Meet John Snyder of Hint of Green Music in Miracle Mile

Today we’d like to introduce you to John Snyder.

John, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
A lobbyist and a musician walk into bar. Who would you want a beer with??

In D.C. pursuing politics and classical studies (living things like Latin), my first thought working on a campaign was, “Wow. This sucks.” Then watched Lord of the Rings and thought, “Wow. Incredible music.” So I threw in the D.C. towel.

Music conservatories rejected my abysmal compositions but accepted my piano chops. From there, I worked relentlessly to catch up. That took me to UCLA grad school. Then assisting a major film composer, who kicked my ass for a year.

Escaping that and with a dime to my name, I gigged and sent hundreds of emails. A music house finally let me demo for an AT&T spot (I lost, but they paid a demo fee!!!).

Years of rejection and brutal struggles followed (see next question), but I was slowly winning work. I also hit up all the film schools, scoring 30+ short films. A few of those students have gone on to big things.

Lately, I scored a movie that opened Sundance, and I’m currently in post on a WW2 drama starring Cary Elwes and Sebastian Roché. Also won a cool mnemonic for the Sony Movie Channel.

Has it been a smooth road?
Smooth as an angry porcupine! I spent my 20’s working absurd hours (40 hours straight once). My car broke down like clockwork, I moved ten times, was evicted from two illegal back-houses (crazy stories), and won my first national commercial working off a rickety card table at a friend’s apartment. Some months I was calculating what I could sell on craigslist if couldn’t pull rent. All romance died (of course). But that’s what I signed up for and I respect those days.

After a live theater performance and a day after my 32nd birthday (I’m 36), I woke up to a pounding distortion in my left ear (like a microtonal bomb had gone off and wouldn’t stop). I saw the best doctors (very kind, very pessimistic. Said my lifestyle probably did it). I took every drug. They injected steroids into my inner ear. I saw quacks and hacks. I spent and spent and went into credit card hell. Nothing helped. I could hardly get out of bed or interact and spent my days with a roaring box fan to drown out the pounding in my ear. Returning home from another grim test, I ran a motorcyclist off the road, nearly killing him (he stormed up, ready to beat my face in, which was fair).

Then both ears failed. I wrote my parents that it looked like the end of music (I couldn’t even get drunk for a legit rock bottom. Excessive alcohol made it worse). The feeling of all that sacrifice and work coming to dust was indescribable.

I asked the divine that if I had to stop, to just Old Yeller it. Stop me cold. So when my good ear returned over a few days, I carried on. I became obsessed with nutrition. Sleeping. Exercise. Metaphysics. Making friends outside of Hollywood. I wrote art music. It took years of diets, improvements, and reversals, but one day the pounding distortion was gone and the tests returned normal. I couldn’t believe it and felt like Andy Dufresne outside Shawshank. Work has flowed since and I’ve dug my business out.

Three takeaways: 1) If you’re at wit’s end, go another day. Then another. Things could improve and you could get stronger. 2) Try to judge less quickly. You never know someone’s story. Give them a little room and they might surprise you. 3) History is savage and life will pummel you to pieces, but perhaps there’s a cosmic arch to the vale of tears you can’t yet see. And that can be encouraging to think.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Hint of Green Music – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
I make most of my money in commercial music, but I’m determined to keep on transitioning into film scores (remember, Lord of the Rings).

I’m proud I’ve survived (so far!) in this town. I’m also proud of my art songs. The pieces I write for friends. The short films that pack a punch. The opera I’ve been working on for years. I don’t make any money on that work. I think 99% of humans desire meaning and connection more than money, sex, or power (which are profound or destructive results of meaningful pursuits). I often don’t live up to it or express it well – money has been a big one for me – but I hope this belief gives me a unique center as I go about my business and art.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Traffic, high rents, intractable homelessness, and lots of red tape (remember, kicked out of two back-houses!). But I also think, despite our problems, there are many wonderful people here striving to do good and achieve the near impossible. It’s inspiring.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.johnwsnyder.com
• Email: johnwsnyder@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jwscomposer
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johnwsnydermusic

Image Credit:
Sarah Golonka

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