Meet Michael Jones | Death metal artist & Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Michael Jones and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michael, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
Work life balance? What is that? Just kidding. Honestly, I had a pretty good idea of how much work it was going to take to get my band up and running. From the time I decided to get serious about recording my debut album about 4 years ago until now the work has been nonstop. I would say that between writing, recording, promoting, networking etc., I’ve been averaging about 5 hours of work every day on top of my full time day job. I do have a couple hobbies outside of work and music like skateboarding and hiking, those things help me stay sane and I try to make time for them when I can but for the most part it’s all work all the time. I’m okay with that though because I knew what I was getting myself into from the beginning.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am in a one man death metal band called Utter Scorn. I’m also currently writing a country/folk album which I hope to release soon, but for the past 4 years my main focus has been Utter Scorn. What sets me apart from other death metal bands is that no one else is incorporating of guitar solos and riffs like mine with the sub genres slam and brutal death metal. In more abstracts terms, no one else is using the ingredients of metal music quite like I’m using them, certainly no other solo acts. I would say that I’m most proud that I had the resolve and discipline to make my album and see it through to completion and release. It was without question the most difficult thing I’ve ever done. There were so many setbacks, so many 2-steps-forward 4-steps-back type of obstacles, and there were definitely times when I wanted to just walk away from it altogether. Ultimately I knew I had come too far to give up, so I just adapted and kept moving no matter what. Along the way I learned who I should and shouldn’t be working with, and I learned a lot of better ways to record myself for the future. I want the world to know that I’m on a mission with this band, and I’m excited for where it’s going. If anyone is into this kind of music or has an affinity for the darker side of art then I invite you to check out my music and be a part of the mission.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live in the San Luis Obispo area. so I would take them out to Sweet Springs Saloon and the Olde English Alehouse, and then we would go back and drink more in my kitchen while listening to music at an obnoxious volume. Then I would make them do a hike with me hungover the next day, and we would jam on our instruments together and go to the beach at Montana de Oro or Morro Bay. We would get Mexican food and seafood and I would bbq for them some days. And we would find some cool local shows to attend. I think the beaches and undisturbed nature areas near me are the best things to check out, and there’s also a decent music scene here for just about any genre.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to my friend Cory Cowley. She is a phenomenal artist/author and she has been regularly going above and beyond to help me and my band grow. Her support means the world to me and I can’t thank her enough.

She has two books published at this time, “Bending Reality” and “Dissention”, and between those books and her visual art she is making some of the most incredible horror art I’ve ever seen. Please support her by reading her books and follow her socials
@foliumdiscognitum2
@c.d.c.works
@hellcatpictures666

Website: www.utterscorn.com

Instagram: @utterscorn

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/utterscorn

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=utter+scorn

Image Credits
Niuvis Martin Tri Waluya