Jon Hadley is an independent recording artist, a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist. He primarily writes music for the Alternative Rock, Alternative Metal and Post-Rock genres, though he doesn't necessarily glue himself to any genre, diving at times into the experimental areas and blending his high gain guitar tones with electronic elements as well.
Jon Hadley came of age during the 1990s, a formative decade that deeply shaped his musical identity. Rooted in the raw emotional weight of grunge and the genre-bending aggression of early nu-metal, Jon found inspiration in bands like Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Korn, and Deftones, whose music reflected both personal struggle and sonic experimentation. But his influences run deeper still, Jon draws heavily from the atmospheric complexity and rhythmic intricacy of Tool, whose progressive structures helped him appreciate the power of tension and release in songwriting. Vocally, Jon's tone is shaped by Breaking Benjamin, blending brooding resonance with moments of explosive intensity. His music channels all of these influences into a style that is emotionally direct, texturally rich, and always rooted in a deep respect for craft and authenticity.
Jon Hadley is a remarkably versatile multi-instrumentalist, proficient across a wide range of woodwinds including saxophones of all types, clarinet, oboe, and flute. He also ventures into other mainstay instruments like guitar, bass, and keyboards, among many others. His passion for music truly ignited in high school, when he joined the jazz band and was introduced to the world of improvisation, collaboration, and expressive tonal exploration. It was there that he began experimenting with different instruments, driven by curiosity and a fascination with the distinct voices each one offered. While Jon is classically trained in music theory, he ultimately found that strict adherence to theoretical structure could feel limiting and too pre-planned for the emotional spontaneity he valued. Instead, he prefers to play by ear, letting instinct and mood lead the way. He jokes that drums are his one blind spot, as his hands and feet lack the independence needed to master rhythm in that domain. Yet this exception only highlights his deep fluency across so many others. Jon’s approach is a fusion of discipline and freedom. He is technically skilled, yet fueled by feel, yielding music that is as articulate as it is emotionally raw.
Jon Hadley’s sound is deeply personal, shaped not just by musical influences but by the evolving emotional landscape of his life. He describes his experience as living to an internal soundtrack, one that’s constantly being improvised in real time by the world around him, the people he meets, the moments he lives through, the weight of memory and emotion. Every situation, whether fleeting or profound, contributes a motif or movement to this inner score. His recorded work serves as a musical translation of that internal world. A reflective archive of his struggles, victories, quiet doubts, and breakthroughs. In this way, Jon’s music isn’t just performance... it’s documentation. Each song is a sonic memory, a fragment of a larger, ongoing composition that mirrors his life with authenticity and unfiltered emotion.
Jon Hadley is an Aries, and Aries' elemental match is fire. There’s a quiet fire that runs through everything he creates. His music often mirrors that energy... not loud for the sake of volume... but layered and alive, building slowly like a flame catching on kindling. Each part of a composition adds something, maybe a feeling, a memory, a spark, and together they grow into something intense, and personal. That fire isn’t about showing off; it’s about feeling things deeply and fully, letting every moment leave a mark. For Jon, writing music is a way to process the world around him — to take whatever he's going through and turn it into something real that might resonate with someone else.
Yes, kind of... — Jonathan Hadley’s music is available for licensing for used in films, television, podcasts, and other creative or commercial projects. However, written permission is required before any use. This applies to all uses, including background music, theme songs, promotional clips, and non-commercial content. Unauthorized use of any recordings or compositions is not permitted and may result in legal action.
If you're interested in licensing a track, please reach out with a brief description of your project, intended usage, distribution plans, and timeline. We aim to support meaningful, creative work and are happy to discuss fair terms, especially for independent or student filmmakers.
For inquiries, contact:
📧 licensing@abrasivemonologues.com
Jon Hadley's music is available on most major streaming platforms.
All streaming links are available on his artist page.
A large assortment of merch items are available from the Abrasive Monologues retail storefront at Printful.