“Listen while you read”
We are so excited to announce that fellow Let Down engineer John Garcia, artistically known as Broken Lungs, has released his new single, Whispers in the Rain! John has been releasing music for several years now, and his blend of melodic ambient, downtempo wave delivers a haunting musical escape with every listen. With his latest single, John steps out from behind the board and into the vocal booth. Stepping into the spotlight, his soft-spoken, subtle voice gently guides you through an evocative trip of love and loss we can all relate to.
About John Garcia (Broken Lungs)
Born and raised in El Paso, Texas, John embodies the spirit of this city and Let Down Studio. Low key, hardworking, and quietly pushing boundaries. He’s an introvert through and through, but if you spend five minutes around him, you realize he’s one of the most genuine and thoughtful people you’ll ever meet. That sincerity is all over his music. John was more than happy to share an interview with us! Check it out below!
Connect with Broken Lungs!
Every artist has an origin story — how did yours come together, and what sparked the moment you knew this was something worth chasing?
I have been writing music since I was a teenager. After playing in bands for a little under a decade, I decided I wanted to work on music that I felt only I could create on the side. In college, I got my first DAW and learned that I could write music with a MIDI controller and create everything the way I wanted. Once I started learning the basics, I started learning how to create pads/synths to really create my own sound. When I mixed down my first song and finally heard how everything came together, that’s the moment I realized I want to do this. I didn’t go under the name Broken Lungs at first, it was actually jbeetz88, an old handle I had. In 2020 during the pandemic is when I had all of the time in the world to shape who I wanted to be as a solo artist and go from there.
What parts of your personal life or hometown shaped the sound and attitude behind your music?
I was always inspired by scores in movies and in video games. I am also a huge fan of slow, cinematic ambient music. I am also a big fan of heavy trap, hip hop, and industrial-style type beats. One of my favorite composers, Akira Yamaoka, who created the sound design for Silent Hill, really helped shape my sound. Another style of music that truly influenced my sound is called Wave. It’s a niche subgenre of trap that blends atmospheric sounds and melodies with bass-thumping beats. For me, that sound is truly underrated, and I would like to bring more attention to it because there are so many artists who are slept on who truly have so much talent. I am also a very pensive person; there is always something running through my head. My hometown of El Paso, Texas, has always been a melting pot when it comes to the music scene. I feel my unique sound is adding to the amazing talent that we have here. You can go to a show that has metal, indie, rock, electronic, you name it. I love it.
When people listen to your music, what do you hope they walk away feeling or understanding about you?
I feel like my music is meant to be heard alone. On those long nights when your mind is just running, or if you’re just cruising on an empty street or highway, or just taking a walk, it’s an escape. While there are so many emotions I would want someone to feel while listening to my music, I truly just hope they reflect on their own emotions and what they might be going through, and let the music fill in the gaps.
What’s one moment from your journey so far—good or bad—that completely changed how you see music or yourself?
I have 3 albums under my belt so far, all of which have a different sound to them. My second album, “Always Near” is when I started experimenting with adding vocal samples to my music, which helped me really focus on a darker and more introspective sound. From there, I wanted to see how far I could go and really focus on shaping my sound. In my most recent tracks, I started incorporating my vocals. I had always wanted to sing over my tracks, but I am very critical of myself. Once I started receiving the positive feedback on my overall sound, it clicked that I truly had something worth pursuing. On the other side, seeing and experiencing the production elements that come with music has truly opened my eyes to appreciate what happens behind the scenes. Creating, mixing/mastering is a gift, and being able to see the final product of what YOU created is such a rewarding experience.
For Fans Of
If you’re into music that feels like drifting through a dream at 3 a.m., you’ll find yourself right at home with Broken Lungs. His blend of ambient, downtempo wave and subtle cinematic textures will resonate with fans of:
- Sorsari – lush, melodic soundscapes
- NoahB – haunting, atmospheric emotion
- Backwhen – dark, moody electronic textures
- Akira Yamaoka – slow-burning, immersive vibes
- Helios – ethereal, lo-fi beat-driven ambience
Offstage and outside the studio, who are you? What keeps you grounded when you’re not making music?
I’m just a quiet, pensive guy who loves creating and sharing music with others. I’m a teacher, and I am a part of Let Down Studio where we also help other artists shape their sound and provide them with the best musician-centered sound possible. What truly keeps me grounded when I’m not making music is listening to music. It’s the best therapy for anything, in my opinion. I love to laugh even though I look serious almost all of the time, but that’s just my face haha. I’m a self-proclaimed chili head, and I feel I’m quite the competitor at Mortal Kombat (We know those Reptile battles, Hexx)
Recording vocals at Let Down (Behind the Scenes)
When John said he was ready to lay his vocals down, I was beyond excited. Hearing older Broken Lungs songs, I always felt that his music could benefit from his voice. I love John’s work ethic—he came in ready, knowing exactly what he wanted. He even said, “I just want to do take after take. Let’s knock this shit out.” As a producer, I love when artists have this type of confidence because I know the session is going to run smoothly. We were finished in about 30 minutes. Coincidentally, we had a session with Scairat about an hour after we tracked. John knew what he wanted, and he got it. I am so proud of him and his growth with Broken Lungs.
Don’t Forget to Stay Connected with Broken Lungs
Upcoming
So what does Broken Lungs have the upcoming horizon? John let us know that he is working on an album and plans to figure out a way to play live. He has already confirmed that he is going to perform on a Live from Let Down episode. We cannot wait!