We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jun Iida a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Jun with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
My work ethic is rooted in a deep desire to create, understand, and execute music at the highest level. The more I dig into this music, the more I recognize that the journey to “success” is, in reality, a battle with ourselves. In a way this is an empowering sentiment, as this means we have full authority and responsibility over our progress and improvement as musicians. While there are tangible goals/accomplishments in our field which can be perceived as competitive markers amongst our contemporaries, I am primarily driven by the belief that I can continue to become a better musician and artist. The more I expand my knowledge and understanding of this art form, the more I recognize the vast profusion of information that still needs studied and mastered. Every day I strive to be a better musician, artist, and human than I was the day before.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
A recording and performing artist, Iida has performed extensively throughout the U.S. and Japan at notable jazz clubs, theaters, and festivals.
Originally from St. Louis, MO, Iida has lived in Seattle, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Los Angeles, and now New York City. Iida has internalized the different styles of music from each region, making his approach to composing and arranging appealing and unexpected with his subtle amalgamation of contemporary jazz, blues, pop, hip-hop, soul, and classical music.
The son of Japanese immigrants, Iida’s mother, a semi-professional koto (Japanese harp) player, had a profound influence on his love of music. Iida says, “My mother was always playing music around the house. She loved all types of music, especially classical, and I spent my formative years listening to Brahms, Tchaikovsky, and Mendelssohn. My mother wanted to make sure we didn’t lose our culture and language, so she also taught us Japanese folk and children’s songs. But I also listened to jazz, blues, soul, rock & roll, and hip-hop, which were all prevalent in St. Louis when I was very young.”
Iida’s debut album as leader, Evergreen, was released January 19, 2024 on Origin Records.
“Iida has a mellow tone and a relaxed style… his wide interests in music and versatility are on display.” – DownBeat
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Having a clear goal – as freelance musicians, we often have a very unclear roadmap of what our professional lives may look like. Additionally, it can be unclear how one wants to pursue their creative and artistic career. For me, it has been important to have a clear goal in mind as I progress through my professional life. “What is the ideal end goal?” “At the end of the day, what do I want to accomplish?” “Do all of my actions day-to-day lead me closer to this goal in some form?” These are all important questions with which I continue to challenge myself on a regular basis.
Positivity – as difficult as it may be, it is important to practice positivity and love, starting with yourself. As artists, we are inherently self-critical and often have many obstacles to overcome. Being kind to yourself & trusting in your craft/work ethic is extremely critical in continuing a successful career. Additionally, being positive and supportive of your peers/bandmates can go a long way. As a famous musician once stated, they may have the numbers of 100 drummers in their phone, but more often than not they will call the drummer with whom they want to play and hang.
Commitment – working as a musician (and particularly as a creative artist), the path is more often than not an uphill battle. There are countless roadblocks and obstacles which we must overcome. On a daily basis we are reminded of the countless number of reasons as to why we should quit. This is when it is imperative to remember why you pursued this life in the first place, and trust in your gift and craft. The pursuit of our goals is a life long journey, and I constantly remind myself that it is a blessing to even have the opportunity to pursue this path.
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
I am currently reading “Conversations In Jazz” by Ralph J. Gleason – this is a compilation of interviews conducted by Gleason, mostly from his Bay Area home, during the height of the musicians’ careers. One quote in particular that has stuck with me is by the great Sonny Rollins, on the topic of playing for audience’s reactions, and reaching the audience with his music. “You’re supposed to always play for yourself. My standards are supposed to be good enough for the masses […]”. At the same time, “Yes, I want to reach people. But […] only if I can satisfy my own level. In other words, I don’t want to reach people at the expense of the music itself.” This is a topic that has always challenged me, particularly in the context of Jazz (or Black American Music). While the art form can often lean esoteric and heady, I believe it is also important to reach the audience, and that these factors do not have to be mutually exclusive.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.juniidamusic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juniidamusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jun.iida.50
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWAusX9GQKnzGIDaItArvRA
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/juniidamusic
- Other: https://juniidamusic.bandcamp.com/
Image Credits
Steve Korn
Tomo Tany
Lisa Hagen Glynn
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
