Introducing GODPARENTS: The Genre-Bending Duo That Wants to Challenge Your Expectations
Musicians Johnny Paradiso and Ava Wilkniss paired up over quarantine forming the experimental duo GODPARENTS after catching up on a FaceTime call back in March. Johnny hails from Chicago and has DJ’ed and dabbled with music production from the early age of ten, balancing this with his fashion studies in London. His stint in London has been a direct influence on his work; “going out to places like Dalston Superstore and seeing artists such as SOPHIE inspired my interest in alternative electronic music production.” Likewise, Ava’s musical background stems from a young age; she has performed for over a decade in both musical theatre and competitive choir. Ava, originating from New York but growing up in LA, wishes to pursue fashion in addition to music. Johnny and Ava’s innate love for music , as well as their similar exposures to various cities and their respective music scenes, inevitably makes them a great pairing.
GODPARENTS have just released the first single from their collaborative project entitled “Donno,” available on all streaming platforms.
I caught up with Johnny and Ava last week, speaking about their influences, budding creativity during the pandemic and how their music is not pigeonholed to one genre but in fact “blends genres while finding a signature sound.”
So tell me a bit more about the track, you mentioned not being pigeonholed to one genre. How does the track defy genres? Do you think this is important?
Johnny: After years of convincing myself that whatever music I made had to fit a certain sound or group, I realised that I was limiting myself and production abilities. Understanding that I didn’t need to classify myself as being just a house music producer or a pop music producer, I wanted to test new sounds that have yet to reach mainstream audiences. I didn’t have a concrete vision when producing the track, it was a very organic process. I made the skeleton of the track in an hour or so, and the lyrics were just a stream of consciousness that sounded nice over the beat. We only did one take of vocals, so the track was done within a day. I think the track is a fresh take on a recognisable sound, pulling from both hip hop and electronic music, though I wouldn’t categorise it into a specific genre.
To me the track radiates an atmosphere of having fun and being carefree? Is this something you were trying to emit?
Johnny: We both definitely love a good party. I think I always keep nightlife culture in the back of my head when I am making a track. My favourite part of going out is getting ready, so I always try and imagine myself getting ready to a track like this before finishing it.
Ava: Donno definitely does give off a carefree and fun vibe because that’s what my experience and process has been with making music so far. No pressure, just a really cool creative process I am just starting to get the hang of and am loving doing.
As individual artists, how did this pairing of GODPARENTS then come about?
Ava: Johnny and I met on Facebook in 2018. How funny is that. Then we just linked on other socials because we liked each other’s vibes. Johnny went to school in London and I went to school in Boston but then I did a study abroad program in London and Johnny and I decided to meet up. We instantly hit it off and have been friends ever since. We are both so creative and have very similar interests and visions. It’s actually crazy how similar. I’ve really never met anyone else who is on such a similar wavelength as me.
Johnny, you grew up in Chicago and have spent your life most recently in London. What do you think of the two respective (electronic) music scenes there. How/Have they influenced your work?
Jack: Growing up in Chicago, I listened to a lot of house music. I mean, house music is rooted in Chicago. My dad always loved that genre and I was exposed to it very early on. When I first got into producing when I was 12, that is all I wanted to make. I think house music will always be a reference for me when it comes to producing, especially Green Velvet. I think he is one of the best house producers ever. I’m also obsessed with Honey Dijon, who is from Chicago. I actually saw her play at Dalston Superstore in London and the set was absolutely crazy. She is so talented. London’s creative scene has totally influenced my work. I think artists in London aren’t afraid to push boundaries especially when it comes to music.
Ava who have your biggest influences been on making music?
I have so many influences but to name a few major ones I would say: Grimes, SOPHIE, Charli XCX, Shygirl, Tommy Genesis, Father, Nadia Oh, The Pom Poms, 100 gecs, Sleigh Bells, but I could go on. I really love music and take influence from so many different artists and genres. I was classically trained and sang in professional choir for over a decade and was exposed to so many different types of music in so many different languages and in so many different places. I also had so many different musical phases in high school, hahaha.. the two major ones being an indie phase and a hard rap phase. I’m also very influenced by pop and r&b music from the 2000s, specifically that production era. I’m talking about Cassie, Dev, Timbaland, Brintey Spears. I definitely take strong influence from hyperpop but I'd say GODPARENTS are still finding their sound and their sound within the genre. We’d say our music is very genre-bending, but we’re on our way to creating a style all of our own.
Has there been any direct influences on the “DONNO” track?
Johnny: Ava and I both love music from the early 2000s. I think with every track we’ve worked on, we always look to production from that era to inspire us. I love Timbaland and Missy Elliott’s collaborations, their chemistry in the studio is so spot on. Every track they do is so unique and perfect. Around the time we were making the track, we also listened to a lot of music with more experimental sounds. I really look up to producers like Arca, Tzusing, Coucou Chloe, and SOPHIE. They’re all unapologetically breaking boundaries with their productions and challenging what the word “genre” means. That mentality was definitely there for us when making this track.
How do you think the quarantine period has affected your creativity? Do you think it has been stifling or has it enabled you with a lot more time to be more experimental with your work?
Johnny: The beginning of quarantine was really challenging mentally. I left London so quickly to go back to Chicago, I never really prepared for that abrupt transition. While I’ve been in Chicago, I desperately tried to keep myself busy and create to keep my mind stimulated. I was waking up at 3:50 in the morning a few times a week to attend online classes, which took a toll. However, I reflected a lot on my future goals and what I want to do with my life. It was a long overdue conversation I had to have with myself, and I think once I had that epiphany, my creativity flourished. I am more proud of the work Ava and I have done in the past few months of starting this project than I have in my 7 years of producing. We are barely established, but I’m super excited for what’s to come.
Ava: I felt very inspired after getting home to LA. I was on spring break vacation in Amsterdam previous to Corona and felt very inspired from my trip. I had always wanted to start producing and djing for years and then during isolation I found the time to do that. As soon as I got home I was making a lot of music, art, and clothes when I got home and really just felt in such a creative headspace. I’m definitely an extroverted introvert and I recharge during my alone time, which I realized I had been a little bit lacking since I had been at school in Boston and then in Europe with friends. I realized I didn’t have much time to be creative at college. It felt so nice to be home in LA getting to focus on myself and just create things. I really don’t mind sitting at home with my dogs all day drinking tea and making music. Starting GODPARENTS with Johnny launched my creativity even more and honestly I haven’t been in this good of a headspace in a while. Also, as Johnny was saying, I definitely always felt stuck when it came to music. My whole life I always loved doing and making it but never could find the courage or even find the vision within myself. I think it took this period of isolation for me to find and develop and find those things within myself. I no longer have fear or doubts. I’m just staying true to myself and my vision is unfolding and manifestations are appearing. It’s amazing. I’m just going to keep working from here.
What’s next, for you two?
Johnny: Our original goal was to make an EP or mixtape of some sort. I’d love to see that come into fruition.
Ava: Our plan is definitely to make an EP of some sort but my next move is a video. I have such a vision. I don't want to give too much away but there will be one coming soon. Whether or not it will be for Donno or a new track, I won’t reveal for now, but I’m so excited about it. This has been in the works for a while. When it comes to collaborating, we are so open to collaborate with other artists and would love to learn from others. We are both in LA right now but are so down with working remotely as that has been a part of our process as well.
“Donno” out now on all on all streaming platforms.
Keep up with Johnny and Ava on Instagram
Photography by Ariana Saigh