Following the release of his latest indie-pop single 'Bronx Love', Flex caught up with singer-songwriter and guitarist Johnny Vitulli to find out more about what influences his eclectic sound. If you enjoy Johnny's picks be sure to check out 'Bronx Love' at the end of the article.
1. Streetlight Manifesto - A Better Place, A Better Time
As the song opens with a solemn and solitary bass line it’s easy to recognize that this track is distinctly different from their punk rock counterparts. Within a few short bars a metamorphosis takes place as the song smoothly transcends into a canny commentary on the trivialities of life; amidst a candid contemplation of death. Known for their playful undertones and youthful energy punk, and more specifically ska, rarely takes the listener on such a somber journey. As the track crescendos into what has become a fast tempo standard it does so with an uplifting and reaffirming message that life is inherently always worth living. No matter what you’re going through there is always something to be grateful for. This song has served me as a friend that will always be there for me, someone I can rely on to help me keep my head and push through the darkest nights. For many of us music has brought hope to the hopeless and meaning to the meaningless. I can’t help but recognize that whenever I’m having a really bad day I almost always feel better the following morning after I get some much needed rest and a rejuvenating break from resistance. As the song says I often find myself waking up in a better place and a better time. Toh Kay is easily one of my favorite songwriters and greatest inspirations. I could only hope to write a song that could potentially save someone’s life; as there’s no doubt that music has saved mine.
2. Jimi Hendrix - Little Wing
There’s William Shakespeare and everyone else, or Michael Jordan and everyone else, and then there’s Jimi Hendrix and everyone else. The eminence of these virtuosos has essentially allowed them to exist in an other worldly stratosphere. Not that it’s a competition, but it’s something to strive for. After playing music and studying guitar for over 20 years I feel like Hendrix is objectively the greatest guitarist of all time. I recognize that taste is subjective, but playing Hendrix is almost like reading a different language. I don’t think that was his intention because he carried himself with such a humble heart and grateful spirit, but he did things that transcended reality and revolutionized the guitar. My entire life my parents have been separated. My father lives in New York City and my mother lives upstate on a farm near the original Woodstock site. When I was feeling lost and depressed I would go to the historic site and ask Jimi for guidance. All I received was “go practice” and I did. The first Hendrix part that I really locked in was the intro to Little Wing. It changed my entire songwriting process and my overall approach to the guitar. As much as I admire his playing, his humility and ethereal light hearted nature has had an equivocally profound impact on my life. He encapsulated the technical proficiency of being a phenomenal musician as well as the spiritual aspect of being a pure artist. His music takes me on a transcendent and interstellar journey.
3. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Under The Bridge
I remember hearing this song for the first time when I was about 5 years old. I recall thinking that John Frusciante’s guitar intro was distinctly different from anything that I’ve ever heard. I was hooked immediately and further intrigued by Anthony Kiedis’ poetic vulnerability. When I was 13 I was driving around with my best friend while we were listening to their album Californication. We both received the same thought and simultaneously looked at each other and said “We should start a band” I wanted to play bass because of Flea. He remains to this day my single greatest inspiration. With the Chili Peppers nothing is off limits. I feel like this was the song that allowed them to change gears and combine genres in unique and interesting ways. I’ve adapted this approach and philosophy to my music as well.
4. Miles Davis - Autumn Leaves
As soon as this record starts to play I’m immediately teleported to the familiarity of the fall in New York. I can feel the warm sun and cool air on my face while the sound of crackling leaves resonates on the cobblestone streets of Greenwich Village. I was born in October so naturally it’s my favorite time of year. The ability to tell a story without words is a unique superpower. While many musicians carry a gun slinger mentality and try to earn more points by fitting the most notes into a solo Miles Davis could hold a straight tone like no other. One of my favorite albums of all time is Kind of Blue, but this was the first song that piqued my interest in the mystery and wonder of jazz. When I write a song I generally start with guitar unless I’m just trying to add music to one of my poems. I feel like the guitar part should be good enough to stand on its own before I add any lyrics. If it’s intriguing enough as an instrumental I’ll do my best to discover the possible lyrics hidden within. But, it all starts with a nonverbal sound. Something as simple as that's cool, that sounds like a song. One thing that Davis said that always stuck out to me was “You can tell whether a person plays or not by the way he carries his instrument, whether it means something to him or not. Then the way they talk and act. If they act too hip, you know they can’t play shit.”
5. Rx Bandits - Never Slept So Soundly
Some of my deepest pains have led to my clearest revelations. Lyrically I feel like this song embodies the addiction to toxicity exceptionally well. Unfaithful endeavors and euphoric encounters. Sonically it’s a whole vibe. I don’t think I can really articulate it because it’s something that simply moves me on a spiritual level. The intro alone takes me on a whole ass trip. Music is a time machine and this song brings me back to driving around in my old beat up car when I was 16, smoking weed, skateboarding, falling in love, playing in bands, and getting into severe trouble with the best friends I ever had. I was expanding my horizons outside of punk rock and this band was the catalyst for my melodic evolution. With their blissful vocals and dynamic guitars they still had the energy and balls of punk rock. I feel like the singer Matt Embree picked up where Bradley Nowell from Sublime left off. They’re two of my greatest vocal inspirations both wailing out the iconic SoCal sound. I’m not a trained musician so I basically learned how to play by singing and jamming along with my favorite records. It’s a shame I can only pick 5 tracks because it feels like a disservice to leave off The Beatles, Bob Marley, Pink Floyd, Led Zepplin, A Tribe Called Quest, NOFX, Rancid, Blink 182, Biggie, Andres Segovia, Frank Sinatra, CCR, Marvin Gaye, Bad Brains etc. Some songs are generation markers and there’s nothing like the first time. There were a lot of first times and many memorable experiences for me with Rx Bandits playing in the background.
Watch Johnny Vitulli - Bronx Love
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