Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniel Jones.
Hi Daniel, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
As a kid, I had always been fascinated with the mysteries of life, pondering the possibilities of ancient wonders, strange creatures, and alien life. I also had a fascination with music which led me to join the school band and learn to play drums and percussion. After delving deeper into the research behind these subjects as a teenager and amassing a collection of literature which spanned a diverse array of topics, I felt drawn to do more. In my early twenties, I decided to find ways to be more involved with local organizations and events which focused on exploring the unknown and aiding in our understanding of unexplained phenomena.
Throughout this time, I had also been expanding my musical interests by playing in various groups like drum corps, big band jazz ensembles, and metal bands which was a lot of fun. In more recent times, I have been fortunate to dedicate a more serious and professional approach to these facets of passion in my life as a music instructor and investigative reporter. Now, I teach drumming to people of all ages and help to guide musicians – beginner to advanced – to read and play music as well as create their own. In addition to this, I host and produce my own form of a media program called “The Vortex,” where I explore the mysteries of the world and beyond. Having spent over a decade extensively examining these areas has afforded me the opportunity to have some amazing experiences, connect with several unique individuals, travel to some amazing locations, and open my mind to even more questions about the universe – which is the main focus of my upcoming book!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
There have definitely been challenges along the way! I imagine the obstacles one might face when getting involved in any personal or professional pursuit may be similar, some more straightforward than others. Let’s start with the simple and probably obvious ones like resources; finances, technology, and transportation. Whether it’s a musical project, managing a conference, or exploring the wilderness, it is vital to have resource stability as well as mental and emotional stability. It’s important to factor in the “unexpected” to account for anything that might come up that isn’t planned or intentional. I’ve roughed it plenty of times, from sleeping in my car to basic tent camping in the middle of nowhere and adapting on the spot for situations which seemed disastrous. I must be honest in admitting that, at times, my enthusiasm has outweighed my discretion in my desire to hit the road and to be involved with particular endeavors despite some issues such as limited (or no) funding or operating at less-than-optimum mental and emotional wellness. These constraints can be problematic but can be overcome and, under the appropriate conditions, can make one more resilient to the elements of adventure. Of course, having the financial freedom or financial responsibility to function within the realms of navigating projects even at the bare minimum can be incredibly dire.
It helps to build the foundation for the additional layers needed to see a vision through to actualization, albeit it is not always necessary. It is usually the backbone of any attempt at managing a project. Adequate transportation is a requisite, but I have had car troubles for almost as long as I’ve been driving and learning to put automotive care first is a valuable lesson in these trials. Sometimes rental cars or carpooling must be called upon in order to make a situation work if we are willing enough to prioritize our mission. I’ve even been arrested and unnecessarily taken to jail for driving with an invalid driver’s license on the way to a city event and conference I had been planning for months, which still went great due to thorough coordination and planning. Sometimes technology can malfunction unexpectedly or just outright be forgotten and left behind, which can cause situations to become stressful and seemingly in peril, though it’s important to just do the best with what is available, the laptop computer I’m typing this very sentence on has saved the day numerous times at various events.
Technology is great when it works but sometimes I’ve had to find out some misfortunate things like discovering a camera I’ve set up to record for prolonged periods of time has died or stopped recording or the audio was corrupt, a very frustrating inconvenience. Being able to plan an appropriate sense of timing and organizing is very important. There are times when we realize our ideas or templates which we construct in our mind, on paper, or on the computer, do not always end up panning out the way we think it is supposed to. I’ve found this to be quite common when being involved with events like conferences and symposiums. It seems there’s always something that is bound to happen which goes wrong. Another area to consider would be education since I never completed college or got a degree, there were times I was against getting back involved with higher education and academia, but I don’t deny that there are opportunities afforded to people that go that path. Some may consider that by not having a degree that I am less likely to get a job, not as credible or reputable, and that it prevents me from being better in some way.
After having changed my views on this over the years, I have more of an appeal now toward getting a degree in anthropology, archaeology, or zoology if I were to return to school in a serious way. Even with all of these sorts of technical issues, there are always other obstacles along the way which deal with our relationships, not just with significant others but with friends, family, and people we meet along the way. There is a lot of controversy surrounding the nature of the subjects which I involve myself with. There is no end to the types of beliefs and viewpoints that people will have. I’d like to think that I can get along with everyone even if I agree with their perspective or not. I attempt to be respectful. Being outspoken or opinionated about certain sensitive issues can cause one to lose friends or even close ties with family. One of our greatest challenges is when we encounter others with opposing viewpoints and how we proceed. This may present us the best opportunity for growth.
Over the years, I’ve lost friends for the things I involve myself with because of misunderstanding and probably sheer ignorance or unwillingness to be considerate. I’ve realized that I can’t please everyone but I’m not naive to the reality that there is a lot of adversary and opposition when it comes to trying to understand the more mysterious aspects of life. I consider myself level-headed and attempt to view things through a rational, reasonable scientific lens but also exploring differing perspectives from all parts of the spectrum of belief. However, while I don’t consider myself a religious person, and since I don’t find that the need to have a “belief” of a particular concept, I am still willing to entertain ideas and weigh the facts of the matter to ascertain the best outlook I’m able to cultivate through the myriad of lenses that people have to offer when it comes to exploring challenging topics, even though it can come at the loss of different types of relationships with others.
I still have compassion for everyone on my behalf, and most of the work I do is done independently, which is an obstacle in and of itself. As an example, not being able to rely on a camera crew, editors, or a production team means that I’ve had to learn a lot of things on my own and do what I can in place of a big working apparatus made up of team members. Overall, it has been rewarding in its own way, and that is another big part of understanding the drive or motive behind a lot of this. Having clear goals which are well-defined really helps as well, rather than merely taking an aimless approach at something with no direction. It’s weighing in on the risks and rewards when it comes to doing anything. I’ve found that the work that I do is important not because it avails to me some magical money-making scheme, but that I am passionate about the betterment of humanity through the exploration of the world and the universe along with the sharing of new discoveries and the dissemination of new information to elevate our state of existence!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’ll sort this out in two main sections; Music & Media. I am a musician as well as a music instructor. More specifically, I am a drummer and percussionist and teach how to play drums and percussion instruments. My main instrument is the drumset but I play all different kinds of percussion instruments, including hand drums, marching drums, orchestral and keyboard percussion like the xylophone and marimba, and teach other people how to play these instruments as well as how to read music and write their own musical creations. I focus on specializing in understanding five key elements of drumming; technique, timing, rhythm, tempo, and dynamics. Just as I tell my students, each of these five things are important by themselves but come together in unison to help make music what it is. I teach people of all ages who are either just beginning to advanced players who are interested in any style or genre of music. As a composer, I also write my own music using programs on my computer, which I enjoy playing along to on the drums. I am currently in the process of completing several tracks to debut on a self-produced album. I’d describe my own music as instrumental, progressive fusion, sometimes a little jazzy, and sometimes a little heavy. Probably something you’d never hear on pop radio!
When it comes to the varying forms of media that I am involved with, I have been a jack-of-all-trades. As for physical events like conferences, I’ve done as much as managing entire events, securing guest speakers, and emcee duties, to handling the A/V (audio/visual) equipment set up and using cameras for video recording the function or presentations to make into DVDs and online videos. I am also contracted to be a presenter at some events to give lectures about my research into a specific topic or area that I have look into quite extensively, typically regarding unexplained mysteries such as UFOs (unidentified flying objects), strange creatures, unusual history, and more. These types of presentations coincide with the media work that I do with ‘The Vortex’, where I record, edit, and produce videos on a wide variety of mysterious subjects. My videos range from interviews with witnesses of strange phenomena, on-location field investigations, and informative presentations, as well as a few silly clips which are just for fun. Even though I take a very serious approach regarding these subject matters, I think it’s ok to have some humor thrown in every once in a while.
The great thing about this type of work is that I am my own boss and I set my own goals. I also get to meet some incredible people who have had some amazing experiences. While there are some great shows out there on TV and online, I think what sets ‘The Vortex’ apart is that I take a very organic natural and almost informal approach, which I think makes it more relatable and realistic. It’s obviously not a highly polished production from network television. There are obvious nuances like occasional audio disturbances or video edits which may have been unavoidable, then there’s always moments of me looking directly into the camera, not intentionally trying to be creepy to the viewers, but usually to check and see if my camera or lately, my phone in most cases, is still on and recording! Haha… seriously, though, it’s usually just me and my phone on a tripod and a guest to discuss their work or experiences. There really aren’t any gimmicks or memberships as far as my content for “The Vortex’ goes, but people are welcome to question the content itself, which I encourage.
The whole point is to bring awareness to strange topics and let the viewer in on some cool information they might not have known and to make up their own mind or weigh it in with other evidence they think is valuable. I’m not trying to tell people what to believe with my videos. While I do give the guests an opportunity to share their accounts, I already wholeheartedly understand that my views may or may not be in alignment with theirs. Along with the main questions, I like to chat with the guests about things which they might not talk much about in other interviews or programs and even challenge them by contesting their claims or ask them what they think when people say it’s all nonsense. Some of the guests might be very likeable, and even friends, but that doesn’t always mean they’re always truthful or even factual and should still have their claims closely examined. That being said, even though it’s my “show”, I think that it is important to uphold the tenets of honest, unbiased journalism with integrity. If there’s anything I can do to contribute my part to play in all of this, then I will, and hopefully, it encourages others and can be both educational and fun along the way! Just as I say at the end of my videos, “We won’t know if we don’t go!”
What matters most to you?
Compassion. Humanity’s ability to cultivate compassion, even in the face of adversity, is what matters most to me. I align myself to be compassionate in all things that I do so that my small contribution to the world may help to elevate humanity to its most optimum state of existence. Despite all the challenges we face, I am confident that by working together and embracing our differences, not simply putting them aside, we will be able to understand that our ability to exist within our diverse unity is going to bring about a better way of life for us all. It’s really about understanding the greater good for the world, but trivial issues obfuscate our ability to envision that. We ought to work together to help our brothers and sisters in all places, not just for each other as humans but for all creatures. Our advancing society may seem to be making huge strides but what is it worth in the face of poverty and negligence? Imagine the potential of humanity united in compassion. Now let’s go beyond imagining and let’s embody it. We owe it to ourselves to do better.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.TheVortex.online
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielalanjones/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DanielAlanJones
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/HeyDanielJones
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/TheVortex1
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/daniel_alan_jones
