Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jonathan Stevens. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Jonathan, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
The interesting thing is, my purpose was always there, right in front of me: music.
I was extremely young in finding my passion, perhaps too young to realize that it even was “my purpose.” I can always remember the incredible feelings and images music would put in my mind. It captured my imagination like no other and quickly became a passion. It was around the age of 9-10, approximately in 1991. This was a very exciting time in the UK for electronic music; the Acid House scene had been huge in the eighties, and the Hardcore/Rave scene was in full flow. It was listening to cassettes of these raves that changed everything for me. Everything about them was captivating—the DJs playing incredible music that I had never heard anything like before, the MCs entertaining the crowds, and the noise of the crowds themselves! The exposure to this music and culture was the first thing to start shaping my early path. I became obsessed with the ideas of DJing and immediately started doing anything I could to manipulate music with home hi-fi equipment.
Eventually, I started DJing at home as a 13-year-old after receiving a set of decks for Christmas from my parents. I already knew what I had to do with them from listening to cassette after cassette of DJ mixes—everything, including Hardcore, Happy Hardcore, Jungle, you name it, I would listen to it. The electronic sounds had me totally hooked. It took me about two or three hours of trying to be able to beat match; there was just an existing ability I seemed to possess, in understanding rhythm and having a good ear for timing. I fell in love with the art of DJing and continued to follow this passion for years to come. I naturally found an interest in music production when having access to Octamed on the old Atari ST. I also used ‘Music’ on the Sony PlayStation before being introduced to Image Line’s then-called Fruity Loops.
This is where I began to learn how to produce music with an actual modern DAW (Digital Audio Workstation). I was totally self-taught; at that time, I was sixteen, and there was no internet. No access to information like there is now; we didn’t get internet in my family home until I was around 18 years old. I continued like this for some years, being self-taught but having very little understanding of music production, which is a complex topic if you want to be able to do every stage of the process—writing, producing, engineering, and mastering. I had no idea what any of that meant. As I entered my early twenties, I became more and more frustrated. I had become totally stuck in my path; huge self-doubt and imposter syndrome coupled with a lack of knowledge and lack of direction ultimately led to my worst fear—failure.
Of course, thinking about all the above is obvious in hindsight. Ultimately, I gave up on music and eradicated it from my life. I guess the failure hit me hard; I didn’t even want anything to do with it anymore. I still enjoyed listening to music, but I could not just do it as a hobby. If I find a passion in life, I am in 1000% all or nothing. Sadly, it became nothing; all I did was listen to the music, but there was always a nagging resentment and confusion that it didn’t work.
I spent eight years away from anything to do with music before being talked back into it by a best friend and fellow DJ, Sean Furlong. During this time away, my life became more and more out of control. I really wasn’t in a good place, and as I now realize, had totally lost my purpose. I needed to do it right this time and find the small steps to start the journey. Fortunately, I was in some ways and in a very lucky position. I had no real dependencies, and the kindness of my parents allowed me to return home. I made the gamble and decision to leave my job to enrol in a local college and study my foundation degree in Popular Music Technology and slowly claw my way back onto the path of finding my purpose again. It was a tough 2 years being a 33-year-old studying in college with 18-year-olds; I felt quite out of my comfort zone, but ultimately, it was a good test of character. Again, gifted an opportunity by another very close and good friend of mine, Joe Davies; he was opening a gym just as I was about to start my education. Luckily, during my 8 years away from music, I had been very involved with the fitness industry as a qualified personal trainer and a champion competitive bodybuilder (well, I had to fill my time up, and I don’t do things by half!) Joe kindly asked me to work at his gym when he opened. This allowed me to survive financially, and without this, the journey would have been much harder. Two years later, I had my foundation degree, which allowed me to go on to the top-up year at the University of South Wales, where I received a first-class honours degree in Sound Engineering. Two years later (due to Covid), I returned to study my Master’s Degree In Music Engineering and Production, which I received with Distinction. I had sacrificed a lot during these years, not living much of a life to pursue my rekindled passion.
I tried to put as much time as possible into my venture, and the education was invaluable. However, it wasn’t the only thing I wanted to accomplish. Some of the music I’m incredibly passionate about is Trance music. I wanted to start making a name for myself as an artist within the scene. I produced track after track, honing my skills and paying for professional music tutors to help give me the skills I needed to become a fully self-sufficient artist, with the ability to write, produce, and engineer all my own music. My tenacity and perseverance paid off, signing to my first major label, JOOF Recordings. This achievement drove me to work even harder to keep signing to labels of that calibre. Since then, I have signed multiple records to Pure Trance, JOOF Recordings, Pattern, Forescape and Tranceformer, with artists I have respected for years supporting my music such as Paul Van Dyk, Solarstone, John OO Fleming, Ferry Tale, and Aly and Fila. My purpose is really being fulfilled! This is just the beginning; I am hopefully pursuing my PhD, which will be specialized in Spatial Audio. I have also set up a business offering my skills as a music producer, offering everything from music production tutorials, track mixing, engineering, and mastering, custom composition for film, TV, and games, to audio editing, restoration, and more! You can check out my website for further information!
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
Embarking on an exciting journey, I am currently in the pursuit of my Ph.D., specializing in Spatial Audio—an endeavor that fuels my passion for creating immersive sonic experiences. In tandem, I’ve established a thriving business, offering a wide array of services, from music production tutorials, track mixing, engineering, and mastering, to custom composition for film, TV, and games, along with audio editing and restoration.
What makes my work truly special is the diverse range of clients I collaborate with. Notable projects include contributions to the BBC, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, and collaborations with esteemed production companies like Running Cliché and Electronic Gypsy.
One particularly exciting ongoing project is with Electronic Gypsy, where we are recreating Vivaldi’s timeless masterpiece, ‘The Four Seasons,’ for a dance film titled ‘The Golden Feather.’ This venture seamlessly combines classical music with the contemporary art of dance, creating a unique and captivating audio-visual experience.
Looking ahead, my Trance music productions are set to continue with upcoming releases on JOOF Recordings, Tranceformer, and Forescape. Anticipate multiple collaborations in the works, promising a fusion of creativity and innovation in the world of electronic music.
As I delve deeper into the realm of Spatial Audio for my Ph.D., I am eager to explore new horizons and embrace fresh opportunities for artistic expression and technological advancement.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The three most important qualities that have helped me are, firstly, the ability to endure stressful and challenging times. This quality was solidified during my time bodybuilding. Now, I’m not suggesting everyone should go and compete as a bodybuilder! I simply mean that during that period, I learned a lot about myself and the level of ‘suffering’ I could endure to reach my end goal. We all possess the ability to endure tough times; sometimes, we just don’t realize it, and we may give up too easily. This partially explains why I gave up music in my early twenties. The time away from music and my activities during that period unknowingly equipped me with a skill set I could utilize going forward. Believe in yourself and your capabilities; without that belief, success may elude you.
Secondly, you need to do the work. Whatever situation you’re in, if you want to change, you must put in the work. Even if you have only 1 or 2 hours a day, and you aspire to be a writer, utilize that time either to put steps in place to embark on your journey or for writing! Just invest the hours and get the work done.
The third quality, I believe, enhances both of the above: your daily practice. These practices can be whatever works for you, but the idea is to become a better version of yourself. We can all improve, and believe me, I needed a lot of personal growth and improvement! I was never physically unhealthy, but my mental health was not good when I started back on this journey. Of course, this is subjective to the individual, but I took steps firstly to deal with my personal issues. I began understanding myself and my flaws. I learned that my creative mind needs positivity, not negativity. This boils down to the smallest of things—the words you choose to use, the thoughts you allow in your mind. It all affects your existence, as, after all, whether we know it or not, we are totally in control of our reality. I maintain a good diet, exercise regularly, use cold water exposure every day without fail to give me my ‘get up and go’! I meditate almost daily after my cold-water exposure, which helps keep my mind clear and focused on its goals. However, it’s not all smooth sailing; all these practices (plus many more) I have put in place really help me, and I would be nowhere without them and the good people who introduced me to them. But I still have bad days, as we all do. We just need to keep our eyes on the prize and do the work!
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
When feeling overwhelmed, if the task at hand is not immediately urgent, sometimes stepping away from it for a day or two can provide a much better perspective. I find it helpful to break down the challenge into smaller, more manageable parts. By focusing on one step at a time, I prevent myself from feeling swamped. Prioritization is key, involving the identification and tackling of the most important tasks first. Delegating when possible and sharing the workload can alleviate pressure. Taking short breaks and engaging in activities that promote relaxation, such as a walk or breathwork, helps create a mental reset. If you are feeling excessively overwhelmed, sometimes a change in mindset is necessary. Personally, cold-water exposure is perfect for me as it seems to snap me out of negative thought patterns, and the release of dopamine is a double whammy.
Effective time management is essential. Seeking support from friends, family, or colleagues and discussing my concerns often provides valuable perspectives. Prioritizing self-care, including adequate sleep, nutrition, and enjoyable activities, is crucial. Learning to say no and setting realistic limits are essential to avoid taking on too much. Visualization and mindfulness techniques help refocus on the present moment and reduce anxiety. If overwhelming feelings persist, seeking professional help ensures tailored support and coping strategies for the specific situation. It’s crucial to recognize personal limits and be proactive in managing stress while keeping an open line for support.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.picoboulevardmusic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/picoboulevarddj
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PicoBoulevarddj
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-stevens-a59531195/
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/picoboulevarddj
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7B7eHo5g8KnpiaeLtpulkA?si=0fSMW-g6QWufmzSsNHIjMA
Image Credits
Keiran McKay & Jon Peterson
