Meet Johnny Cruz | Artist & Producer

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

Hi Johnny, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Aquarium Records is about giving myself and other musical artists an outlet for creativity. When COVID-19 hit, it was like a record scratch, pausing everything that seemed to be coming together for me. Just a few years out of college, I was hitting my stride with auditions, and I was excited about joining a community of creatives. I still remember walking back stage after an audition that I absolutely nailed – my body was on fire and it felt like the stars were aligning just for me. But instead, the pandemic forced us all in doors.

I couldn’t let go of that momentum. With little else to do (and no one else on the 5 freeway), I started going to my dad’s warehouse, where a friend of his stored his old producer’s equipment. With his permission and help, I started to learn about music production. He gave me the confidence to pursue my certification in audio engineering and start collaborating with others as a professional. I’d already had years of training as a vocalist and musician, but something sparked inside me when I started working with more artists. Part of me always knew that I would find my career in the music industry. Aquarium Records is about me finally following the ambition and passion that I had for music when I was a kid, and opening doors for others to do the same.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
The biggest mistake I’ve made in my music career is waiting to start. I thought I had to have everything else in my life in order first: a degree in accounting and jobs that just made me miserable. I gave up when people around me discouraged me. I took time off to learn how to adapt to being diagnosed with ADHD. But I grew up singing, playing music, and writing songs. Music was always there for me even when I was consciously walking away. Writing songs about my own life has forced me to face hard truths, but it has also helped me love the parts of myself that I sometimes want to hide, including the part of me that loves making music.

Making a song can be a vulnerable process, because it requires you to be honest with an audience, and especially yourself. I say I am an artist first and producer second because I go through that vulnerable process every time I work on my own music, but also when I work on other people’s music. I especially love working with newer or smaller artists, because I get to provide support in so many different aspects. Sometimes it’s a full throttle exercise, and we’ll record vocals and multiple instruments for 5 or 6 songs in a day or two like I did with Emily Nightengale. Other times it’s the opposite where I’ll work on one song for a few months, like “I Still Love You” by HEFF. I’ve been able to contribute recording and mixing, but I also love opportunities to collaborate by contributing background vocals, song writing, and by playing an instrument or two. Artists I’ve worked with are playing shows with these songs, and I feel so privileged that I help them capture a moment or a feeling in a song that they can share with the world.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My tour of LA is probably going to revolve entirely around food and music. Whenever I leave LA, there is not much I wouldn’t do for a corned beef Reuben from Langers. I would definitely head to an open mic night at Alana’s in Mar Vista. Afterwards, street tacos is definitely the move, but if we’re already at Alana’s we’re going to Brothers Cousins Tacos off Sawtelle. If not there then Taco Zone in Echo Park. Depending on how many days we have, we’ll probably be choosing between Sushi Gen in the Arts District, Joe’s Falafel near Universal Studios, or Porto’s in Burbank. If I have the chance, I’ll take folks to a concert at one of the historic venues like the Hollywood Bowl, but I’ll never turn down a more intimate concert like when I saw Jalen Ngonda at the Troubadour.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to dedicate this article to Cat, who brings together open mic nights and comedy shows at Alana’s Coffee Roaster in Mar Vista. A lot of the confidence that I built as a performer and producer are thanks to her. She invited me to work at those evening shows, and sometimes to perform my own music. The people she brought around were great too. Most nights you could find a handful of people hanging around in the parking lot after the show who were just excited to talk about the different acts we had seen that night. Everyone was so welcoming, and I remember feeling so accepted and encouraged. So, thanks Cat.

Instagram: @thatdudejohnnycruz

Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/38Em0Jn3rJF9ua0ttJMrb7

Image Credits
Xen Vidal