Becoming a musical artist isn’t the easiest thing to do, but JD Avila is pursuing his passion. Avila’s love for music is taking him one step closer to his dream.

            Avila got his first guitar in fourth grade, but only started to pick it up in his freshman year. His father taught him his first chord, but Avila learned quickly and taught himself the rest.

           “Playing music is my passion. I plan on playing for my whole life,” stated musically talented Avila. “I hope to get a music degree, but I’ll see where it goes. If I could make a living off of playing music, that’d be my dream, but I’d be okay with having a steady job with playing music on the side.”

“I support JD, and I really enjoy his cover song of The Lord of the Rings song on the Irish tin whistle,” stated Placer junior Jesse Stedman, a friend of Avila’s at Placer High.

            Avila plays many instruments other than the guitar, including the harmonica, drums, and the not so common, Irish tin whistle.

            “I first played the recorder, but then I got into the Celtic type music and I loved the movie Braveheart and Lord of the Rings; That’s when I bought the Irish tin whistle and taught myself,” shared Avila.

            Avila recently played live for the first time at the local Starbucks coffee shop on Lincoln Way. He played acoustic guitar as he sung his own written lyrics for coffee shop goers.

            “The gig was really easy to get; my brother works there and I just had to go in and talk to the manager. I didn’t know how the outcome was going to be like, but it went pretty well,” stated Avila.

            On Saturday November 13, Avila’s friends and family gathered around him at Starbucks to listen to his original songs. Avila writes his own music and lyrics, inspired by God, his father, family, and life experiences. 

            “My family inspires me: my father, my brother, and the music I listen to. My friends support me too,” commented Avila.

            Avila listens to old 50s music, old blues, jazz, and gospel blues. He also likes to listen to modern underground indie and acoustic bands.

            “I like that he’s unique with the message he sends out; it’s really positive. I want to see him play more,” added Stedman.

Avila says that he is planning to play live again sometime in mid December. Avila is known as a solo act, but wouldn’t mind to be part of a band. He is currently looking for a drummer who can sing.

            Avila is inspired by God, his family, and his friends and will inspire many people through his music.