Meet Jonah Wisneski

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jonah Wisneski.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Jonah. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Sure. I moved to Colorado from Maine in 2001 and found out an old childhood friend of mine was attending the University of Colorado at Boulder, where I was set to enroll the following year. Upon reconnecting, we shared our mutual love for live music, as well as our desire to play music ourselves. He played bass guitar, so I decided I would buy an electric guitar and learn how to play, just so we could form a band together. There was no talk of anything beyond that, but I remember playing our first gig (to an empty bar) and it was the most fun I had ever had in my life. After that, I became obsessed with practicing and playing as much as I could. By my junior year, I was skipping the chance to go out to college parties, just so I could sit in my room and practice for hours on end.

When college (and our band) ended, I had some new friends living in Denver who urged me to move to the city if I was interested in playing music more seriously. I decided to follow their recommendation and moved to Denver, determined to figure out how to make my passion into a career. After holding every odd job imaginable, I eventually (and thankfully) got fired from a restaurant job and it was the push I needed to focus on making music “full time”. Slowly I started teaching some guitar lessons, playing a few more gigs, and meeting more musicians. I sought out every opportunity I could and took it upon myself to learn how to do things on my own so I wouldn’t have to rely on anyone else. I learned how to write my own music, sing, book my own shows, make recordings, and manage myself as a musician. 12 years later, the process remains the same, and I’m constantly trying to learn more and grow as a musician.

Has it been a smooth road?
No, never. It still isn’t! I love my career, but it has been a constant uphill battle. From not getting the gig, to getting replaced in bands or on recording sessions, making thousands of mistakes on stage, wondering if I’m going to be able to pay my bills any given month, having self-doubt… It can be exhausting! I often tell people that the hardest part about being a musician is the mental game. Staying positive when things just aren’t working or going your way, and trying again after you inevitably fail. I’ve tried to work on reminding myself why I’m doing this and focusing on one day at a time, as well as being open to learning and making mistakes. Ultimately, when you love something, that’s what drives you to keep putting the effort in.

Can you give our readers some background on your music?
I am a guitarist and a singer. I work with several bands in a variety of genres here in Denver, and I lead my own band Other Worlds (which I write the majority of the music for). On average, I perform around 150 shows a year.

I work in the studio as a recording/session guitarist, as a producer for other groups, and work as a Musical Director who leads, arranges, and organizes large ensemble shows. I’ve also been teaching guitar lessons privately for the entirety of my career.

I’m proud that I’ve taken a chance to follow my dream. My career looks a lot different than I ever imagined, but I’ve had some amazing opportunities I never would have dreamed of such as working alongside national artists I grew up listening to, as well as several incredible Denver musicians. I’ve tried to constantly keep learning and improving, stay organized, and focus on being as versatile and professional as I can. That has gone a long way in being able to work in a lot of different environments, and I’m incredibly grateful to be given a chance to do so.

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I’ve always seen the music industry as a constantly changing landscape. Right now, it’s in dire straits with COVID putting a halt on large gatherings, claiming thousands of jobs, and forcing venues to close. I think this time will push musicians take more control of their own careers and force them to adjust by getting creative in their efforts to make art, as well as earn income. As a result, you’ll see artists finding new creative avenues for their music, and the industry will have to do the same in terms of creating new spaces for that art to exist. It’s a scary time for the music industry, and considering it’s already a hard space to work in, this is making it even more difficult! On a positive note, I think this time will give many musicians a chance to slow down, and hopefully, strike balance and create new content as a response to the uncertain environment. While it’s not ideal, I think there will be a lot of exciting developments in the coming months that will show the strength of artists/creatives in the face of adversity, and I think these changes will be felt for years to come.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jonahwisneski.com , www.otherworldsmusic.com
• Instagram: @these_goto11, @otherworldsmusic
• Facebook: facebook.com/jonahwisneskimusic, facebook.com/otherworldsmusic
• Twitter: @these_goto11

Image Credit:
Personal Photo = Nikki A. Rae Photography, Photos (From top left, to right bottom), Pic 1 (rose): Heather Fairchild Photography, Pic 2, 3, 4: Silky Shots Photography, Pic 5: Jim Mimna Photography, Pic 6, 7: Silky Shots Photography

Suggest a story: VoyageDenver is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.