The work of a journalist is easy in so many ways as we risk very little, yet enjoy a position over those who offer their essential work and their selves in the side to our judgment. The yellow press lives on negative criticism, which sadly enough seems fun to write and to read. However, the truth often is that even the average piece of garbage is in fact more meaningful than our words criticizing it. There are times when a critic truly risks something, and that is in the discovery of something true. The world is often unkind to new talent and art that only needs new friends. Not everyone can become a great artist, but a great artist can come from anywhere.
Regarding John Doe Revolution, there is no question as important as "why" when considering the existence of the site. Today having a goal, a reason, a tight direction when starting an online magazine is essential to stay in the surface instead of drowning into the sea of countless other webzines. Ours is to expose the true nature of art in all of its forms. Why does it touch people, move us in a way that many other things can't? Though music is our main inspiration, we do view other forms of art as well. As long as it's passionate and true.
John Doe doesn't seek for art from the top of the charts, nor from MTV. Neither do we reject those artists. We have a completely neutral aspect for mainstream phenomenon's, that is why we've limited our interest to those artist who are true to their heart, let it be secondary in what tendency of art.
This is also the criterion for our staff members. We're free-minded, we're honest, and we don't believe in censorship. With an honest heart we believe good things will happen.
John Doe is the name and the mascot of the site. John Doe is everyone. John Doe is the little flame inside of you that believes in being real. That's what this site is about. Here's some of our favorite quotes from our interviewees:
"For some people it’s just something that they put on the background in their apartment when they put on their tie before they go to work, other people it’s how they dress, it’s how they act, it’s who their friends are, it’s what clubs and pubs they go to, it changes their whole life. It’s a lifestyle and it’s a culture."
-Nathan J Biggs/Sonic Syndicate
"Music unites people. What you got in the music is located in the more right side of the brain, the more heartfelt side and the lyrics are more the left side of the brain so when you put that together it really opens up some doorways. But the great thing about music is that it’s bringing people together; there aren’t too many situations on the planet where people just get together and have a good time without fighting."
-Jared Gomes/Hed PE
"Music puts into words what you want to say but sometimes don’t know how to say it. You can find it in a song and that’s where people can relate like tons of different levels."
-Kevin Skaff/A Day To Remember
"I think that’s the most important music is the music that resonates with people, is music that has meaning and heart behind. It’s very easy to make sounds that mean nothing. You’re living in a world where it’s just noise and sounds everywhere. And if you create music which is just more noise and no real meaning behind it, it’s hard to separate just from computer beeping or a car driving past. Where in if you’re creating something that has intention and meaning and integrity and passion behind it, it takes on a whole other force and that’s something that actually affects people, and that’s why sound is such a powerful sense and a tool to be used. I think it can definitely be nothing or it can be a very, very powerful entity."
-Winston McCall/Parkway Drive
"Music is universal. It’s art in general; it’s universal, it doesn’t have a barrier, like a language barrier or anything like that. It’s something that you can hear and if you don’t understand the words, you’ll still awoke some kind of passion in you. If you write a song, it will cross all these different barriers without hesitation. I think that’s what so careful about music; the ability to transform and transport people in a way that physical things can’t."
-Winston McCall/Parkway Drive
"I think we’ll never really understand because music is a very, very powerful thing and that’s why we do this. We understand that because when we were young we were exposed to it; we were exposed to the power that music has and what it can make you feel like, that drove us into start playing."
-Christopher Dudley/Underoath
"In the States and such there are a lot of budget cuts right now; they’re ending a lot of music programs in schools. It’s really sad to see because the most exciting part of the day [to me] was going to some kind of music class or going to art class or anything like that. Anything that lets people express themselves is awesome. Music can calm you down, it can make you excited, it can pretty much translate in to any mood possible, and I think that’s awesome and has a huge effect on people because music is just a really powerful thing."
-Brent Rambler/August Burns Red
"Music is a big outlet. It can get you through the toughest times, and make you dance on the best day of your life. I hope to deliver both ends of my life and come full circle to an understanding with the world and everyone in it."
-Cady Groves
"Did you know that Hitler once said that if he could have control over the radio, he could have control over the world? True story."
-Jake Germany
"It speaks to you in a way that is a very direct language in a way even though you don't have to understand that language. It's instant; could be emotions, could be anything."
-Silas Jørgensen/Mew
"I think that a lot of communities have organized themselves around music because music has an ability to get inside of you and to make you feel a way that cannot be explained. I think that it's really special when you find something like that in this world."
-Justin Sane/Anti Flag
History
Joanna Tzortzis had been working as a freelancer for other medias with full force, but hadn't really found a place to call home. She felt like there was no other way, than to create a webzine of her own, free of all rules, true to true art. What other way is there?
The official site was launched by the name John Doe Web in 2009 by Joanna Tzortzis, who soon after asked Nelly Tatti to join in as a photographer and Aino-Kaarina Salonen as a writer. To this day they still remain as the core of our staff. We're still constantly looking for new writers and photographers from all over the world.
The late summer of 2010 the site went through major changes regarding layout and general policies and was moved under the name John Doe Revolution.
Policy
We update the site monthly and whenever something interesting enough comes around. We review shows and albums on a scale from 1-10, the ranking being the following starting from February 2011.
10 - The Best of the Best
9 - Very Nearly Perfect
8 - Excellent
7 - Damn Good
6 - Good
5 - Average
4 - Unexceptional
3 - Weak
2 - Seriously Flawed
1 - Terrible
Manifesto
I am no one and I am everyone. I am not a rational thinker. I have a huge heart and it leads me to wherever my mind travels in my wooden shell. I do not gossip. I do not care about fame and drama in that matter. I do not care about people who are fake. I believe in bands and artists who are true to their music. Who do not care for money and fame but understand that music should be made to save your soul or to save someone else. I believe in people who are true to their life, who carry an understanding of themselves with pride and a will to learn from mistakes made, or are not proud of what they are, but understand the possibility of a world where they could believe in what they are. If you are fake and want to be acknowledged through this port, that’s a dream you will have to bury six feet under because it is one of those dreams that you will never achieve. You can try but you would not succeed.
I want to hear real stories. I want to hear those voices who no one ever listens. I want to see invisible people. I do not listen to your story with waiting for my turn to say what I need to say. That is my gift – from my heart to yours.
I am no one. I am everyone. I am your turn in conversation. I am the truth behind your mask. I am the raw, beating heart shouting your stories to the world. I am you.
I am John Doe.
