Presence is the stage name of Southern California recording artist, Jonathon Martinez. Through his vulnerable approach to songwriting, and emotional vocal performances, the Ventura born musician was able to amass over 60 million views on his YouTube channel, and more than a million followers across platforms independently by the age of 19. In a TED Talk that Presence gave in 2019 titled, “The Power of Authenticity and the Internet,” he states “we all are unique which makes our stories important, but more importantly we all are connected which makes our stories necessary. You never know who’s paying attention to yours.” This conviction to be open and honest is something that’s made Presence stand out since the first video he uploaded to YouTube at age 14. Presence’s catalog of music is an intimate dive into his struggles with anxiety, depression, grief, and love. This vulnerability, combined with a unique blend of both singing and rapping, creates for a roller coaster of emotions with each track. The stories to be told are just beginning, and the potential of the young songwriter is still through the roof.
