Today we’d like to introduce you to John Julian Shandra Matthew Smith.
Hi John Julian Shandra, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
(Matthew)
Ourselves and a group of close friends have been going to Joshua Tree National Park our entire lives. As children, with our parents, as young adults, with our friends, and now as family men with our wives and kids.
In our early to mid 20’s however, ourselves and our group of friends would make annual trips to J Tree, but more often than not, several excursions a year.
All of us being musically inclined, guitars would be brought for impromptu jam sessions around the campfire. My memory is hazy on this, but I think the whole rock opera started with the song titled “LOOKIN’ FOR A SPOT” as a goof about how hard it was finding a damn parking spot/camp site inside the park as J Tree had become an extremely popular place for tourists and rock climbers over the years since we were all kids.
A few days before one of our planned camping trips, John somehow got in contact with a friendly neighborhood drug dealer named “Dilly.” Dilly made the suggestion that if we were going out to Joshua Tree, we should try some of his magic mushrooms he was selling. A very particular strain called “Penis Envy.” The deal was made and thus ensued many a trip (pun intended) in Joshua Tree where our minds expanded, our hearts opened, and our souls captivated by what the fungus among us had to offer.
(John)
It all began for me around 2007-2008 when I was a spry young 23-year-old visiting Joshua Tree National Park for the first time. I was accompanied by seasoned vets Ben Hager and Jamie Pierce, and I was along for the ride. By the time we arrived, it was dark. Not until morning, when I open my tent, I was overwhelmed by the abstract beauty of Joshua Tree; I was hooked.
Over many subsequent visits, the idea of a JT Rock Opera emerged here and there after someone would sing a funny song about the drafty shitter or avoiding the ranger while we performed our ritualistic tradition of hotboxing the car. I’ve been creating original songs as a singer-songwriter since I was 13, with strong support from my parents in music. I’ve been in bands throughout school, both original and cover bands. So, when the idea of a Joshua Tree Rock Opera was mentioned, I saw no other way.
Matt would occasionally come over for a “safety meeting,” and we decided to start recording. It became an obsession. Matt’s vision for the songs were clear and the words he used to describe all the details were truly inspiring. We worked well together and had some help from close friends. We would text each other “JTRO?” and it was on. We ended up with 25 original songs that outlined an album. At that point, it went on a hard drive and followed me around in life for the next 10 years, but JTRO never left my mind.
After marrying my amazing wife in 2018 (who has supported me in all of this, and our beautiful baby boy was born in 2019 (he also provides the voice of the little boy, age 5, on “Theme”), with our second child on the way at that time around 2022, I said, “What about that rock opera?” To my surprise, I was able to retrieve all 25 tracks and systematically went to work. I added details where I thought necessary and used the new technology of the day, the AI voice model “Jesse” by ellevenlabs. I painstakingly edited each part until it was done, or done to the best of my ability. 😉 In September 2024, we released the epic camping concept album, Joshua Tree Rock Opera, but that was merely the beginning. Joshua Tree Rock Opera is an ever-evolving and growing work, destined to be enjoyed by all.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
(Matthew)
The Joshua Tree Rock Opera started to take root roughly around 2008-2009. John had a mini recording studio set up in his bedroom and we would lay a track or two down about what we all experienced on the last camping trip. My guess is we recorded our last song around 2015-2016.
The tough part about writing songs about magic mushroom trips is that you can’t really take notes during your experience to look back on. Trust me, I’ve tried. On one occasion I was determined to write everything down in a notebook. Eventually I got sidetracked when I noticed the moon and felt that if I was sneaky enough, I’d be able to crawl up to it. When reviewing my notes after returning to Earth, my notebook was comprised of the most elegant squiggly lines and the last page read, “Put it down, just enjoy it.”
The biggest obstacle to finishing this album has just been life. I started a family in 2009, and John started his not long after. Finding the time to get together and finish a track about how your fingers push through the cheap government toilet paper inside a Joshua Tree outhouse can be tough.
(John)
The biggest obstacle I’ve faced during this project has simply been life itself. Balancing the responsibilities of taking care of my kids and challenging myself musically has been both my greatest challenge and reward. Music has always been my passion, but witnessing my two children grow and learn has been incredibly fulfilling. While working on this project, I managed to carve out an hour here and there to review and make any adjustments. That was all the time I truly had, which is likely why it took over two years to edit and master. However, I believe it was worth it.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
(Matthew) I’m currently in the very exciting field of property management, specializing in the day to day duties of multi-unit properties and the sale of apartment buildings. Fun I know.
Regarding the Joshua Tree Rock Opera, John is the musical genius. I think I was just good at lyrics and rhyming repetitive phrases in song form for the album like, “That’s how we roll in Joshua Tree” & “All around the campfire high as can be.”
(John)
I currently work as a tuner/tester in final assembly at Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. I get to play with guitars all day, so that can’t be too bad. As for Joshua Tree Rock Opera, I am managing the social media and regularly adding new content. I see a long future for JTRO and am excited to see where it goes. Whether it’s playing live in the future or creating an animated series to further the legacy of Joshua Tree Rock Opera, yes, it’s that important!
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
(Matthew)
Most folks don’t know that my good buddy (John) and I created a 25 song rock opera album. You know, I’m a collared shirt, dress pants, dress shoes kind of guy 5 days a week, who coaches little league baseball, who volunteers in my local community, and I’m a pretty low-key kind of guy. Then they hear this whacky but pretty good sounding album from my younger days about trekking through the desert on hallucinogens and it takes them a back.
The people who are most shocked about the album are my kids. One time, my 3 older sons were in the back seat of my truck just making a ruckus, so I turned on “Emo,” which we’ve since changed the name of the song to “Falling,” and blasted it almost at full volume. It’s a relatively short song but when it was over, all was quite in the truck until my oldest son goes, “What was that?!”
At a red light, I just turned back with a smirk and said, “It’s a song from a rock opera album I made with my friend.”
All the boys lit up and asked to hear more. I just let them know they can hear the rest when they turn 18.
(John)
Some of the surprising aspects of creating and releasing Joshua Tree Rock Opera are that the album contains 25 songs and lasts 52 minutes. Even though I probably listened to these songs more than I’d like to admit, I still love listening to them. Perhaps they act as a time capsule for an adventurous moment in my life, where everything seemed possible and nothing was off the table. They are pretty good songs too. I’m an old man now, almost 40, but I don’t think I can ever completely rule out another JTRO like trip.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/joshuatreerockopera
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshua.tree.rock.opera/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564000839178&mibextid=LQQJ4d&mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@joshuatreerockopera?si=0gGz4NprN8Q0YQP1
- Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/KrFV9K86EqjEpAHf6
Image Credits
All pictures taken by John Shandra and/or Matthew Smith
