Today we’d like to introduce you to Des Jones.
Alright, thank you for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, how did you get started?
Okay, yeah, so I was born and raised in St. Louis, MO, and am based here currently. I grew up in a heavy music-influenced family, with my aunt (Nikki Ervin) taking me under her wing as a kid. She plays keys well, so you can only imagine the exposure to the scene I got. Those earliest experiences molded my musicality and taught me the art of gigging and musicianship. Whenever my family took me to church, I gravitated toward the drums. I was intrigued when the sound waves would make my heart resonate; from then on, I’ve been hooked! I was also gifted with playing by ear, which helped me learn to hear music and play it verbatim. This skill is the basis for my coordination, rhythm, and time development. I got my first standard drum kit at 9 years old, where I would practice R&B, Gospel, and Rock. In middle school, I played trio in the Carr Lane VPA drum line and went on to attend Central Visual and Performing Arts High and moved to quads. I played more drum sets in high school. During my attendance, I was able to hone more knowledge of the industry, musicianship, being creative, and musicality. I was allowed to write cadences and explore other instruments.
For college, I went to UMSL, where I first majored in Music Education, then later switched to a Bachelor of Arts with a minor in Jazz Studies. This is where I fell in love with Jazz and its Afro-Cuban aesthetics. I studied Jazz under the late Jim Widner, with whom we went on a European tour in 2019, and Adaron “Pops” Jackson up until my graduation in 2022. Here I was also involved in concert band and music theory. I was fortunate enough to also study with Percussion Master Matt Henry. In Percussion, we learned Afro-Cuban, and West African genres from Latin America, Egypt, etc., all about their native drums/instruments, which heavily influenced my drum set playing and gave me a deeper appreciation and respect for the language of music, Jazz, especially. I started gigging on the St. Louis scene in 2018 when I was 19 with different artists like Brian Owens (soul), Bebe (neo-soul), Sir Eddie C (hip-hop), the Joel Vanderheyden quartet (Jazz), and more recently, Matt Henry’s Agbara sextet (Latin Jazz) which includes Matt and Pops! Over the years, I have dabbled in playing keys, guitar, and bass and written and arranged music. These experiences have helped me enhance my overall creativity. I’ve had a cool run, and I’m excited to see what’s next!
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
One of my biggest struggles along the way has been dealing with ADHD. It is a task for sure, as it makes it challenging for me to focus if I don’t sternly discipline myself, as well as being impulsive at times and prone to depression. This manifests as not studying enough music, not working on my technique, and simply not trying hard enough due to the fear that I won’t be able to prevail. Another struggle includes being in a male-dominated industry. I have never been physically afraid to work in the industry, but the mentality is tough to align. Luckily I’ve gotten some insight from my aunt over the years that showed me how to navigate this and have support from my dear friends, some of who are also musicians. While these challenges can be difficult, I ultimately see them as beautiful because they allow me to use them as fuel to achieve the seemingly impossible, connect with other humans, and appreciate the journey of failures and accomplishments.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am known as a musician (specifically a drummer) and a teacher in my work. However, I would also like to be known as a creative as I partake in visual arts (drawing, painting, poetry, sculpting/props). I am proud of the rapport, experience, and skills I have gained in this field. My view of a creative’s purpose sets me apart from others. To my understanding, art is the only thing that can reach anyone anytime. It can be auditory, visual, or neither, but it is contingent on its ability to evoke internally, similar to Love. We all need it but can’t exactly describe what it is. Just think of a life without art. As a creative, I believe we are given certain struggles to overcome and then imitate them in our art with the intent of healing. Before I teach my students, I always check myself to be sure I’m exhibiting the same behaviors I enforce, so I try to always bring that with me during my performances and as a creative.
Networking and finding a mentor can positively impact one’s life and career. Any advice?
My advice for finding a mentor(s) is to open your heart to being a student for life in everything you do. Even as a teacher! This has been the best method for me and has helped me tremendously. Life will throw these people at you seriously, haha.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/desondrums_/
