Jonwayne

Jonwayne is a rapper and producer from La Habra, United States. He is associated with the Low End Theory club night, the Wedidit Collective and Stones Throw Records, and is also linked to Authors Recording Company.

Early development

He starts making music while still in high school, writing his first raps and recording his first beats then. Before focusing on music, he plays football, writes poetry and takes part in theatre at school. He later leaves football, joins his school theatre programme and attends the Young Artists Workshop, where he develops an interest in spoken word performance.

His early writing begins with poetry, partly inspired by a crush who is into poetry. He starts rapping at 17 after spending time around a crew from West Covina at the Young Artists Workshop, who encourage him to rap and make beats. After buying a cheap microphone, he begins recording independently.

Low End Theory and early recognition

Jonwayne becomes involved with Low End Theory in early 2009, where he meets artists and organisers including Kutmah, DJ Nobody and Dibiase. Dibiase encourages him to hand out CDs of his beats, which leads to his music being played by Kutmah at Poo-Bah Records and then by DJ Nobody in sets. He soon books his first Low End gig and becomes one of the youngest artists to perform there.

He also hosts a benefit show for Kutmah, which places him on the same bill as Dam-Funk, Mayer Hawthorne and Peanut Butter Wolf. This helps him connect with Stones Throw Records.

Recording style and releases

Before joining Stones Throw, he records at home in a bathroom, setting up a synthesizer, a Roland 404 and turntables around the sink and drawers. He says he produces beats there and uses his bedroom for writing lyrics when needed.

His debut instrumental album, Bowser, is released on Alpha Pup Records and uses sample-free beats with IDM-influenced and video game-inspired melodies. He follows it with The Death of Andrew, also on Alpha Pup, along with a number of self-released mixtapes.

His releases include How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Thanks, Bro, I Don’t Care, Oodles of Doodles, This Is False, Jonwayne Fucks Disney and Casette. I Don’t Care is released through Wedidit, while Oodles of Doodles and Casette appear through Stones Throw. He signs a three-album deal with Stones Throw Records and later works from the label’s Highland Park headquarters, where he helps build a studio with Peanut Butter Wolf and Jonti.

Style and associations

His music is described as drawing on hip-hop, electronic music, instrumental hip-hop, experimental forms and wonky production. He is connected with artists and labels around the Los Angeles beat scene, including dublab, Kutmah, DJ Nobody, Dibiase, Dam-Funk, Mayer Hawthorne, Peanut Butter Wolf, Madlib and Jonti.