We caught up with the brilliant and insightful JayyGoinUp a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
JayyGoinUp, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
This may sound crazy, but I did NOT know who Michael Jackson was until he died. I was so young, I couldn’t comprehend such talent at like 8 years old. The same night he died, they played the 30th Anniversary Special from 2001. He was performing Billie Jean and that’s when I decided that I wanted to be a performer, not just a vocalist or a dancer but an entertainer. I did every talent show in elementary school as Michael & the adults, even the kids, loved every minute of it & not just because it’s like the post-death of a great entertainer, but I practiced everyday to the point where I got everything down to the T. I was very dedicated to impersonating Michael & I still got it to this day. The talent shows reassured me that I CAN make this happen, I can do this!
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?
Well, to start off my name is Jalen Johnson. 22 years old, I’ve been dancing for about 13 years, singing for 10 years & performing as a professional artist for 11 years now. I became an indie artist in 2013 after branching from my label NuVybe Records ran by Herb Middleton. I took my music career much more serious in high school as I started my songwriting journey there at 16. I wrote my first song called “Voicemail” and posted it on SoundCloud and it currently has 135.6k on there so I had a good approach to the R&B scene around that time. Ever since then, I just been consistently recording, writing & just creating more to perfect my sound. I been mainly focused on having a distinct sound then to have just sonically sounding music. I want people to know that’s me on the song just from a slight hum. I make real love songs & real heartbreak songs so in a nut shell, I make heartfelt music with healing frequencies. The melodies are powerful enough to change the minds of people who are vulnerable to your music, that’s the impact I want to have. A STRONGLY POSITIVE ONE.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
1. Recording & Engineering – As an artist in these times, I think it’s very important for artists who have the patience & ear development to invest in their own equipment for recording at home. I’ve been recording at home for 3 years now and it has saved me thousands & I can get songs done whenever & wherever I want. Helps me build my ear for radio-ready sounding music when I want to start engineering for other artists.
2. The Game
– At the end of the day, the music industry is a business. If you can’t beat em, join em. Sounds cliche but in a nut shell, most labels to have the upper hand to even try to swindle you but they always succeed in the backend. So studying the industry, you know the little things that may help you get around more cautiously could help you and any aspiring artist around you.
3. Time Management
– Use your time wisely. Think like today is all we have & tomorrow is never promised. When you realize what’s been taking up all your time of day, you’ll start to eliminate those blind distractions to really isolate yourself enough to get yourself back on track. How much sleep you get, the time you eat, all this stuff trickles down to you abusing the time you have left & your health depends on these things. Your health is your wealth.
If you’re new to the music world, don’t sweat the small stuff & the negative comments you may receive & if you don’t get any, then maybe you’re just that good of an artist but not everyone will love your work so don’t do it to please anyone but YOU!
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
I create. I either dance, write or sing songs that help me overcome my obstacles. It is much easier said than done but if you don’t try then you’ll be stuck. Life is overwhelming itself, when you develop a mentality where you can just go with the flow knowing GOD handles all the things we can’t here on Earth, things are much clearer to see and you can overcome things much easier due to your relationship with GOD. He already knows what you been thru and what you’re gonna go thru. Don’t take matters into your own hands when times get rough. Turn to GOD.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://solo.to/jayygoinup
- Other: The first link I provided has everything you need.
Image Credits
@Jayycinema @Killaa.visuals
