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My musical love story started at nine years old, playing classical piano and thinking it wasn't that cool at the time, but equally felt very drawn to the sounds of Queen and The Beatles from the CD's my parents (or Santa) gifted me when I was a similar or younger age.
Fast-forward to 15 where I found my brothers old, nylon-string acoustic guitar in the cupboard and eventually taught myself the main intro to Stairway to Heaven after about six months of playing. I remember the first song I ever played and sung was Green Day - Time Of Your Life.
Then to 18 where myself and three friends started a psychedelic indie-rock band and received NZ On-Air Music Grants, toured the North Island, and landed commercial deals with the music we wrote together and recorded as a band.
You can listen to that old band project on Spotify!
While all this was happening, I was in the midst of completing a Double Major in Business; Marketing & Advertising.
From 22 to 27 I lived abroad in Melbourne to focus on my Advertising Career - the only way I thought I could get ahead in life after the band life caved in. At that time, I was a decent guitar player and song writer, but would have never imagined I could make a living from playing music.
Australia kept me entertained for a few years and that led to a big international adventure, exploring Indonesia, Vietnam, British Columbia, a big trip around the USA, Mexico and eventually back home, where I continued my Corporate life and made a worthwhile investment in property.
Even after 10+ years in the corporate world, I continued to have a little voice in my head, willing and urging me to play more music! Being at the fruitful age of about 28, I also desired to move my body more and get out from behind my desk.
It was around the time I arrived back home from traveling that I saw someone I knew playing a live acoustic gig in Browns Bay - singing covers, picking and strumming the guitar and stomping his foot to create a beat. It was such a vibe, the crowd were loving it and that was his full-time job! It occurred to me right then that making money from music wasn't such a far-fetched idea.
I begun booking a small, private rehearsal space underneath a church (in Mt Eden, opposite the Powerstation live music venue). The room came with one PA, and I'd hire it for a couple hours every week. Locking myself in the room, and rehearsing every single cover song I knew, repeating grooves and loops on my Boss RC3 loop station, and hacking away at vocals - until I had about three-hours of cover music memorised!
I scored my first gig in Ponsonby at Little Easy by walking in and asking for a gig. With one paid live music gig under my belt in 2017 - I knew I could always get more!
Around this time in 2018 I decided to take a break from my corporate career and (alongside my business partner) opened a Yoga Studio in Hobsonville called, Kanuka Yoga Space.
Check out the yoga studio vibes online - it's a great place!
The yoga studio gave me the ability to leave my corporate job, and to start focusing more time and energy on rehearsing, securing more gigs, promoting myself, learning how to DJ, refining my looping skills, guitar playing and vocal performances.
Music has given me the opportunity to travel internationally on snow and surf trips whilst playing music on my way and I've been able to record and release original music which is close to my heart.
Listen to my latest original release, Island Time.
Now I'm a regular on the Auckland live music scene, and have played hundreds of weddings, events and live gigs around New Zealand and abroad.
My acoustic, live looping style is a laid back surfy vibe, with dreamy guitar solos and rich vocals.
Just as the ocean can ebb an flow with power, when the time suits I love to crank up the energy levels and really get people dancing with well known songs through the ages.
About Stu J - Kiwi Musician with Laid Back Surfy Vibes
I'm your go-to, independent artist for all things sound; from vibrant solo looping to high-energy band performances, epic DJ sets, full sound and lighting coverage and a professional and reliable service, all straight from the source.
Get in touch and let's chat about making your next event a huge success!
Kindly,
