Meet Aaron Honda: Musician & Graphic Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Aaron Honda and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Aaron, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I am from a small town called Hereford, about as far south as you can go in Arizona. It’s one of those towns that might as well not exist at all. A place that seems to barely hang off the edge of the planet itself and serves no other purpose than to challenge just how much little civilization one needs to survive before going mad. However, I would say that the geography of my childhood contributes more to who I am today than those who raised me. My sense of creativity is not something I developed out of interest or pleasure, but rather survival. It was a way to give rolling hours meaning and empty space ( of which there was plenty) depth. And that instinct is something that has been both a challenge as much as it has been an asset in the pursuit of a meaningful career in art. Today, my titles are musician and designer. But before I earned these titles, I went by, “the local boy who’s always lead in the school plays,” and “that kid with the long hair who always has pencil stains on his fingers.” And underneath all of this, is a boy who spent too much time outside in the desert heat, daydreaming about possibilities and music.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Professionally, I am recognized as a musician and graphic designer. However, my goal is, and has always been, to communicate. To have a conversation in a way that made sense to me. Every challenge I’ve ever faced came in the form of being innately different than my peers. I didn’t know how to fit in, speak the lingo, or carry myself. But I grew up in a household electric with art. My mom taught theatre and my dad was a professional photo journalist. In a way, I managed to siphon what I needed from each and create something unique to me. Like a language I could finally use to make myself heard and understood. What I couldn’t say, I sang. What I couldn’t explain, I drew. And slowly I began to realize that this would be the direction of my life. Through music I could express the contents of my heart. And through design, the contents of my mind.

I am excited about where this will take me, but I am more excited to help people. I am excited to make bridges where there were once canyons. Discourse where there was once silence.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Gosh. Los Angeles. A leviathan of a place. Well, I am a coffee fiend. So first, coffee. I tend to hover around the eastern half of LA so first stop, Highland Park: Kumquat Coffee. The best coffee, the best drinks, and as a mixed race Asian individual, a wonderful sense of belonging. I am all for Iced Lattes, however the Hong Kong Milk Tea is a must try. Next, Town Pizza. Right down the street from Kumquat. Pizza is very subjective so I will say, I really enjoy this spot. In particular, the mushroom rosemary pizza. Please. It’s exquisite. And thanks to my friends, I know the perfect place to eat, overlooking the city. If you’re into a little hike that is. Next. I am half Japanese and Little Tokyo in downtown has played a huge part in my life since childhood. So obviously we’re going there. The Japanese-American museum is a must see and the selection of food, shops, and tang of history is brilliant. From there, up the street to the Broad Contemporary Art Museum. It would be a waste of a good trip to LA if we didn’t hit at least one museum. And before you even enter, you must see the architecture. One of it’s most phenomenal features. I would say the beach, but you already new that. So instead, I’ll mention Mt. Wilson. Another gem from a friend, the views atop this mountain range are to die for and crisp clean air is unmatched. And the last stop, a show at any one of LA’s many night spots.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to the friends I’ve made, who have grown me up and given me the space to not only be myself, but feel confident in doing so.

Website: https://www.behance.net/aaronhondaba7f

Instagram: aaron.honda

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/AaronHondaMusic

Other: SPOTIFY https://open.spotify.com/artist/6y1RPA2iLSuITtWeil6wlw

Image Credits
All done by me.