Meet Johnny Shankel: Drummer and Bassist
We had the good fortune of connecting with Johnny Shankel and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Johnny, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
If what you’re doing no longer brings you any form of happiness, or worse, you are literally dreading every second, it might be time to move on. As a musician, if I am not honestly happy creating new songs and collaborating with others, how can I expect others to enjoy the finished product? The creative process, while sometimes arduous, should still at the end of the day bring you joy and satisfaction knowing you made something. I’ve asked myself if I should quit several times during the course of my music career, as I’m sure every artist has, but the one thing that’s kept me going is my real love and passion for music. As long as I still have that feeling inside me, I know it’s not time to throw in the towel. You have to find fun in just playing music, no matter what kind that may be. I myself have a particular sweet spot for playing rock and metal music, however if I were ever asked to play a jazz or reggae gig, I’d accept in a heartbeat. Feeling the rhythm and seeing the reactions on the audience faces as they dance to the music makes all the sweat and tears of writing and practicing worth it. If someone is finding themselves in a rut and is debating actually quitting, I’d tell them to look inward and try to analyze what specifically is making them feel that way and see if there is a solution. If the problem is too large, such as no longer enjoying playing or creating in general, or wanting to pursue something else altogether, it may indeed be quitting hour. Otherwise, if you can reignite your passion with a few attainable fixes, like a new practice routine, or finding new people to write and play with, congratulations, you’re still in the game!
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a bassist and drummer. I play drums for Xyleya (@xyleya) and bass for The Wld. What I think sets me apart is my stage presence and personality on stage. Every show I’ve ever played I’ve given my absolute 100% where I do my best to interact with my fellow bandmates and even the audience to give them a show they’ll for sure remember. Getting where I am today was certainly a challenge especially with the COVID-19 pandemic putting a halt on all live music. I’ve had to put my in person education on hold and learn things in a way I wasn’t used to. While it was a challenge, I took comfort in knowing I wasn’t alone, and that every other musician and artist was right there with me, kinda like a big support system. As the year 2020 came to a close, I decided to get into playing bass. I have been drumming for about 6 years now and I wanted to give another instrument a shot! I thought it would be fun to play the other instrument in the rhythm section, as well as a new experience on stage. It ended up giving me the opportunity to play bass with The Wld as previously mentioned and I haven’t stopped since. The lessons I’ve learned along the way taught me that it’s never too late to try something new, and you never know what a newfound passion might turn into! I even started a solo project called Cthuwu where I’ll be writing a blend of pop-punk, metal, and hard rock featuring various artists and friends from around the area. Both artists I play with are exceptionally talented and bring plenty to the table. Xyleya mixes all kinds of styles within each song to create what sounds like orchestrated chaos not bound by one genre at any given time. And The Wld brings back the timeless in your face feel of Rock and Roll, with heart wrenching love songs, and explosive rock tracks. Both bands, and my solo project, while incredibly different in just about every way, make me feel incredibly proud and honored to have been given the chance to work and create music with them, and I can’t wait for the world to join me on our journey.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
As someone who spends an ample amount of time in Los Angeles, I’ve got a pretty decent idea of where I’d take someone. On the first day we’d take a walk down the walk of fame, just seeing the sights and checking out whose stars we recognize. We would definitely make a trip to the new Amoeba music store, assuming we get past the crazy line. Taking a day or two to visit some escape rooms and some of the silly museums is also a hidden gem. I can guarantee you I’d take them to get some boba from some of my favorite places around like Boba Time. And finally, I’d show them Musicians Institute where I went to school for drums, and will be returning to for Bass guitar. One of the most fun parts of Los Angeles is really just being there and experiencing the atmosphere. Seeing strangers take pictures with poorly dressed superheroes, seeing a protest happen on neighboring streets and perhaps joining in, or people attempting to film an entire Tik Tok in the streets before the next green light, there’s always something interesting or exciting going on in The City of Angels.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My parents of course for supporting me on this journey. Blink-182, Ghost and Avenged Sevenfold for being my biggest inspirations in music. My girlfriend, for unconditionally supporting, and tutoring me in music theory. And all my mentors, and friends for teaching me new concepts and ideas, and for sticking with me even when things get tough.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnnyshankel
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JohnnyShankel
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzQgii19SS549nDxtubROvg
Other: https://www.instagram.com/cthuwuisreal/ is my personal project https://www.instagram.com/xyleya/ is Xyleya https://www.instagram.com/th3wi1d/ is the Wld
Image Credits
Matthew Pifer Joshua Farmer
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