Today we’d like to introduce you to John Pyles.
Hi John, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve been in church all of my life. I’ve always been surrounded by music and musicians, as many members of my family are talented musicians. I was always singing, whether at church, at school, or just having fun singing with my family at my grandmother’s house. Singing wasn’t my only musical talent, I’ve also been playing the drums since I was a kid. By the time I was in third grade, I was the primary drummer for my childhood church, St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church in Trinity Gardens, that’s how I paid for my lunch card lol. As a child, I would always dream of being on stage singing in front of packed stadiums and arenas. Honestly, I never really wanted to sing in church. R&B Music was always my favorite to sing and play. Like many, Michael Jackson was my idol and I wanted to be just like him. I wanted to dance like him and rock crowds like him. I even got the moonwalk down pretty good, only in socks or church shoes though lol. By the time I got to middle school, my father, John S. Pyles, Sr., founded The Tabernacle of Praise Family Worship Center (The T.O.P.). I didn’t do much singing in church anymore, because I was a full time musician, but I would still sing at school in the Booker T. Washington Male Ensemble, under the direction of Ms. Eleanor Lee.
Fast forward to post-college, I started recording and making R&B Music with 2 of my good friends, Hype Man Dalcoe and YNGX. Dalcoe would make dope tracks, X would spit to them, and I would sing! Every week we were making something! At the time, I couldn’t write. I couldn’t write to save my life lol. I would tell X to write something for me to sing, he would do it but he would always tell me I needed to start writing for myself if I wanted to be real. Time went by and I started exercising my pen! It would take me about 2 weeks to write a hook but I was making progress and eventually I developed the skill! I remember the first time I sung a verse for them that I wrote, boys was lit like that scene in Hustle and Flow lol. On the cool, me, X, and Dalcoe have some hits in the archives that we could redo and cause problems out here, but I’m saved now lol.
Fast forward to me connecting with one of my musical mentors and vocal coach/producer, Madicin. We linked in 2015 and been going crazy since! I dropped my first independent R&B Project “PK Behavior” in 2019 and a few of the records on that project got placements on films, which is so dope to me! God is good man! Fast forward to now. I’m the primary Worship Leader at my church, The T.O.P., where I lead worship weekly, except on Sundays when I stand to speak. I know, life took a wild turn out of nowhere, but that’s been the best turn to take place in my life and I’m so excited to see what’s to come! I recently dropped my latest single “Just Listen” in the first quarter of 2022, you can find it on all digital platforms by searching J. Pyles. Overall, my journey has been an amazing one that I wouldn’t change for the world. I never imagined being in the position that I’m in now, but I’m so grateful to be here because it’s by far the most fulfilling position I’ve ever been in!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
For the most part, it’s been pretty smooth but of course, there have been challenges and things I’ve had to learn along the way. Believe it or not, I was once a vey shy guy and hated to sing in front of people. I remember singing in church with my back to the congregation. It was pretty bad lol. But also learning to not compare my gift to others’ gifts. Learning to be confident in my gift and my abilities. Learning that it’s ok to be different, it’s actually really dope to be different than everybody else, but that’s something I had to learn with time. And also learning to be ok with everybody not being a fan or not supporting my gift. That was probably one of the most important things I had to learn because as an artist we want everybody to love our art, but realistically that’s not how it goes. I had to stop focusing on those who didn’t like what I was doing and focus on those who were connecting with me!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Aside from my music, I also serve in ministry, I’m part owner of Kouzan’s Creole Kitchen, I’m the CEO of DISCIPYLES, and I’m part owner of TxCert Trucking. I’m most proud that I’m building a legacy for my family that is to come. I want to show them that anything is possible with God and consistent work.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I don’t believe in luck. Hard work, sacrifices, and faith are the things that have produced favor and success for my businesses.
Contact Info:
- Email: jpyles96@gmail.com
- Website: www.discipyles.com
- Instagram: @jpylesii
- Facebook: John Pyles
- Twitter: jpylesii
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjSiCmgVuxIN-b7RJ1G1gog/videos
