We recently had the chance to connect with John Gunn and have shared our conversation below.
John, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
I’m most proud of the 2,700+ songs I’ve created. It feels like nobody really sees it — even though I promote them everywhere. I’ve been shadow-banned on every social media platform, but that hasn’t stopped me. The fact that I keep building, keep writing, and keep creating at this level when no one is watching — that’s what I’m proud of. Because it shows that I’m doing it for the art, for the message, and for the legacy — not just for the applause.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is John Gunn, and I’m an artist, songwriter, and storyteller who has created over 2,700 original songs across a wide range of genres. Music has been my lifelong passion, but for me it’s never been about chasing quick fame or trends — it’s about building a body of work that stands the test of time, and about using creativity as both expression and fuel for something bigger.
What makes my journey unique is that I’m not just making music for the sake of music. I’m building a foundation for my first feature film. Every song I write, every track I release, is part of a larger vision — to take the emotions, struggles, and stories I capture in music and translate them into cinema. My music is personal, raw, and often overlooked because of shadow bans and algorithm walls, but I’ve never let that stop me. I keep creating because my mission is larger than views and likes — it’s about leaving a legacy and opening the door for the next chapter of storytelling through film.
My brand is built on resilience, independence, and authenticity. I’m proof that even in a world where social media can silence voices, persistence wins. I’ve been working tirelessly to not only put my songs into the world but to grow an audience that understands the bigger picture: that their support of the music is also support for a film project that will be made outside of the Hollywood system.
Right now, I’m focused on bringing more awareness to my music, connecting with people who believe in what I’m doing, and pushing forward toward that film. I see it as more than just entertainment — it’s a movement of creativity that says, “Even if the system overlooks you, your art can still break through.”
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
The moment that shaped me the most was surviving my suicide attempt. I was in a place so dark that I couldn’t see any reason to keep going. Depression had completely consumed me, and I truly believed I had no purpose left. But God had other plans. In the middle of my pain, when I felt like everything was over, He pulled me out of that darkness and gave me a reason to live.
That experience completely changed the way I see the world. I realized that life is fragile, but also incredibly valuable. I realized that every breath we take is a gift, and that even in the deepest pain there’s still hope. Surviving that moment gave me a new lens: I no longer see obstacles as walls meant to stop me, but as tests that shape me into who I need to become.
God gave me purpose through that experience. He showed me that my life isn’t meant to end in silence but to be used to create, to inspire, and to connect. That’s why I make music. That’s why I dream of making films. It’s not just about art — it’s about leaving something behind that tells others who are struggling: “You’re not alone. There’s still light ahead.”
That moment didn’t just shape how I see the world — it saved my life, and it gave me a mission.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes. The darkest moment of my life was when I held a gun to my head and pulled the trigger. I paused with about a pound of pressure away from death. My mom was in the kitchen making dinner, and at that exact moment she dropped a pan. The sound jolted me, and it broke through the fog I was in. I’ll never forget that — because in that instant, I realized how close I came to leaving everything behind and how much pain it would have caused the people who love me.
That moment was my rock bottom, and it’s also the reason I never gave up. I believe God used that sound to interrupt me — to remind me that my story wasn’t meant to end there. Since then, I’ve carried a new perspective: every single day is a gift, and even when the weight feels unbearable, there’s a bigger purpose waiting on the other side of the struggle.
I almost gave up on life itself, but instead I chose to fight, to heal, and to create. That’s why I make music. That’s why I’m pushing forward with the vision of making films. Because if I survived that moment, it wasn’t by accident — it was for a reason. And I refuse to waste the second chance I was given.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies in both the music and film industries is that they’re built purely on talent and merit. The truth is, they’re often built on image, manipulation, and gatekeeping. These industries like to sell the idea that if you just “work hard enough” or “play by the rules,” your art will naturally find its way to the top. But behind the scenes, there’s a lot of darkness — favoritism, politics, censorship, and people trying to control who gets heard and who doesn’t.
I’ve seen how quickly the industry tries to silence or cancel voices that don’t fit the mold, and I’ve felt it myself. I’ve been shadow-banned, ignored, and pushed aside, not because I lack the work ethic or the catalog — I’ve created over 2,700 songs — but because I don’t play the game the way they want me to. The industry thrives on conformity and fear. They want artists to be disposable, to sell an image, not a message.
But here’s the thing — I didn’t quit. I kept creating. I kept building. Even when I felt invisible, even when I was told to sit down and stay quiet, I chose to stand up and keep moving. My music is my proof. My drive to make my first feature film is my proof. I believe the biggest lie the industry tells is that they hold all the power. They don’t. The power is in persistence, in truth, and in refusing to quit.
They can try to cancel me, they can try to bury me, but they can’t stop me. Because I know what I’m building is bigger than their games — and I know my purpose didn’t come from them, it came from God.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
Nothing. I wouldn’t stop a thing — I would work even harder. Knowing my time was limited wouldn’t make me pull back, it would light a fire under me to go all in. I’d double down on creating music, on building my legacy, and on making the feature film I’ve been working toward.
Most people think of that question and start listing the things they’d cut out, the distractions they’d let go of. But I’ve already stripped my life down to what matters: creating, telling stories, and living with purpose. I don’t waste time anymore. If I only had 10 years left, I wouldn’t be slowing down — I’d be sprinting toward the finish line, giving everything I’ve got so that when those 10 years are up, I could look back and know I left something that will outlive me.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jmgunn/ https://www.instagram.com/gunnfiremusic/
- Twitter: https://x.com/shotsfiredpodjg https://x.com/pro_jmg https://x.com/johnmgunn711
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576985724443
- Youtube: @GunnFireMusic @shotsfiredpodcastjg
Image Credits
I own all rights
