Never giving up, for professional drummer JD Lyon, means being willing to evolve when a career, a relationship or a plan stops working. In this conversation with Jeremy Van Wert, JD explains how he moved from touring to producing and mixing, how faith helped him get sober, how he lives with bipolar disorder and how he faces fear.
ᛉKey takeaways
- JD says his idea of "evolve or die" means changing before a career or a situation ends, as he did when touring stopped and he moved into producing and mixing.
- He says professionalism and a good work ethic matter as much as talent, because musicians who show up on time and stay easy to work with get called back.
- JD's favorite advice from the music business is "be cool and shut your mouth," since you never know who is listening.
- He credits faith, and his mother's prayers, with helping him get sober in 2018.
- JD faces fear by asking what the scariest thing he has been through was and comparing the new risk to it.
- He speaks openly about bipolar disorder, therapy and medication to help reduce stigma.
ᛃ Moments in this one
ᚠNever giving up means being willing to evolve
JD Lyon is a drummer, producer and mixing engineer based in Atlanta who played his first paid gig at 14. He says the most important thing he has learned, professionally and personally, is evolving. His record Evolve or Die is built around that idea: if you do not change certain things, something ends.
When COVID stopped touring, JD says he could stay a dinosaur and wait, or become someone different. He chose to evolve into a producer and mixing engineer, and he describes his newest venture, Mixed by JD Lyon, as mixing from a musician's angle. He can speak a bass player's or drummer's language and decode what an artist wants.
Anyone facing their own reinvention can find company in Thriving Spirits, the Mindful Mutiny community, which offers real conversation, live Fireside Chats and a course library.
ᚢHow home studios changed who gets to make music
JD says the biggest shift in his career is the democratization of music. In 1996, record companies were king and a major-label record cost a fortune. Now, he says, someone with a guitar, a microphone and an audio interface can record a song and hire the right people to make it sound professional.
He still misses the era of record stores and packaging. But he likes that the barriers are gone, and he says it puts established musicians on notice that they must keep up.
ᚦGrowing up in Houston, and why professionalism keeps musicians working
JD was born in Houston to parents from India. He says they were supportive of his music, though they required him to go to school, so he earned an economics degree from the University of Houston. He got his first drum kit at 12 from a pawn shop and practiced in a hot garage to simulate stage lights.
In the mid-2000s, he played with a friend who had a Billboard hit, and his career opened up. He also did sessions in Nashville, where he says there was often one or two takes to get a part right. That taught him the profession: be on time, have a work ethic and be easy to work with.
His favorite advice is "be cool and shut your mouth," since you never know who is listening. He says the music business is 99 percent grind for the 1 percent that makes it worthwhile. JD says he never wanted to be a rock star but a professional musician.
ᚨHow rock drummers changed country music
JD gives his own account of why modern country sounds more like rock. After the 2008 recession, he says, many rock musicians lost their deals and moved to Nashville, where country was selling well.
He says that is why big amplifiers and drum sets now show up at country shows. In his view, the shift is another example of evolving to stay in the business.
ᚱSobriety, faith and living with bipolar disorder
JD describes himself as a practicing Christian and says faith was a huge part of his sobriety. He says he spent years feeling hollow and was a celebrated binge drinker, in part because drinks were always provided in the music industry. In 2018, he says, he hit a point of being sick and tired and quit that day. He credits his mother's prayers, and says he reached five years sober in October 2023.
JD also speaks openly about living with bipolar disorder and severe depression. He says he stays in therapy and takes regular medication, and that his psychiatrist linked his feeling of hollowness to bipolar disorder. When he feels a manic stretch coming, he channels it into making music.
He works with Same Here Global, a mental health initiative run by his friend Eric, to show that people can talk about their struggles. Jeremy adds that stigma often leads people to drop treatment, so every person who speaks up helps. Anyone who wants support can look into individual therapy with Jeremy.
ᚲFacing fear by comparing it to the hardest thing you've survived
JD shares that a painful breakup in 2021 left him moving out of his home within days. About two days later he also received a diagnosis that affects his hearing, and he spent months staying with his mother. He says that experience changed how he sees fear.
His method is simple. Before a risk, ask what the scariest thing you have been through was, then compare the two. If this is not as scary, he says, just do it. He now bets on himself as a producer, though he admits he is still a bit afraid.
He also says he refuses to be a victim and chooses to focus on the good. Jeremy talks about his own choices driven by fear during years in corporate America. For anyone wondering about the next step, Jeremy offers a straight read on whether therapy and retreat work could be a fit for you.
ᚷThe phrase JD keeps on his arm
JD has the words "never give up" tattooed on his arm from 2009. He says that when he wanted to quit, he looked at his arm and could not have that on his skin and be a quitter. His closing message is that if he can do it, you can too.
This is not medical or mental health advice. If you are struggling with substance use or your mental health, please reach out to a qualified professional or a local crisis line.
ᚨ Questions people ask
What does never giving up mean to JD Lyon?
JD says it means seeing things through instead of being a quitter, and having the courage to change course when needed. He has the phrase tattooed on his arm.
What does "evolve or die" mean?
It is the title of JD's record and his philosophy that if you do not change in response to your circumstances, something ends. He moved from touring to producing and mixing.
How did JD get sober?
JD says he quit drinking in 2018 after feeling hollow and sick and tired. He credits his faith and his mother's prayers, and says he reached five years in October 2023.
How does JD live with bipolar disorder?
He says he stays in therapy, takes regular medication and notices when mania is coming. He speaks about it openly because he hopes it helps others feel less alone.
How does JD handle fear?
He asks what the scariest thing he has survived was and compares the new risk to it. If it is not as scary, he says, he takes the leap.