Interview with ShoutoutLA
I recently had the honor to chat with ShoutoutLA all things music, life, and my newest album, Religious Trauma Syndrome and the Other Side. Here’s a link!
Hi Jonathan Thomas, looking back, what do you think was the most difficult decision you’ve had to make?
The most difficult decision I ever made was coming out publicly as gay. For me, it was a two-step process: first, admitting to myself that I’m gay, and second, sharing that with those around me.
I grew up in an intensely religious family and community, so I knew coming out wasn’t going to be easy. For the first 13 years of my life, I had no idea gay people even existed. The queer community was actively hidden from me. When I found out about gay people, I was strictly told they were “disgusting, perverted, and going to hell.” While I was attending a religious high school, a kid was expelled after being outed as gay, so I saw the damage that could happen if anyone found out.
As I became aware of my own sexuality, I began to deeply internalize their message, thinking, “I’m disgusting, I’m perverted, I’m going to hell.” This is called internalized homophobia, and research shows that it causes significant harm to queer youth, leading to crippling anxiety and depression, cognitive distortion, and even suicide. It took a lot of time to untangle myself from all that. As I began to love and accept myself for who I am, I knew I needed to come out publicly so I could get past the insanity of having to keep it a secret.
It was messy. Some people accepted and supported me fully, and without them, I literally wouldn’t be here today. Others rejected me, permanently changing or ending our relationships. I lost housing, I lost a job playing keys at my church, and I lost a lot of people in my life. Even though it hurt like hell, I would do it all again. I have never regretted coming out publicly, and I’m very proud of my past self for having the courage to make that necessary decision for myself.
Something I learned is that it’s always in your best interest to be exactly who you are. Don’t fake it. People who don’t like you will leave. It might hurt, but in the end, it’s a win-win because the people who do like the real you will stay.
Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
When I was in middle and high school, I fell in love with soundtracks. While my friends were listening to mainstream artists, I was immersed in film scores. I attended Georgia State University and earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s in music composition, which greatly helped me grow as a composer. After graduating, I unexpectedly fell in love with pop songwriting and production. My art constantly bridges the two worlds of film music and pop music—I love catchy melodies and pop synths alongside orchestral sounds with a cinematic flair.
My newest album, Religious Trauma Syndrome and the Other Side, is what I’m most proud of right now. This album is a compilation of all of me: my story, my experiences, my musical training—all thrown together into this project. Through the creation of this album, I grew as a songwriter, producer, composer, vocalist, and mixer in ways I didn’t know were possible.
Writing this album was challenging for many reasons, mostly because the material is so closely tied to my personal trauma and experiences. Sometimes, it became too overwhelming and I had to stop working on it and get some space. It also took me a long time to figure out what I wanted to say. I noticed that the songs ranged widely in tone—some were very happy, while others were very sad. I think this variety represents the journey, balancing the dichotomies of loss and freedom, pain and joy.
The album is broken into two parts. The first part, Religious Trauma Syndrome, is a dark and cinematic self-reckoning of pain and sadness. The second part, The Other Side, is about the freedom of being on the other side of adversity, with an upbeat pop sound relishing in joy.
Being an artist is probably one of the hardest, but most rewarding, journeys. To keep myself sane, I constantly reassess what success means to me. Right now, success for me means creating art that I love and am proud of. Whether that’s writing my own songs, producing other artists, or scoring a TV show, I want to be able to look back and say, “Yeah, that was fun! I’m proud of that, and I’m glad I created that.” Almost everything else is outside of my control. Even though the artist’s journey is littered with uncertainty, that doesn’t mean I have to do it afraid.
It feels cliché to say, but art is about the journey, not the destination. I’m thankful for everything I’ve learned, everyone I’ve met, and the person I’ve become because I created this album. The creation of this album forced me to get to know myself in ways I hadn’t before.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I moved to Los Angeles right before the pandemic lockdown, so it still feels like I’m exploring the city myself!
The first thing that comes to mind is downtown Culver City. I lived in Culver for three and a half years, so even though it’s not a typical tourist spot, I’d want to take them there. It’s super cute, has lots of great food, and holds a special place in my heart. I’d probably take them to Citizen Public Market or head down the street to Jackson Street Market and my favorite park, Carlson Park.
For more touristy spots, I love taking visitors to Santa Monica Pier. Even though it’s crowded, it’s iconic and special. If they wanted to see Hollywood, I’d probably take them to The Laugh Factory or catch a show at the Pantages Theatre.
I’ve done a fair amount of hiking since moving here, so I’d definitely take them on a hike! Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook is fun—you can either hike the short, steep stairway to the top or drive up if you’re short on time. It’s perfect for a sunset picnic dinner. Mt. Saint Mary’s is one of my favorite hikes; it has an incredible view of downtown and the west side on a clear day. If we had time for a day trip, I’d take them to Mugu Peak or Sandstone Peak for hiking, or to Rancho Palos Verdes Beach for a beach day.
And of course, sushi. One of my favorite things about LA is all the amazing sushi. My favorite spot is Noshi Sushi—it’s high-quality and budget-friendly. The restaurant is eclectic and always bustling.
And of course, music. There are always amazing artists and concerts happening, and I love the variety of venues and experiences you can have. My favorite venue right now is The Greek—it feels so intimate and open all at the same time.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
So many people and resources come to mind! I’ve been lucky to be surrounded by so many incredible people throughout my life that it’s hard to choose just one. I’m going to pick two people to dedicate this shoutout to, but it requires some backstory.
My musical journey had an unlikely beginning. When I was 13, my mom submitted my music to a contest called The Pete Carpenter Fellowship through BMI. I didn’t know it at the time, but this would change the trajectory of my life. Mike Post, a prolific film composer and musician who started the fellowship, called my mom and told her that I would have won but I was too young. The prize of the fellowship was a 6-week internship at his studio, so obviously, I wasn’t able to do that at 13 years old. However, I got to fly out and hang out with Mike for a couple of days. I saw his studio, watched him write music for an episode of Law and Order, and he took my mom and me to lunch. For a kid wanting to be a film composer, this was a total dream come true.
If it wasn’t for this chance meeting, I don’t think I’d be doing music today. That once-in-a-lifetime experience gave me the belief in myself to keep writing music. Mike has continued to be a source of encouragement, especially after we reconnected when I moved here in 2020. During the pandemic, I was burnt out on music to the point where I wasn’t sure if I would keep writing. We talked about it a lot and he encouraged me to keep going, which I’m so thankful I did because I’ve had amazing opportunities in music since then. So, yeah, this one is for Mike, an incredible musician and an incredible person. And this one is also for my mom (and dad), for believing in me, supporting my crazy dream of being a composer, and getting me started on this journey. I wouldn’t be here without any of them!