Graffiti writer turned artist John “somejerk” Gregory has provided the visual representation for a generation of party goers in Miami, creating unique flyer and poster designs and arming up and coming DJ’s, producers and visual artists with the tools they need to move to the next level. After designing for over 10 years, John is now making his impact outside of the club scene – creating visual identities for various start ups ranging from massage therapists to aftercare programs to mobile DJ services.
Trading markers, spray cans and alleyways for Photoshop, Illustrator and WordPress, John creates custom, original designs – from logos to posters, album art, flyers and business cards as well as fully customized WordPress websites – all with detailed styling that he has become known for.
Though highly influenced by the graffiti world he cut his teeth in, his initial interest in visual aesthetic came at the age of 15 when John began obsessively reading skateboarding magazines, taking in everything from the punk rock and hiphop advertisements from labels such as Epitaph and Hieroglyphics, to the edgy and often risque design styles utilized by companies such as Alien Workshop (Don Pendleton in particular), Hook-Ups, eS and DC Shoes.
Eventually finding himself obsessed with beat culture, beginning to produce and promote electronic bass music, John soon found himself designing for a number of club promoters after Juan Basshead asked him to produced a flyer for one of his events. After a short while of being the go-to-guy for bass heavy club music flyer design, John began organizing and promoting his own parties, show casing a range of IDM, drum and bass and experimental artists, documenting his findings in “the scene” via his PatternAwareness.org project, which has now evolved into a music review/feature blog.
In 2011 John Gregory has evolved into a fixture in the Miami Bass Music Renaissance, continuing to provide print and web marketing services to a number of Miami’s best clubs and companies while producing original music, DJing regularly at a number of residencies and teaching audio production at the Scratch Academy.