Speaking from the dark soul....

I find something devine in finding a song in the dark corners of life most people overlook, yet we all encounter. Most people let others define what beauty is, the magazines, the advertisers, the big wigs that exploit unreal stereotypes of a life that no one really lives; this is what they illuminate. I take a look at the insides, the un-lit inner workings. It is these things, The inside of a piano, the gears of a watch, which make it work and are often the most detailed and beautiful. Yet most of the time they go covered up out into the world. It is the same with people and their hearts and souls. That is what makes them work and they cover it up everyday with what they think they should put foreward. We all do it, even me. But I also try to find those darker sides, the un-lit covered up parts of a person or our lives that are dark and shine a musical light on them, reveal the beauty in that which normally remains hidden. These are the songs and the tales that I tell. With every song it is a chance to tell a new story, but every time we tell it, it changes. It changes with every small note bend, every vocal inflection, I enjoy telling the story, but you can't just re-tell a story the same way everytime. I also like to take a song, a story and retell it, turn the lyrics unto itself and bring out a new side to it that hasen't been heard before. Wait until you hear our version of "Hallelujah" by Lenord Cohen. We have brought another layer, a darker layer to the song, because this is how we tell it. Our album release is coming up June 4th at the Mirmar theatre, keep it open. These tales that I write, and as a band that we get to tell are our way of bringing light to the unseen of everyones real day to day. We seize the chance to tell these tales. These are the Beautifully tragic life and times that get buried and intentionally pushed away and forgotten about. I encourage you to look deep and shine your own light into the darkest parts of your life and find the hidden beauty that lies there. These are some of my rants from the dark soul, and there are more to come.
Thank you for your time & support.
J.S.McLaughlin

Mar 16, 2010 Add comment Share

just a thought......

There are many times that i tend to get caught up, in things both good and bad, and I am trapped in my own head. Over the years I payed a lot of dues and was once one of "those" people. Things are changing and being able to release all of this music I have been working on and now having the people around me that i do, I am one lucky son of a bitch all things considered. So here is where i will vent, share some fucked up stories from the past and inner workings of my heart, soul and twisted mind. I hope you enjoy or at least leave with a cautionary tale or two. Thanks, John S. McLaughlin.

Jan 20, 2010 Add comment Share

John is a broken soul, healed over, scarred and tattooed kind of an artist. A taste for the obscure and never doing anything anyone else's way, called stubborn or creative depending on the lips that they crossed he works in all mediums, visual and musical, and can not imagine a life without art. Playing 13 instruments he has had music as a constant in his life since a very young age. He composes soundtracks and scores for film as well as pursuing personal music projects. John listens to everything but "new" country. Jazz and opera being some of his favorites. When he isn't writing or playing he is a stay at home dad to his 2 children, Ella Dorothy & James Valentine. His loving wife Kate is a costume designer & milliner by trade. John hopes you enjoy the site and his music and help spread the word. His deepest thanks and remember to check back the site is updated daily. A series of interview videos will be posted soon.