Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jalen Jaleel. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Jalen, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
My purpose found me. It found me at a very early age. My purpose has always been to be a griot. A storyteller. As a child, my mother gave me a book full of black children’s stories and sometimes read them to me. I still have the book to this day. The book sparked something. I watched movies growing up and would perform the scenes in the movies for the adults. It sparked something. I grew up watching my dad sing and perform on stages in places that I had never been to before. It sparked something. As I grew to hone in on my talents of writing, singing, acting and dancing, I was able to clearly see how my purpose of storytelling would manifest through them. The spark became a flame. It continues to grow still.
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 am a Singer/Songwriter, Actor, Model originally from Raleigh, NC by way of Baltimore, MD. I currently reside in Los Angeles, CA!
As an Actor, I just finished a project with actress/director Nina Lee, based in ATL. The project is entitled “A Secondhand Lonely” – a film about 4 people in a video game-like world where they can win by finding love but each character keeps getting played by falling for the person that is the worst for them! I am excited for everyone to meet the character that I play. Brandon! A Scorpio player from ATL who is a talented painter.
As a Singer/Songwriter, I am currently working on my first project entitled “WAVES” and I am excited to have this project shared with the world this Spring! It is a Contemporary R&B project that explores the different “waves” and stages of love and relationships. Sonically inspired by artists like Usher, Ro James, Frank Ocean and of course introducing my own sonic wave as an artist!
In the interim, check out my singles “Cut It Off”, “4 U”, “In This World” and “All on U” which are all available on streaming platforms!
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?
Passion. Self awareness. Self discipline. These three things I believe were most impactful to me on my journey and I believe will continue to be because I’m still at the very beginning of my journey.
The sheer passion for all things creative was in me before I even realized it. It will always be.
Self awareness was always a prominent quality for me. It wavered at times during adolescence like it did for most of us but I always easily found my way back to myself. That quality is extremely important in life in general but even more so in the business of entertainment.
Self discipline to this day is an area of improvement for me. Some days, I just don’t feel like it. Whatever the “it” is. But I’m always reminded how that is a quality many of the greats that I revere had. This year I’ll show myself just how far being focused and disciplined will take me!
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
The most important things that my parents did was to simply be themselves. My parents are lovers of music and the arts. My dad exposed me to the recording and performing of music early. He was my very first music producer and produced my very first song as well as my first live set! My mother was a drum major in a marching band while pregnant with me. I was literally exposed to live music and instruments before I was even born. My parents made it a priority to show up for me and continue to do so to this day!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.JalenJaleel.com
- Instagram: JalenJaleel
- Facebook: Jalen Jaleel
- Twitter: JalenJaleel_
- Other: TikTok: JalenJaleel
