan Mancha, I go by Mancha now as my artist name, but I’m an independent singer/songwriter.

Once I started playing an instrument and singing it was only a short while before I started writing songs. My background was writing for the local church I was at but it has expanded since. It’s my true passion. I’m not great with words in terms of speaking so writing lyrics and melody give me the opportunity to voice the things that seem so difficult to voice otherwise.

My attempt at writing music is always based around that idea, trying to hone in on what is affecting me in the moment and finding that voice. I do truly think if you create from what you genuinely feel and believe it gives the opportunity for others to see the same thing within themselves. Maybe not even the same thing but something powerful within them that was always been there but maybe they never even realized they had the capacity for. I tend to be really impacted by the processes of life, hope, redemption, and love. I think we all can relate in our lives to those different elements and I think melody can bring us to a place the words alone cannot always achieve. That why I love it so much. It makes me feel alive, and if I can be part of making others feel alive it’s that much better. I think that is probably the thing I want people to know most, is they are valuable and worthwhile. People are beautiful. Making music is just a way for me to share that with others and share our experiences. I guess that’s my round about way of somewhat answering that question.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I think in the creative fields, whether it’s music or other avenues of creativity, culture has created an idea of what success is. In many ways it feels like unless you have celebrity status, or make a lot of money that what you do is not worthwhile. Especially when you’re young those pulls of success seem so important and can be really discouraging if you’re not achieving them. I feel I’ve been slowly unlearning that throughout my life. I’m an artist who creates music but I don’t make much in terms of money from my craft as of yet, I have a full time job along with working on my craft, but the joy of creating and the joy others receive from it is the true value of art. I can’t point to one specific thing that taught me this lesson but it’s been a slow burn, I think really the process of maturing reveals that truth. When it comes down to it you have to look yourself in the mirror and see why you do what you do, do you create to gain or do you create because you feel like you were made to regardless of the outcome? It definitely a process and a journey for us all.

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

I think all of my answers tend to be similar just with a bit different wording haha. Anytime you can inspire someone else to be the best they can be it is a privilege. Art has that ability, to remind someone of who they truly are beyond the voices that clutter are minds in the hectic spiral of life. To give hope when things feel dark. That is by far the most rewarding element of being a creative. I think we all do things hoping to create a better future for the people that come after us. Sometimes it’s a small thing that can change a person’s trajectory and maybe start a movement. It’s a way to give back. I know in my life one of my favorite artists of all time is Bruce Springsteen. Some songs I listen from him consistently make me tear up because his music feels so resilient and determined to see something better than what currently exists. That inspires me to create something and I think that has a domino effect on people. It can be part of creating a brighter future.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jdmancha/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jonathandavidmancha
• Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mancha_jd

Image Credits
Photos were from Libby Danforth, except for the writers round action shot with the acoustic which was from Chelsea Erica Smith. Both of whom are great local Nashville photographers/artists.