Today we’d like to introduce you to Ja’son Manwill.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I have always loved music. Today, I cherish it even more and consider it a privilege to share my music and lyrics with the 5.7 billion people around the world. I started my Journey in Choir, watching another pianist play the “Wind Beneath My Wings.” On that day, I wished I could play like that pianist. Just two weeks later, I sat down at that piano bench and played the “Wind Beneath My Wings” piano piece from start to finish; never before touching a piano in this lifetime, or taking any music lessons.
That was the beginning of my musical journey, and at the time my Grandpa wanted to get me a bow and arrow and I said to my Grandpa that I wanted music equipment instead. From that point forward I have loved and been a fan of music and created it, played it, and performed with it. In 2009, I was playing in a Cover Rock Band in Illinois when everything came to a screeching stop overnight. I hit my head on the refrigerator and started seeing things differently.
A few days later the words were jumping off the pages of the paper and then I went into the hospital. I started having 100 Grand Mal seizures an hr with a 3-4 minute window and then another 100 and so on it continued all day long. My day consisted of from Bedroom to Bathroom. This impacted my relationship as I was newly married at the time; just 1 ½ years into it, and I had suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury.
I was a vegetable for 7 years. Had to learn to walk and talk again, and learned American Sign Language to communicate with my family and friends. I also had to learn all the instruments I used to play before the injury. Piano, Bass, Guitar, Drums, Cello, and now 24 other instruments of the orchestra. All the time, I was in bed and suffering all I could think about was being on stage again with the crowd and audience, and being back in music again. That is what kept me alive and made me want to LIVE.
In 2016, I composed the song “Love Is Creation” for a couple getting married based on their e-mail exchanges and completed the piece from creation to finished live performance in 4 hours. This was at a seminar I was a student at and this helped me even more conquer my next music accomplishment.
In 2018, I composed the music for Mother, the single from Ashley Garland for the 23 Awards Winning Independent Film, Nawal The Jewel (2018). The song produced by Eddie Torres, and distributed on the soundtrack of the film has gained worldwide recognition and is available on Spotify and Amazon, as well as Apple Music and Digital Streaming Platforms.
During COVID, and throughout the Pandemic, I continued to work on my music and create songs for TV/Film. My latest rock single entitled “Despair” released on April 22, 2022; Earth Day, got me a Grammy Nomination last year and I intend to win 7 more Grammys this next year. I also got featured on NBC. ABC, CBS, FOX, and CW. I now help Artists Rehabilitate Their Failed purposes regarding music. If I can do it, after everything I went through then ANYONE Can do it too.
Today, I use my high-energy, captivating, and imaginative yet very real lyrics, to sculpt a name for myself in the industry. With original and unique songwriting compositions, I paint a soundscape in a legendary way with my “ivory” playing, captivating charisma, and high-energy performances. Echoing a vibe that is similar to those of icons such as Elton John, Aerosmith, and Guns N’ Roses.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
While I was having the 100 grand-max seizures, I lost my wife and best friend in 2009. Lost all my friends while I was going through that and to top it off, I lost myself in the process. I lost my music, and my life, and at one point I considered taking away all the pain. I wanted so badly to die, and yet I knew I had to go on, I knew I had a much BIGGER purpose to LIVE and help others, as I knew if I could go through this, then there had to be others that could relate.
The one lesson that I have taken with me to this day now 12 years later is that NEVER NEVER EVER GIVE UP ON YOURSELF. KEEP PUSHING. The only way to get yourself out of it is to go THROUGH IT. Confront what you are not willing to confront and decide you will conquer it. Looking back on 2009-2016. It was not easy, yet every day after I decided and choose to continue on it has been a little bit easier and a little bit stronger until one day I was determined to get back to full 100% health and I did; and so can YOU.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am now a Grammy Nominated, World-Class Rock Recording Artist. My goal for 2023 is to put out 10 Single Songs and be nominated for and WIN 7 Grammy’s® in 2024. My targets are achievable and I won’t be denied. The first three singles released this month are the Aerosmith-type ballad “Finding Love Again”, Guns N’ Roses’ Type Hard Rocker “Prisoner”, and Elton John Type True Story Inspirational Tale “Rise Above It All”.
I am also making plans to have an EPIC Piano Performance in Clearwater/Tampa Bay Area, called the “Ja’son Manwill Experience” and it will be in November before Thanksgiving when I will be releasing a Special Edition Vinyl Release called “For Love & Rock”. This will be the “Love Songs” and the “Rock Songs” in a Special Vinyl Limited Edition Release. This Release will be very special to me and my amazing global fanbase.
I also am going to be translating my songs into French and Spanish and I will be singing them. One day, when I perform in Paris and Japan, or Spain, I will sing the song in their native tongue. That is a very special goal of mine to connect with the fans even more. As a Creator and Artist, I am bringing back my Podcast Series “Up Late Last Night” in July on Spotify and Amazon Music.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
To create. Create. Create. NEVER stop creating, as an Artist. Be grateful for EVERYTHING you have now, cause you never know when it will be taken away. For example, the day NY shut down, I was on my way to NYC to a Very Special Event where I was going to be performing for the President of the United States, the United Nations, a 98 piece orchestra and a choir showed up to perform of a lifetime. On the way to the airport, I was told I could not get into NYC, as it was shutting down.
As I watched the news unfold like all you did, I learned that sometimes as individuals we take things for granted, until they are gone. Don’t let that happen to you, seize every opportunity, go for every goal, don’t take no for an answer, and always be willing to say yes to life and adventure. I am ready more than ever to take the World’s Stage. Like a Phoenix, I have risen from the ashes of not being able to walk and talk to playing piano, guitar, bass, drums, cello, and 24 other instruments of the Orchestra again.
Looking at me now you would never know what I went through. I made it, I didn’t give up even when I told to. All I could think about was being on stage again and hearing the audience and crowd sing back the lyrics of my song “Despair” again. I will see that goal before the end of this year again, and I want all of you that are reading this to know, don’t give up, keep going, and NEVER EVER STOP.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jasonmanwill.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasonmanwillofficial/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jasonmanwillofficial
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonmanwillofficial
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/thejasonmanwill
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jasonmanwillofficial?sub_confirmation=1
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2tVitkIbSHaKYCU8LNhQn3?si=N1xub_6VTQG8rgdlQkjfpA&nd=1
