Today we’d like to introduce you to Troy Towsley.
Hi Troy, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
The John Muka Band really grew out of years of friendship, collaboration, and a shared love of music that connects emotionally with people. John and I had both been involved in music for decades in different projects, and over time we realized we wanted to build something that blended strong songwriting with the energy and musicianship of a live band. The goal was never to chase trends — it was to create music that feels honest, human, and timeless.
The band gradually evolved into a collective of musicians from very different backgrounds, which became one of our biggest strengths. We’ve got influences ranging from indie rock and Americana to soul, funk, jazz, and folk, and everyone brings something unique to the sound. That mix helped shape the identity of the band into something that feels both familiar and hard to categorize at the same time.
A major milestone for us was releasing our 2025 album Things I Can’t Change, which really helped define the emotional and musical direction of the band. The record explored themes of reflection, change, resilience, and trying to find meaning in difficult moments, and it connected strongly with listeners because of its honesty and depth. That album became an important foundation for where the band is creatively today.
A big part of our journey has been focusing on songwriting and creating records that tell stories about real life — relationships, uncertainty, resilience, hope, and the complicated world around us. Songs like “Bus Stop” came from deeply personal moments and larger social feelings happening at the time, while newer material like “More & More” reflects a more uplifting, energetic side of the band.
Over the past few years we’ve really focused on building the project independently — recording, producing, creating visual concepts, connecting directly with listeners, and growing the band organically. What’s exciting right now is that it feels like everything is coming together creatively. We’ve assembled an incredible lineup of musicians, the live shows have become a huge part of who we are, and we’re continuing to release music that represents where we are today while still honoring the roots of how this all started.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road, but honestly that’s part of what shaped the identity of the John Muka Band. Like a lot of independent bands, we’ve had to build everything ourselves — from recording and production to promotion, booking, visuals, and getting the music out into the world. There’s no major label machine behind us, so every step forward has come through persistence, collaboration, and believing in the music even during difficult stretches.
One of the biggest challenges has been balancing creativity with the realities of life. Everyone in the band has careers, families, responsibilities, and different life experiences, so finding the time and energy to keep creating at a high level can be difficult. But in a strange way, those real-life experiences are also what give the songs emotional weight and authenticity.
Another challenge has been simply standing out in today’s music landscape. There’s more music being released than ever before, which is great creatively, but it also means independent artists have to work incredibly hard just to be heard. We’ve had to learn everything from digital distribution and social media strategy to video production and marketing while still staying focused on the music itself.
Creatively, there have also been moments where we pushed ourselves outside our comfort zone. Our 2025 album Things I Can’t Change was a big artistic step for us because we wanted it to feel deeply personal and emotionally honest. That can be vulnerable as a songwriter and performer because you’re putting real emotions and experiences out into the world for people to interpret.
At the same time, those struggles are also what bonded the band together. We’ve learned to trust each other creatively, support one another, and keep moving forward even when things get difficult. Looking back now, a lot of the challenges actually helped define who we are as a band and gave the music more depth and meaning.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
At its core, the John Muka Band is built around songwriting, live musicianship, and creating music that feels emotionally real. We blend elements of indie rock, Americana, soul, folk, funk, and roots music into something that’s very organic and human. A lot of what we do is centered on storytelling — writing songs that connect with people emotionally while still delivering the energy and dynamics of a true live band.
One thing that really defines us is the depth of musicianship within the group. We have a large ensemble with players coming from very different musical backgrounds, including rock, jazz, orchestral, funk, and singer-songwriter traditions. That allows us to create arrangements that can be intimate and stripped down in one moment, then cinematic and powerful in the next. Horns, violin, layered vocals, percussion, and textured guitars all play an important role in shaping the sound.
We’re also very hands-on creatively. Beyond just writing and recording the music, we’re deeply involved in the production, visual concepts, video creation, and overall artistic direction of the project. We care a lot about building a complete atmosphere around each release so the songs feel connected to a larger emotional and visual experience.
What I’m probably most proud of is that we’ve stayed authentic throughout the process. We’ve never tried to force ourselves into a trend or chase what’s popular at the moment. Albums like Things I Can’t Change and newer singles like “More & More” reflect different sides of the band emotionally and musically, but they’re all rooted in honesty and lived experience.
I think what sets us apart is the combination of emotional depth and musical diversity. A lot of modern music can feel very programmed or disposable, whereas we really approach songs as living performances created by real musicians interacting with one another. There’s an unpredictability and warmth that comes from that. We’re also not afraid to tackle complicated emotions or themes in the songwriting while still trying to create music that people can connect with, sing along to, and feel uplifted by.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I think anytime you choose to pursue music seriously — especially as an independent artist — you’re taking a risk. There’s no guaranteed path, no certainty that people will connect with what you create, and no clear roadmap for success anymore. But at the same time, I think some of the biggest regrets people have come from not taking creative chances when they had the opportunity.
For the John Muka Band, one of the biggest risks has been committing fully to building something authentic instead of trying to fit into a specific commercial mold. We’ve intentionally created music that reflects who we are as musicians and songwriters, even when that means blending genres or taking a less conventional path. In today’s world there’s pressure to simplify everything into quick content or trends, but we’ve chosen to focus on songs with depth, live instrumentation, and emotional storytelling.
Releasing Things I Can’t Change was definitely part of that risk. The album dealt with very personal and emotional themes, and putting that kind of honesty out into the world can feel vulnerable. There’s always a fear that people may not understand it or connect with it the way you hoped. But I think audiences respond to authenticity, and in the end that vulnerability became one of the strengths of the record.
Another major risk has simply been investing the time, energy, and resources required to build an independent band at a high level. Recording music, producing videos, promoting releases, and organizing live performances all require a huge commitment, especially when you’re doing much of it yourselves. But we’ve always believed that if you care deeply about the art, the investment is worth it.
My perspective on risk has changed over time. When you’re younger, risk can feel reckless or impulsive. As I’ve gotten older, I see it more as being willing to bet on something meaningful. The key is making thoughtful risks — the kind that push you creatively and personally without losing sight of who you are. In music especially, I think the biggest risk is actually playing it safe all the time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.johnmukaband.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnmukaband
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579069293324#
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@johnmukaband
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/john-muka-band
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4wJ2G9x8Yk8WwYxYV9nQxM
