We recently had the chance to connect with AppleJohn_ Marchese and have shared our conversation below.
AppleJohn_, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Honestly? Pickleball — 1000%. I picked it up not too long ago, and it’s completely taken over in the best way. It’s this perfect mix of competition, fun, and community. Every game feels different, and it keeps me laughing, sweating, and connected all at once. What I love most is how it brings people together — all ages, all backgrounds — just out there having a blast. It’s also been a huge creative spark for me; it’s inspired new ideas, collaborations, and even projects I’m working on that merge my passion for the sport with my creative side. There’s just something about the energy of pickleball that keeps me coming back — it’s become more than a hobby, it’s a whole vibe.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m AppleJohn_ — a music artist and sync licensing composer creating high-energy, feel-good music designed to move people, whether that’s on screen or in real life. I’ve always been drawn to sounds that feel alive — bold, cinematic, playful — and I love blending that energy with real instruments like guitar to give my tracks a human pulse.
My work lives at the intersection of art and emotion — from driving, cinematic hip-hop for film and TV, to raw, guitar-driven pieces that feel spontaneous and real. What makes it special, I think, is that I don’t chase trends; I chase feeling. I want my music to feel like freedom, movement, and connection — the same energy I find in things like pickleball or community.
Right now, I’m focused on expanding my catalog for sync and collaborating with visual storytellers who want that authentic, “let’s go” energy behind their scenes. Everything I create — whether it’s a beat, a riff, or a full track — starts from that place of fun and momentum.
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 relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
Hands down, my parents and my family. I’m seriously grateful — and honestly just lucky — to have come from the crazy, fun, tight-knit crew that I did. The older I get, the more I realize how rare that is. I hear so many people talk about family drama or distance, and it always makes me appreciate mine even more.
My family’s full of love, laughter, and wild energy. Sure, we butt heads sometimes, but it always ends with hugs and understanding. People who hang out with us are always like, “You guys hug a lot,” or “It’s weird how much you all love each other,” and I’m like — yep, that’s just how we roll.
My mom, dad, and my younger sisters are truly some of my best friends. That kind of love and support shaped everything about who I am and how I move. It’s why I try to bring that same good energy into everything I do — whether it’s making music, playing pickleball, or just being part of my community. That foundation of love and laughter is what keeps me grounded and inspired.
Mom, Dad, Heather, Katie & my wife Jo — I love you guys. I can’t thank you enough for helping me become the person I am today.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Not everyone is going to like or understand you — and that’s okay. In fact, that’s how it’s supposed to be. The ones who do will truly feel and reciprocate the energy you put out. And man, you have no idea how much good energy and love you carry inside you.
You’re stronger than you realize, and the only way you’ll ever see that is by confronting fear and discomfort head-on — and doing it anyway. The world already has enough darkness. Be the light that’s so desperately needed. You never know who it might help or inspire.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
I’d say yes and no. The “no” comes from the fact that I’m still figuring out who the real me is — I think that’s kind of a lifelong thing. I do my best not to bring negative thoughts or emotions into public, and it takes a lot of trust and comfort for me to open up and share the messy parts.
But the “yes” is a big one, because I spent a lot of my younger years trying to be who I thought people wanted me to be. That mindset burned me out and left me feeling disconnected. At some point, I promised myself I’d never do that again — to myself or anyone else. From then on, I made a commitment to just be the most authentic version of me possible.
And man, it changed everything. The quality of my relationships, the energy I attract, even the peace I feel day-to-day — all of it improved. I don’t deal with nearly as much negativity anymore, because I’ve found that when you put out genuine, positive energy, it naturally repels what doesn’t align with it. So yeah — the person you meet out in the world? That’s me, 100%.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
One of my favorite quotes ever is from Maya Angelou: “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget the way you made them feel.” That line has always stuck with me.
When I’m gone, I hope people remember and share how I made them feel — the happiness, the laughter, the loudness, the noize, the good energy. I do my best to live in a way that adds light, value, and positive energy to people’s lives, because at the end of the day, that’s what really matters. That’s what connects us all.
If people left feeling lighter, happier, or just a little more alive after being around me — then I know I did my job.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/applejohn_
- Instagram: @NoizyPickleball
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-marchese/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@noizelab25
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/noizelab25
- Other: https://linktr.ee/noizypickleball
