JOHN LARCHICK

Finding Truth in the Music

We caught up with John Larchick, talented musician and producer with Time Stamp Records and founding member of JL Universe.

When did you first get into music? Please explain.

I’ve loved music since I can remember. But my personal experience with it started with the drums. I was 11years old, my older brother wanted to take drum lessons and my parents reluctantly signed him up. I couldn’t resist playing his practice kit at home. My mom saw that I was playing them regularly and soon got me in with my brother’s drum teacher. I had lessons from a Denver drum legend Chad Johnson (ChadZilla) who gave me that real taste of playing and jamming with other players. I am forever thankful for those lessons and his instruction which planted that musical seed in me to want to learn, push myself to get better and understand new aspects of music and of course start to create my own original music.

Who or What inspired you to pursue a career in music?

I have to say that my mom and grandma are huge influences in my love of music and my desire to make music/art a career. Mom always had records on in the house growing up. Everything from Blues, R&B, and Rock n Roll. She always loves a good jam. My Grandma Bubbles and Grandpa Lue are a couple of my other biggest inspirations to pursue this industry and to achieve the highest level of success. Grandma’s good vibrations push me to strive for greatness.

How has your music evolved since you first began creating music?

Being a 90’s kid, I was raised in the Golden age of hip-hop, grunge, funk, blues, Reggae and so much more. All of these styles pushed me and continue to move me to this day. But now my main purpose is to reach a space of pure expression. For me, it is less about fitting into a particular genre and more about making music that demonstrates me as a person and an artist. My creations are constantly evolving based upon my life, my surroundings, people I may be collaborating with, my current playlist.

Tell us about the JL Universe. How did it all get started?

I’ve been a part of several groups over the years. When I split from a group in 2012 I decided I wanted to create more of a solo project, which is how JL Universe began. It has since grown into more of a collective project. I have somewhat of a revolving door of artists that collaborate with me now. We write, create and perform songs together, using creativity and ideas from everyone involved for each particular song. Although I did release two songs in 2020 that I, understandably, recorded and produced 100% solo. The Battle Royale video I produced, directed and shot was one of the highlights in my world when the rest of the world was shut down. Check it out! JL Universe, Battle Royale

The one artist who I’ve collaborated with most in recent years is my homie Colin Smith(a.k.a. Funky Fingers a.k.a. Hippy C). Colin and I are working closely on some new materials , hoping to drop some new tracks and are working together on other productions in the studio.

If you were forced to choose only one, which emotion, more than any other drives you to stay in this tough business? Is it joy, anger, desire, passion or pride and why?

It is virtually impossible to choose one of these since they are all driving forces of life and therefore driving forces of music as well. But, if I have to choose one, I’d have to go with passion. Music pumps in my blood. I am blessed to be producing and collaborating with other artists and businesses as well. I get excited writing, producing and performing.

Which ingredient do you think makes you special and unique as a performing artist in an industry overflowing with new faces and ideas?

Me. And all those good vibes;)

What has been your biggest challenge as a performing artist? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?

There are so many challenges but one challenge is the need to be constantly creating new content and balancing that with live shows/streams, family etc. All of these aspects take a great deal of work to develop and maintain. By launching Time Stamp Records I’ve been able to take these challenges on with others. TSR has and is building the team that handles the live show/stream process for various artists and presents a plan to follow. This in turn, helps me to achieve this balance for myself and my own project., Basically, in helping others it also helps everyone.

A common phrase in the industry is, “you must suffer for your art.” Do you agree with this statement? If so, how have you suffered for your art?

Yeah, absolutely! Without the suffering, this wouldn’t be life. I believe anything in which you strive for success, you will also suffer for it. But it all stems from the vision. Through suffering and through experience, we develop our best expression.

How do you feel the internet has impacted the music business?

The internet has been such a big part of the music business for some time now. It’s almost hard to remember music before the internet. Ha! Not really, but the impact is obvious. Access to all and everything online is a different reality. I was a part of the music business as the internet was entering. The hardest part has had to do with learning how to do the marketing In some ways it’s easier. In other ways, it’s more difficult because of the demand. Creating social media content is a new creative process in itself and it may not be something you come by naturally. It’s quite a big job regardless and is vastly different from the marketing in the pre-internet music business some may remember.

Have you done or plan on doing any Live-stream Concerts? If you have, how has the response been from your fans?

Yes, I have been doing a live stream every other week with Time Stamp Records. Since the reality of the pandemic really hit in March of 2020, I have been testing the waters with doing live-streaming. As we all saw, the demand for that sort of content was high because people were just so starved of live music and that feeling and culture which just stopped in its tracks. Since the end of 2020, I teamed up with the Campus Lounge in Denver and started doing these safely distanced, happy hour, outside events (even in the bitter winter cold) and we live stream these events. We’ve done about 9 shows now. As a matter of fact we are doing another one in two weeks. Myself and a handful of artists that I’m working with perform at them in person for a limited seating beer garden at @CampusLoungeDenver and then we broadcast to the Time Stamp Records Facebook and YouTube pages.

The fans have been super receptive and it’s really been a strong way to work with another small business to create revenue and original music.

If you could change anything about the music industry, what would it be?

My label Time Stamp Records is part of this change. I feel the music culture should use the unification of artists to develop music. Like the old saying goes, “it takes a village”. We have a lot of artists working solo but, by partnering we can build something bigger together. That’s the vision. MUSIC/ART/CULTURE.

What are the 5 albums that have helped make you the person you are today? And why?

This is a big question. Too many to list really. In recent years I have been diving into storytelling songwriters and have also become a huge fan of the Funk-Tronica, EDM beats and Reggae. I love the feeling it gives and have been infusing these styles into my original works. I would have to say, most of my influential albums came to me in the 90’s. I will try with this list, it really doesn’t scratch the surface of music/albums that helped make me who I am today.

Justice System - Rooftop Soundcheck

Beastie Boys - The in Sound from way out

Led Zeppelin - Houses of the Holy

Adam Sandler - They’re all gonna laugh at you

NIN - The Downward Spiral

Nirvana - NeverMind

Beck - Mellow Gold

Rage Against the Machine - 1992 Self titled

Dinosaur Jr. - Where you Been

What is the best advice you have received?

Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, then don’t be afraid to go and make magic. Bottom line, I guess…. don’t be afraid!

Tell us about your new endeavor, Time Stamp Records.

This is a label that I have been building for some time. A lot of people don’t know that TSR(Time Stamp Records) is a collaboration of my three businesses (audio, video and apparel). TSR’s tagline is MUSIC/ART/CULTURE. We are developing with and bouncing off of the music, art and culture which surrounds us. The idea is to develop the system/process of making timeless music, video, apparel and events at the highest level. A lot of artists have a hard time developing and taking a project full circle from conception to release. We have the vision, resources and ideas to build this creative empire.

What’s next for you? Please explain.

I’m in the thick of it all as we speak. I’m dropping new music, Working on building a couple of other companies through multimedia and branding. TSR has a spring clothing line coming soon and we are working on contracts with a few artists. We have big plans for the future. Taking it one day at a time and shooting for greatness.

How can fans-to-be gain access to your music?

Websites: Sign up on our mailing lists and contact us here. TimeStampRecords.com JLuniverse.com

Both JL Universe and Time Stamp Records are up and running on Facebook and Instagram and YouTube. https://www.facebook.com/ColoradoRecordLabel/ https://www.instagram.com/timestamprecords/?hl=en https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4AkQNNeUQjyOD_bVm4Yb2Q