Watch out John Mayer, there's a new John in town. The man behind Secondhand Serenade not only sings and plays guitar - he writes his songs and writes to fans! In an interview with Teen Scene he talks about the impact that MySpace had on his career, what he plans to do in the future and much more.

It's time the music industry tasted something other than the leftovers of Britney Spears' career - and it seems like we have just the guy for the job. John Vesely, the singer/songwriter behind Secondhand Serenade, is a breath of fresh air that hailed as MySpace's number one unsigned artist during 2006. But after months of nonstop work Vesely secured a contract with Glassnote Records and re-released his self-produced debut album Awake.

Since recording the album, it has sold almost 100,000 copies to date, with the video for "Vulnerable" making its way onto MTV and earning him a spot on Late Night with Conan O'Brien.

"I really have my fans to thank for getting me to this point," he says in regards to his mounting success. "For anyone who hasn't figured it out by now, it's the fans who make the decisions. They are the ones who determine if you make it or not, or how long you stay around for."

With a drive to please fans it's no wonder that he's exploded to become one of the music businesses most promising new talents, with appearances on Yahoo! Music, AOL, and Rolling Stone (just to name a few).

"It amazes me how many messages I get from people that tell me how proud they are of me - complete strangers. But they truly feel like they are part of this and speak to me like we've known each other forever. And I don't ever want that to change," he reveals. And he's not kidding. Just five minutes on his MySpace page reveals he's as dedicated to his fans as he says. His entry on Nov. 18 of last year thanks "you," the fans, and goes on to recount his journey from his early years to his present success.

"A long time ago... a few of you may remember... I was pretty much all alone on MySpace (with the exception of a few of you that were there from the beginning) with a few songs and really big aspirations," his blog reads. It's because of the fans he says, that he has been able to make his aspirations a reality.

Despite the enormous role the fans played in spreading his music, he definitely deserves some recognition. The blonde haired, all-American looking, guitar serenading singer has come a long way from gigs with small bands like Wordsfail and Sounds Like Life. After the split from his last band he worked nonstop to produce a solo album - writing and recording his own music. "Once the album was recorded, that was it. There was no turning back," he reveals.

Through a PayPal account on MySpace he managed to sell over 20,000 copies of his album, launching him to the top of the MySpace music scene. "I think as long as you put the time in to really use these sites for all they are worth, there's really no telling how far you can go and how many people you can bring," he tells Teen Scene.

From the looks of it, he's brought plenty - his MySpace alone has over 300,000 friends! With Vesely's career gaining continuing momentum, it's nice to hear that fame hasn't changed him. "A lot of people I speak to on MySpace don't really believe it's me they're talking to. The truth is I'm just like them. I just happen to do something I love for a living which a lot of people seem to gravitate towards," he says.

While guitar strumming singers are a regular sight in the music business, Vesely is anything but ordinary - which is why he chose to perform as Secondhand Serenade instead of his birth name. "I have such a common name […] it just doesn't stand out. […] I just didn't want to get that stigma. I grew up listening to bands more so than individuals and felt my music leaned more in that direction, even if it was just me up on stage," he says.

Though it's unclear where this new found fame will take him, he doesn't seem to want to slow down. As far as collaboration goes, he says recording with friends Monty Are I or Rookie of the Year is something he'd love to do. "I would also love to do something with Juliet Simms from Automatic Loveletter and anyone who comes to my upcoming tour just might get to see that first hand," he hints. His most recent collaborations with Danny Lohner and Butch Walker have made fans even more excited for his follow-up album. Though he's getting help this time around, fans don't have to worry about his music turning into just another song on the radio. "With this album I've incorporated new sounds, new production techniques and a new way of getting those thoughts and feelings out of me - while still maintaining my signature style," he says.

With his sophomore effort, A Twist in My Story set to release on Feb. 19, it seems there's no slowing down this one man show. With a guitar in hand, fans at his side, and a drive to succeed we think it's safe to say you can expect to see more of him in the future.

- Alex Avendano, Contributor