Meet Jay Horn

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jay Horn a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jay, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?
My confidence and self-esteem come from the legacy of my grandparents. My grandfather, who was a pastor for 41 years and a country boy, whose work ethic and tenacity were unmatched. The will to win at all cost was his approach, and his belief in God was so strong, that he believed that he could do anything he put his mind to. My grandmother was the same person, but in a different body, and just as efficient in getting things done but with a much more collaborative vibe. She was responsible for family gatherings and holidays, which sparked a time for reflection and liberation from everyday turmoil. My grandmother was very strong-minded also, but she was an artist and a creative way before her time. Only having an 8th-grade education, my grandmother was known for her lavishly breathtaking wedding cakes and assortments. I can remember all the weddings where people would stand in awe around this massive cake structure with stairs and waterfalls and groomsmen and bridesmaids everywhere, She was also socially conscious, because I used to help her put these spectacles together and she even had different colored pieces to cater to a different race. She understood that love and charity rule all. She was a believer in God, but she still did what she wanted in society. She worked at Children’s Medical Center for 33 years as an RN, a feat that goes unrewarded, for a person who never finished high school. You get the picture, she was a beast in putting her mind to something and doing it. The combined influence of these two people has a major impact on my creative side, as well as my confidence and self-esteem, something that I pass down to my little ones on a daily.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
Jason “Jay” Horn: A Multifaceted Artist Blending Music, Film, and Social Media Born and raised amidst the vibrant cityscape of Dallas, Texas, Jason “Jay” Horn has emerged as a rising star in the Los Angeles music scene. With an eclectic skill set that spans across various creative realms, including film directing, writing, editing, cinematography, social media influencing, music production, and performing arts, Jay Horn is a true artistic force to be reckoned with. Ever since his arrival on the scene in March 2023, Jay Horn has captivated audiences with his unique blend of rap, trap, soul, and jazz, creating a sonic experience that resonates with listeners of all ages. His music carries a distinct blend of genres, skillfully weaving together rhythmic beats, insightful lyrics, and soulful melodies. Critics and fans alike have praised his infectious flow, describing it as both informative and engaging. Jay Horn’s musical journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. His debut album, “Grown Folks Music,” swiftly achieved gold status, setting the stage for his highly anticipated sophomore album, “Based On A True Story,” which was released on July 11. This latest offering has already skyrocketed to platinum status, with over 2 million streams worldwide since its release in June. It showcases Jay Horn’s evolution as an artist, delivering a rich tapestry of storytelling and compelling narratives. However, Jay Horn’s ascent to musical prominence was not limited to traditional avenues. Before making waves in the music industry, he honed his craft through social media, amassing an impressive following of over 200 million views and counting. His innate ability to connect with his audience through platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram has allowed him to forge a genuine bond with his fans, creating a loyal community that eagerly anticipates each of his releases. Beyond his musical endeavors, Jay Horn’s talents extend into the world of film. His mastery of directing, writing, editing, and cinematography has enabled him to seamlessly translate his artistic vision from the studio to the screen. His multifaceted abilities in both music and film have resulted in a synergistic approach to storytelling, promising epic narratives and visually captivating experiences in the future. As Jay Horn continues to evolve as an artist, he remains dedicated to pushing boundaries and breaking new ground. With his unwavering passion for creating thought-provoking content, he is poised to become an influential figure in the entertainment industry. The future holds great promise for this rising star, as he continues to captivate hearts and minds with his innovative fusion of music, film, and social media.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Great question. If had to pick three qualities I would pick, listen, learn, repeat. These things are relevant to behavior in my industry but can be applied to any industry. First of all, listening is an acute behavior that many of us don’t use often enough. Our hearing. Think about how much information you can obtain, in any atmosphere by listening. You can also avoid danger by listening. So get in rooms and learn to be quiet and see how much you can accomplish with your awareness. Learn. Learn everything you can about your industry or whatever you like to do before you start doing it. So many people want to chase their dreams, not realizing that it may be just a dream for real that you would be active in that industry. So be diligent and do your homework so you don’t waste a bunch of time and effort on something that is totally out of your reach. We should be reaching for success and the only way to do that, in my opinion, is to submerse yourself in the understanding of direction. Direction comes from diligently searching for what needs to be done next to get me closer to my goal. Or maybe, what needs to be done next to give me a better opportunity after an attempt at being successful fails? Learn from that mistake or time that was wasted. Did you get close, do you need to be more educated, do you need to do more to put yourself in a better position, with a better room of people? All of these questions could be answered if you learn more and more about where you are trying to go in that industry, or whether you should. Repeat. Repeat is an underrated, underused word mainly because most people run from it. It is the redundancy that kills the motive for people when they have to do something over again because the first attempt failed. It’s not the end of the world to dust yourself off and try again. That reality and the fact of the matter is if you are not willing to make another attempt at being successful in your endeavors, then you will find yourself in a black hole with a whole lot of references to what you have tried, but nothing to show that you ever succeeded. It rarely gonna work on the first go, so be ready to repeat and attempt with a better understanding of what needs to be done, and listen to your gut. Advice that I would give people early in their journey…….I just did lol! Don’t quit unless you can’t learn anymore, there is no one else to listen to, and you feel like a repeat attempt will kill you personally. Other than that, KEEP GOING!!!

All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?
Working capital. That is the number one obstacle for most independent filmmakers who aren’t too keen on joining unions. Some of us don’t want to be held down with all the politics, we just want to create. Unfortunately, it takes money to make that come to life. If you are not from a wealthy background or have access to capital from an investor who believes in your vision, you struggle to compete with the big boys in building a legitimate business that can create cash flow. For example, I believe that I have the creative imagination to create a movie similar to “Black Panther”. So as an indie filmmaker, I can attempt to be as creative as possible on a minimal budget, and still wouldn’t get the overall visual output that the movie gives. From sound to wardrobe to CGI, to stunts to locations and extras. I just couldn’t compete. Now, watch this, but if you put 200 million in my hand to compete, now I’m able to show a real comparison. Other than that, you are either gonna keep searching for your opportunity to control the narrative and the budget to make sure that you are making enough to feed your family, or you will just jump into the system and be a puppet, and they will pay you what they think your worth, not what your actual worth is. You have to be in control of the money if you are going to accomplish that feat of making sure your value is a priority.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
JAY HORN FILMS LLC

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