Upon his arrival at a new school in 2009, John Mark befriended a group of teens who enjoyed listening to rock music. Being his then favorite musical genre, it wasn’t long before he felt at ease with this new clique. Eventually, a member of the group not only became one of his best friends, but also a source of inspiration. “When I saw everything Rafy could do on that guitar, I was inspired”, said John Mark while reminiscing about his 15-year-old self. It wasn’t long after that John began his own musical journey. “I started taking guitar lessons with my grandfather and uncle”, he said. Additionally, throughout the years he enrolled in summer courses at the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico to perfect his playing and singing. “It took me about two years to get the chords right.”
John later completed a bachelor’s degree in Operations Management. Although he never stopped playing the guitar, he didn’t initially consider becoming an artist. He did, however, explore different professional options. “Before knowing that I wanted to pursue music, I searched for jobs in the field I had studied. I also worked in restaurant kitchens to gain the knowledge and experience to open my own business. But none of those things made me feel fully satisfied”, he admitted. It wasn’t long before John, who constantly uploaded videos singing and playing the guitar to his social media platforms, truly questioned himself. “I arrived at the restaurant one day and I began wondering if I saw myself in a kitchen for the next two years. I knew I had the potential to pursue music, and I received great feedback from my followers; so, why was I wasting my time here?”
The making of Voș
The following day, he gave his weeks’ notice and began searching for a producer. It wasn’t long before he found one through his high school friend and inspiration, Rafy. Fully committed to beginning his musical career, he chose his artistic name: Voș. “I picked this name inspired by a Turkish word and, since it sounds exotic and uncommon, I feel it encompasses what kind of music I want to make as an artist.” Without more hesitation, Voș began working on his first single. “I wrote Antinomias, which translates to “Contradiction”, during a particular moment in my current relationship. We were still getting to know each other, and sometimes he said he wanted me, but, other times, he’d show me the complete opposite of that. It felt, well, contradictory.”
Although a rock and roll fan during his formative years, Voș also explored different musical genres such as R&B, jazz, and soul. This musical discovery is what led him to choose House as his main genre. “To expose myself in the music industry, I want to focus on electronic music and different variations of House. I feel it has a lot of potential.” He would, however, like to experiment with other genres later on. Voș also shared that one of his main goals is to write genuine songs that people can resonate with. “There aren’t a lot of artists that create profound or genuine music. I don’t want to record just to see if my music makes it. I want to sing about me and what I’ve been through, because that’s what people look for when listening to music: authenticity.”
According to Voș, it’s easy to notice when artists don’t make genuine music. “I think some artists that are beginning in the industry are torn between creating what they want to create and doing what they’re told will sell. This self-doubt can cause people to do the opposite of what they want for fear of not selling. That shouldn’t be like that.” Voș considers that making good music shouldn’t be limited to using the same used up beats, but to creating a story through the instruments. “Although we use the same seven notes to create music, what truly matters is how those notes are interpreted. What story is the music telling? That’s why I make music: to express myself through the melody and the lyrics.”
Fame isn’t everything
Similarly, he encourages aspiring artists to give it all they’ve got and not be intimidated by who’s already made it. “There are good musicians out there, I know it. But what some may be lacking is the courage to want to take over the world.” Although talent is essential in this industry, Voș believes that what really helps people reach their goals is their internal drive. “A lot of artists begin playing one genre and, eventually, move on to another to gain a different audience, and these are the people reaping the benefits. It’s not that the industry is corrupt, it’s just that some artists, talented and untalented alike, have learned to navigate the industry’s landscape very well.”
Furthermore, while focused on creating and launching his music, Voș is even more dedicated to finding his fan base. Although he knows he has the support of his friends, family, and local followers, he recognizes that most House aficionados do not reside in his homeland. “Sure, some Puerto Ricans listen to this music, but it isn’t a very popular genre on the island. My fan base isn’t here, and it’s important that I acknowledge that and look for them elsewhere.” Knowing this, Voș plans to use his college acquired knowledge to promote and sell his music internationally. Even before releasing his first song, Voș kept his social media followers engaged by releasing content related to his single. “People want to live off music but don’t know how to start. It’s sad that most music programs don’t teach aspiring musicians to promote their art, and artists can’t live off talent alone. We need fans. Without them, we’re not going to make it very far.”
While Voș knows he has the potential to become famous and gain generously off his work, he clarified that profiting off his art is not his main interest. “I don’t make music thinking ‘This is going to be a hit!’. I want to create music with love and patience. But I’m not going to make something that I’m pressured to do or that doesn’t feel genuine to me.” For Voș, it’s not about fame or fortune, but about enjoying his time on earth doing what he loves. “We only live once. And I don’t want to miss out on making music for fear that it won’t trend. There are a lot of amazing artists out there that make great music that doesn’t trend, and they still profit generously off it thanks to their fan base. Fame isn’t everything.”
While this is only the beginning of Voș’s journey, he’s grateful for the support he’s received from friends, family, and social media followers. Voș’s first single, Antinomias, is a perfect blend of House and Jazz perfect for chilling, brunching, or for vibing before and after work. You can check it out on Spotify. Voș also expects to drop his next single, SAUDADES, early on this next summer.
To check out all his music and content, you can follow him on his social media platforms: