Hey, PREO fans! Last month I had the wonderful opportunity to sit down with John Streese, one of Kanto Symphony’s violin soloists, to discuss his musical ambitions and of course, some Pokémon. Below is our transcribed interview.

If you’ve never heard of John, he’s a popular video game musician also known as JTehAnonymous on YouTube and records covers of his favorite pieces of video game music, playing the melodies on his violin. He’s done quite a few covers of Pokémon music on his video channel and has gathered a devoted following for his frequent uploads of VG music covers, all of which are executed with passion and solid instrumental technique.

Interview key: S = Skotein, J = John

S: So John, how did you first hear about me and Pokémon Reorchestrated, ‘cause I remember that it was early on in the project…wasn’t it?

J: Yeah, it was really early on. Um…I think I found you through a related channel. I was watching pokemoneinstein’s LP’s… In that whole Pokémon web on the Internet, I managed to find your channel!

S: Yay!

[both laugh]

S: What made you want to pick up the violin as your main instrument?

J: Uh…to be honest, in the seventh grade, I just needed something to do! I tried—well, actually, my parents forced me to try it—in the fourth grade, but I pretended to be sick during the concerts and I quit. But then I tried again in seventh grade because I needed to for a class, and that time it just kind of stuck. I really, really liked it.

S: Awesome! And do you play any other instruments?

J: I play a little bit of piano, but I would say I’m more of a single instrument player. I pretend to play the piano, but I’m not very good. [laughs]

S: Who inspires you? It can be anyone. Musicians, writers, composers, Chuck Norris…whatever.

J: As far as music goes, I would say generally the YouTube community inspires me, most of the people I’m subscribed to—basically anyone who takes video game music and turns it into something awesome. They all inspire me. As far as people in my regular life go, my parents inspire me.

(For a while we discussed how down-to-earth I thought John’s response was to that question, considering how many people are quick to jump to name-dropping celebrity composers and musicians.)

J: I think anyone on YouTube…anyone who just really likes playing—I really respect that. You don’t have to be on some kind of level for me to respect you.

S: And I think that makes you much very relatable to all practicing musicians—it gives them something they can identify with. Which is cool!

J: That is cool.

[both laugh]

S: All right, so, big question: what was your very first experience with Pokémon?

J: …Oh man. [nervous laugh] My very, very first experience that I can remember?

S: Mmhm.

J: It can be anything related to Pokémon?

S: Yes. [chuckle]

J: Okay, well, I can remember being six years old and being over at a friend’s house, and he showed me his Pokémon cards. I instantly fell in love, and he gave me a Venonat card! I cried from happiness and ran home, begging my parents to buy me more cards. Then I guess it just “evolved” from there—

S: Evolved?! [laughs at pun]

J: [laughing] I’m sorry!

S: No, no! Continue!

J: So I got Blue for the Game Boy, and then after that, I was…never the same.

[both chuckling]

S: Do you have any favorite pieces of music from the Pokémon series?

J: A favorite piece…? Aw man, I like so many of them… From first generation, my favorite is “Silph Co.”—it’s like a Russian dance! I just love it.

S: Yeah, me too. It’s one of my favorites—the official track for Kanto Symphony is also going to be inspired by Russian dance.

J: I’m excited!

S: I know, s’gonna be epiiiiic. Now, aside from Pokémon, what other game soundtracks do you enjoy?

J: Oh man… Legend of Zelda is up there. I enjoy every LoZ track, basically. Final Fantasy, with a few exceptions—I pretty much enjoy all FF music. Kirby, because it’s just so playful and all of it—I love Kirby.

S: And the last question—surprise question—

J: Oh no…

S: Rumor has it (well, not really a rumor since I’ve seen it in your videos)…that you have a cardboard cutout of Miley Cyrus. Explain.

J: Oh no! I wasn’t supposed to do this!

S: Aha! You’re on the spot now!

J: This was like a planned moment, when I reached a certain benchmark, but…I guess I could spill the beans here!

S: Divulge!

J: All right, well…as you might now, I’m really weird. And my friends are weird too. On my eighteenth birthday, I went on a city-wide scavenger hunt for my birthday because I’m into scavenger hunts, so they set that up for me. They’re really nice! And at the end of my scavenger hunt, I made it back to my house, and lying on my bed was a cardboard Hannah Montana. So that was my birthday present! [laughs]

S: [snort / choked laugh]

J: They bought it for me!

To listen to some of John’s work and subscribe for more awesome violin covers, visit his YouTube channel! Glad to have you aboard, John. >:D

As a plug, here’s one of his newest pieces from Diddy Kong Racing!