“From Artists to Artists” with Jonny 5 of the Flobots

Jenn Cohen | April 1, 2012 | 0 Comments

Successful Musicians Pose a Question to Youth On Record Students

by Nathan Schmit

At Youth On Record and Flobots.org, our mission is to empower students to express themselves through music. This is the first of a series, which asks successful musicians to thoughtfully ask the students of Youth On Record a question about their perspectives as artists.

Jonny 5 is a founding member of both the Denver-based band, the Flobots, and of the Colorado nonprofit Flobots.org. He is a tireless warrior for those whose voice has been marginalized or minimized. Jonny 5 is an educator and youth advocate, and can be caught at a local high school or college campus near you, empowering those to actively and responsibly pursue the change they wish to see in the world.

Jonny 5’s question to YOR students: “When you write or produce music, who is it that you are creating for? What is it that inspires you?”

“What inspires me to do my writing is everyday life, and what me, my friends, and family, go through.” ThizKIDD

“I really like it when someone internalizes my words/music and feels what I feel. I love it when someone smiles and looks at me like, ‘How did you know that’s how I feel?’” EVI

“Who I write for, is the people in the struggle of life having problems day to day. Mostly people living in poverty.” Killah Ken

“When I first write it comes out just for me because I’m just writing my emotions, and it’s just a way to get them out. Eventually it turns into more of a global statement because I want people to be able to connect with the emotions I put on paper. I try to write all kinds of stuff because I hate when writers or musicians have the same style over and over again because it makes the music boring after a while.” Gabe W

“The people that I create my music for is society and the community, to display my train of thought and what goes on in my head. It helps me get my emotions out and show the world how I feel without having to talk with them in person.” Josh G

“Mis liricas o canciones son para mi familia y los jovenes que están perdidos de civilización que sienten que no hay un proposito para vivir la vida sonriendo y no usando drogas.” Gabriel M

“I get the chance to inspire people and make them want to move.” Levi

“It’s easier for me to put it on paper than go out and talk to someone. It helps me a lot more because you can choose to share it or keep it to yourself.” Devin C

“I write for myself, mostly because I try to say something to a crowd of people, but it doesn’t work out most of the time.” Walker

“Whoever is in my audience, I’ll try to point or help them see my vision or help them make it through a hard time.” C*A*P-ability

At Youth On Record and Flobots.org our mission is to empower students to express themselves through music. The following are fantastic examples of how powerful our student’s words can be. We count on our students to inform us educators how they see the future and their role in it, so that we may best help them prepare. It is truly amazing what many young people will do and say when given an opportunity to succeed.