We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ju-Marri “Kaesevyn” Sims. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ju-Marri “Kaesevyn” below.
Ju-Marri “Kaesevyn”, 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?
All my life, I fantasized about performing onstage for an audience. My first break came in high school when I was cast in a musical, ‘Rent’. The rush and adrenaline that came from acting and singing in real-time fueled me to do and be more than just an actor on a stage. I wanted my own thing, I wanted to be a part of the conversation when it came to those with musical abilities, and I wanted to turn fantasy into reality. So I studied the great musical acts for years, perfected my craft of writing and performing songs, and invested more than just time and energy into making music.
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?
I make music, short and sweet. Everything from conception to distribution, I do it all from the comfort of my home studio. Under the banner of “Alive Music Group”, inherited generously from my music mentor, I’ve helmed the ship and have been acting captain since 2018.
The most special thing about making music, in my opinion, is being able to create something beautiful out of absolutely nothing. Every instrument, every project, every record made is another piece of me that I’m happy to share with the world once a final product is formed. Music is the one thing in this universe that allows me to express myself in ways that I was never capable of when I was younger. Even running a music label has its advantages, in that I don’t need permission from anyone to do what I want. I could make pop songs, rap, rock, whatever genre I feel in the moment and can draw in other artists of those genres to work with and create something that, I feel, transcends traditional sounds.
Currently, I’m working on releasing my fourth studio album “Underground Heart”, a musical journey that gives the listener a peak into the everyday life of an artist who struggles to balance the obligations of being involved in the music industry while simultaneously indulging in their vices and trying to navigate personal relationships. To date, it is my most personal and vulnerable of projects, and I hope that those who listen to it can appreciate the beauty and ugliness that it represents, finding something in it that resonates deeply within themselves.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Patience, Resilience, and Bravery. These three things make, what I believe to be, an amazing artist. We all want what we want, right when we want it. But life doesn’t always work that way, especially when you’re just starting. I’ve been at this for almost 14 years now, and compared to where I was when I started, I’m leagues ahead.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve heard my fair share of no’s. I’ve heard discouraging remarks, read hateful comments, and have been on the receiving end of plain old doubts from those I sought support from, the people closest to me in my life. Over the years, I’ve realized several times over, that I don’t need validation to do what I want when it comes to making music. As long as I’m feeling it, as long as I believe in it, as long as I’m brave enough to step out on my faith and take a chance to make something amazing, there’s someone out there who’ll listen to it, and maybe even love it more than I do.
It all takes time, some things happen faster than others and that’s completely fine. It’s also important to support your peers and contemporaries, even if they happen to be moving along faster than you. Envy is easy because being able to look at what someone else has accomplished and compare it to your standing will bring you down faster than you can blink.
Just remember that everything happens when it’s supposed to, so when it feels like you should be further ahead than where you are, use that time to perfect every part of what you’re doing. Tighten up your execution, train your ears to listen for things that would otherwise go over your head, and maybe even listen to genres that are completely different from yours to see what you can pull and utilize for your art.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
Take a break. Step away from what you’re doing and focus on something else. When you’re able to come back with a fresh set of ears and a clear mind, whatever had you stuck will come undone and you’ll be able to work through it with ease.
If that doesn’t work, have someone you trust and someone indifferent to what you do take a listen to it. The indifferent person will give you an objective opinion that’s unbiased about what they’re listening to, while the person you trust will delve deeper with you and work through the issues from a fresh perspective.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @Kaesevyn
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/KaesevynMusic/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@kaesevynmusic353?si=IzqTGEkVH3WuaHRT
Image Credits
AuriYana – @auri.fotos Joella – @photographybyjoellc Pure Power Music – @purepowermusic
