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Jon Howard

Jon Howard is a Canadian , best known as the and co-founder of the band Threat Signal, which he established in 2003 alongside his cousin Rich Howard in . As the longest-standing member of Threat Signal, Howard has contributed vocals, lyrics, and production to the band's albums, including their 2006 debut Under Reprisal and the 2009 release Vigilance, the latter of which he produced and which was mixed by engineer Greg Reely. Beyond Threat Signal, Howard serves as the vocalist for the industrial metal supergroup Arkaea, formed in 2009 with former members of and fellow Threat Signal member Pat Kavanagh, releasing the album Years in the Darkness that year. In addition to his performing career, Howard is a multifaceted who owns and operates Woodward Studios in , where he works as a , , and songwriter for various metal acts. His production credits include the 2025 album Save Our Souls by Canadian power thrash band Phear, noted for pushing the musicians to deliver the group's heaviest sound to date. Howard has also collaborated on guest vocals and production for other projects, such as the 2024 single "Undone" by I Legion, on which he provided guest vocals and which he mixed at Woodward Studios. He remains active in the metal scene, contributing as lead vocalist to bands like Imonolith and Combustion 96, and serving as a luthier for F Bass instruments, while maintaining a focus on heavy, groove-oriented metal with themes of societal threats and personal resilience.

Early life

Upbringing in Ontario

Jon Howard was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Raised in the city, he developed an early interest in heavy metal music through the local scene. During his youth, Howard explored songwriting and performance, laying the foundation for his professional career. By his late teens, he began collaborating with family members in musical projects, which would lead to his entry into the industry.

Formation of Threat Signal

In 2003, Howard co-founded the band Threat Signal in alongside his cousin, guitarist Rich Howard, and composer/guitarist Kyle McKnight. This marked his professional debut as and , with the band quickly gaining attention in the Canadian metal underground. As the band's only constant member through numerous lineup changes, Howard's early role involved not only vocals but also production contributions, shaping their aggressive, groove-oriented sound from the outset. The group's formation represented a pivotal step, transitioning Howard from local pursuits to international recognition in the genre.

Musical career

Touring with Paramore

In the summer of 2010, Jon Howard joined as a touring member, serving as an additional rhythm guitarist, , and percussionist during a pivotal transitional phase for the band following internal changes and lineup shifts. This role marked the beginning of a six-year tenure that significantly elevated his profile in the music industry. Howard contributed to several major tours, including the latter stages of the Brand New Eyes World Tour (2009–2011), where he supported live performances of tracks from the album amid the band's evolving dynamic. He continued through the self-titled Paramore album era (2013–2015), providing instrumental support on keyboard and guitar during the extensive international outings that followed the record's release, helping to adapt arrangements for the trio's core setup. His time with Paramore culminated in the band's final shows featuring Howard on the second Parahoy! Cruise in March 2016, a fan-organized event sailing from to , , where he performed alongside , , and other touring musicians. Following his departure later that year, Howard's brother Joey joined Paramore as the touring bassist, introduced by Williams during the same cruise performances. This period with Paramore not only boosted Howard's visibility through high-profile festival appearances and arena tours but also facilitated key networking opportunities, laying the groundwork for his subsequent pursuits in songwriting and production within the broader music scene.

Production and songwriting

After departing Paramore in 2016, Jon Howard shifted his focus to studio-based work as a , , and songwriter, leveraging his touring experience to collaborate with a diverse range of artists across and rock genres. He established The Anchor Room, his personal recording studio in , where he handles production, engineering, mixing, and songwriting for various projects. This transition marked the beginning of Howard's independent career in music creation, emphasizing technical precision in mixing and collaborative songwriting that blends and melodies tailored to each artist's style. One of Howard's most prominent contributions came in 2021 with electronic producer Illenium's album Fallen Embers, where he co-wrote the lyrics and served as vocal producer for the track "Fragments" featuring Natalie Taylor. The album earned a nomination for Best Dance/Electronic Album at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards in 2022, highlighting Howard's ability to craft emotive, genre-blending elements in electronic music. His songwriting on this project involved developing melodic structures and lyrical themes that complemented Illenium's atmospheric production, demonstrating his versatility in adapting to electronic formats while drawing from rock influences honed during his touring years. Howard has also collaborated closely with his wife, the singer Natalie Taylor, co-writing and producing her breakthrough single "" (2015), which achieved Platinum certification by the RIAA and has amassed over one billion streams across platforms as of 2025. Howard has also produced and co-written for rock acts, including Dashboard Confessional's 2018 album Crooked Shadows, on which he co-produced and co-wrote the , contributing additional and engineering to enhance its pop-rock energy. For Bayside, he produced, engineered, and mixed their 2018 acoustic album Acoustic Volume 2, as well as engineering and mixing the 2017 track "," focusing on capturing raw, intimate performances through meticulous mix balancing. These efforts underscore his role as a mix engineer who prioritizes clarity and dynamics in rock recordings, often incorporating lyrical and melodic refinements to elevate the emotional depth of the material. In addition to full productions, Howard's mixing work extends to projects like Halfnoise's 2017 EP Velvet Face, where he handled the final mixes to refine the sound. His songwriting contributions frequently involve crafting lyrics and melodies that bridge electronic and rock sensibilities, as seen in collaborations that emphasize narrative-driven hooks suitable for both live and studio contexts. Through these roles at The Anchor Room, Howard has built a reputation for technical expertise in mixing—ensuring balanced frequencies and spatial depth—while fostering creative partnerships that result in cohesive, impactful tracks.

Entrepreneurship

Founding of Avvay

In 2016, Jon Howard co-founded Avvay, a platform designed as a for discovering and booking unique locations tailored for creative productions such as photo shoots, video filming, and music recording sessions. The company was established in , with Howard assembling a team of co-founders including Clay Hunt, Josh Colbert (CTO), Nick DePartee (CMO), and Nick Dominguez (CPO), drawing on their collective expertise in technology and to address gaps in for artists and content creators. As co-founder and CEO, Howard leveraged his background in music production and touring to shape the venture, positioning Avvay as an "Airbnb for creatives" that enables hourly rentals of unconventional spaces like warehouses, lofts, and vintage trailers. Howard's motivation for launching Avvay stemmed from firsthand challenges encountered during his time as a touring and producer with , where he often improvised recordings in hotel rooms due to logistical constraints and a lack of accessible, inspiring venues. For instance, while producing an album on tour with drummer , Howard faced uninspiring environments—such as tracking vocals under a to muffle noise—that stifled and highlighted the need for a streamlined way to find and book suitable locations for musicians, filmmakers, and other creators. This production experience, combined with broader difficulties in securing non-traditional spaces for shoots and sessions, drove the initial concept of a user-friendly platform that connects space owners with renters, prioritizing ease and inspiration over conventional options. Avvay's early milestones included the rollout of a public beta in early 2017, focused initially on the Nashville area to test the marketplace model among local creatives, which quickly garnered over 600 users and 300 rental requests. The platform launched with core features allowing users to search, view availability, and book spaces directly online, while owners could list properties and set custom rates. In early 2018, the company secured its first funding round, followed by a $1 million seed investment led by Zero G Capital in September of that year, providing resources to refine operations and expand beyond initial markets.

Development and operations

Since its full launch in 2018, Avvay has evolved from a Nashville-focused into a nationwide platform for and rentals in the United States, expanding its listings to include diverse spaces such as studios, homes, and outdoor venues across multiple cities including , , , and . This growth included the integration of advanced tools like virtual tours for remote and secure online booking systems to streamline the rental process for creators. By 2022, the platform had incorporated permit handling services for and photo productions in over 900 jurisdictions, enhancing operational efficiency for users planning shoots from afar. Key features of Avvay emphasize user accessibility and comprehensive support for content production. The platform offers intuitive search functionality filtered by location type—such as photo studios, filming venues, or creative event spaces—along with transparent pricing models that allow hourly or daily rentals. Additional offerings include built-in options to cover production risks and a suite of creator resources, such as tools and guides, designed to reduce time and costs associated with traditional hunting. These elements position Avvay as a one-stop solution for photographers, videographers, and filmmakers seeking inspirational spaces without the complexities of direct negotiations. Under Jon Howard's leadership as CEO, Avvay has prioritized team expansion and operational scaling to support its growth. The company built out key roles including Nick Dominguez, Josh Colbert, Nick DePartee, senior engineers like Mike Johnson, and project managers such as and Jeanene Wood, enabling robust platform maintenance and feature development. Partnerships with creative professionals and agencies have been fostered through integrated pro directories, allowing seamless connections for talent and services alongside location bookings. Post-2020, Avvay adapted to the surge in remote production needs by enhancing digital capabilities, which aligned with broader industry shifts toward in music videos, advertisements, and independent films. Howard continues to drive Avvay's focus on infrastructure improvements, emphasizing scalable tools that address bottlenecks in workflows, drawing from his background in music production challenges. The platform's impact is evident in its facilitation of efficient bookings for artists and producers in the music and sectors, contributing to economic benefits like increased revenue for venue owners and streamlined productions, as seen in Nashville's growing ecosystem. Testimonials from users highlight the platform's role in enabling high-quality shoots, with creators praising the ease of access to unique locations and supportive operations as of 2025.

Personal life

Howard resides in , where he operates Woodward Avenue Studios. He has contributed guest vocals to the metal project I Legion, including on tracks such as "Resilience" (2019) and "Escape As Deliverance" (2012). Little is known about his family life, as Howard maintains regarding personal matters.

References

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