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I started on guitar at age 10 and never stopped. My dad Absolutely! Instruments and arrangements when done
tried to teach me some stuff when I first started, but he a certain way, is something you can literally feel inside,
was a lefty and literally played a right-handed guitar and it will make the hairs on the back of your neck
upside down. Dad left the strings the same and learned stand up. It invokes such a strong emotional response.
chords in the inverse pattern. Trying to learn playing Lyrically and musically, it speaks to our emotional
from him was a major challenge because he played states and usually heightens your perspective. That is
everything in reverse. Everyone that saw him play was why people choose to listen to certain songs or bands
impressed. when they are happy or sad, to feed the soul and
enhance that emotion. There have been studies on the
Staring Down the Future. ZGP: What is your prominent genre of mu- direct correlations between the frequencies of music

and the frequencies of our own bodies. Also, in Mu-
sic? Why?
By Josh Johnson My genres that I play and listen to are Heavy Metal, sic Theory it is known that all scales, harmonies, and
rock, and many of its sub genres along with some pop chords, when broken down, are literally algebraic for-
influence. These genres truly showcase the depth and mulas. Music encompasses a universal tool that speaks
originality that music can offer. Many of the bands across cultures, souls, species, and even the stars.
embodied musical works that span from classical com-
positions to the blues and everything in between. These ZGP: Can the world learn something from
genres have reinvented the guitar in ingenious ways the harmonious relationships between notes
that no one had thought possible. Robert Johnson, Jimi that played alone wouldn’t sound as glori-
Hendrix, Jimmy Page, and Eddie Van Halen are prime ous?
examples. When they first hit the scene, nobody had In music, we can be as simple or as complex in our
Josh Johnson knows music and perhaps knows personal conflict just as well; ZGP Magazine asked for ever heard the guitar used in such a dynamic, emotion- arrangements as we see fit. The forms of expression are
his insight on both. Johnson found freedom when God removed the substance-laden chains around al, and expressive way before. Their innovative way of limitless. Harmony gives music depth and character.
him. He has dedicated his life to helping ease the suffering of others; in whatever challenges life playing helped shape and evolve the guitar into what It gives a song weight and density in its structure that
holds for them. Life for the recovering addict can still get rocky, but learning to take one day at a we know today. When I first saw Van Halen on MTV brings the listener closer to the songwriter’s feelings.
time can make all the difference. Ironically, by stepping into each day renewed, he stares down his perform “Jump,” his playing blew me away. I have been We are even going as far to blend genres with musical
pairings that one would not think would fit together
chasing those tones ever since!
bright future with fierce determination. but do. Rap, Rock, Metal, Blues, Classical, Opera, and
ZGP; Who are your musical influences? Country have been thrown together so many times
I have a love and affinity for most music, mainstream, it is now considered very normal, and at times banal,
and obscure underground bands. David Byrne of The because some styles have been excessively used due to
ZGP: Where are you from? What was it like memory and a daily part of life in my house. At the age Talking Heads, Bryan Ferry of Roxi Music, Led Zep- its popularity in society and world cultures. Why is it
growing up there? of 3, I remember being in awe of my grandfather play- pelin, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, the that we are so accepting of blending different genres of
I am from St. Mary's County, Maryland from a small ing the harmonica. My dad was a musician and learned list goes on. Chuck Schuldiner of Death was a huge music but not that of our own fellow man? Why can’t
town called Morganza, where most of my family still to play piano from his mother at a young age and he influence on me as a lead guitarist, but also Ihshan of we appreciate the diversity and complexity in our daily
resides. It was a type of place where everybody knows played in many different bands all his life. Every day, Emperor, who is a legend for his arrangements and lives, instead of chastising others for their differences?
everybody or is related. It was a very tight knit commu- he sang and played music on keyboards, guitar, bass, as symphonic pairings with metal. Of course, Eddie Van We still have a lot to learn from music’s dynamic inclu-
nity of farmers and blue-collar workers. Outsiders were well as a bit on the drums too. He was in a band with Halen and Hendrix. I sing, so Layne Staley and Jerry siveness and harmonious partnerships.
tolerated but rarely accepted. Some places were still so his brother and best friend so I would always watch as Cantrell of Alice In Chains were tremendous influences
remote that you could almost consider them frontier they would practice in the basement of my house. on me as their unique duel vocal harmonies. Growing ZGP: Is vulnerability inherent in music?
type towns as lawlessness and wild people still had a up, Johnny Cash, as outlaw country was big in my fam- There is a power in being accepted and a
place on the outskirts of society. Very conservative; My mother was also quite fond of different types of ily. The metal community has one of the most interest- power in being unaccepted, music can be
Gods, guns, and country was the motto. Every event music, she had such an appreciation for it and would ing, dedicated, inclusive and diverse fan bases. Doesn't quite risky? Can we learn something positive
was a huge get together with family and friends. We constantly turn me on to other artists, as well as en- matter who you are, where you’re from, if you listen to from such vulnerability?
were famous for having the most bars in a square mile courage my musical development along with my father. metal, you're a part of the collective. I think that the vulnerability lies solely with the listener
radius within the union. I have a cousin and an Uncle on my dad’s side who in terms of how it opens us up to other realms of imag-
also play. My mother’s father and brother played and ZGP: Is there a genuine connection between ination, possibilities, and romanticism. There we allow
ZGP: When did music start for you? sang, so it was common at any family gathering to have music and the soul? Is it transformative? In
Music runs in the blood. Music was my first childhood instruments, music, and singalongs. what way? Continued Next Page

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