Meet Jude

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

Jude, 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.

I’ve always known my purpose is rooted in music, but it wasn’t until this past year that I truly understood what I wanted that purpose to do. For a long time, I believed my mission was to spread love with my platform and by means of healing through music, and while that’s still a part of me, everything shifted after I went through a traumatic experience that left me feeling completely shattered and not myself last year.

In that darkness, I had to rebuild myself and I was held together by an incredible circle of women. Women who lifted me, stood with me, and helped me remember my own strength when I couldn’t find it myself. That experience also lit something within me. I found a deeper calling: to empower women through the dark feminine, to help them reclaim their voices, and to push back unapologetically against the patriarchy and everything that tries to silence us.

That fire naturally expanded beyond my passion for empowering women. It fueled another purpose to uplift marginalized communities: the LGBTQIA+ community, people of color, at-risk youth, and anyone who’s been told their power is too much or not enough. I want my music to be a force that reminds people they are limitless, that their rage and their softness are both sacred, and that together, we can build a better future that benefits everyone.

I really aim to channel as much emotion as I can into my songs. Whether it be rage, grief, resilience, gratitude, defiance etc., so people can find themselves and their own healing in any song, whether they’re screaming in their car, crying in their bed, laughing with friends, or flipping off the world before work. If my music empowers someone and simultaneously causes a fragile male ego to combust, honestly, a win is a win.

I’ve never felt more aligned with my purpose as an artist than I do now. I’m committed to using my music as a catalyst for empowerment, healing, and uplifting for the communities that need it most.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

My name is Jude, and I’m a rockstar from Phoenix, Arizona. Growing up, I didn’t really see artists who reflected my story or my struggles, so I make music for the people who want to be unapologetically themselves in the way they feel. For those carrying rage, grief, a haunting subconscious. Emotions that feel overwhelming for whomever is experiencing them and for others to encounter in others. I’m not interested in being palatable. I’m interested in being honest. My art is for anyone who’s ever been told they’re ‘too much’ or ‘not enough.’

Writing music was my lifeline during some seriously dark moments of my life, and now I want my music to be that lifeline for others. My sound is witchy dark feminine meets rock and metal. It’s feels like a spiritual experience when I am writing. I get happily lost in melodies paired with distorted guitar riffs and vivid lyrics. Some of my songs come to me in my dreams, which is either a blessing or evidence that my subconscious is haunted. Either way, it feels like they existed in another dimension before landing on Earth. Quite exciting. Quite dark. Very on brand.

My goal in my music is to empower marginalized communities and make my music emotionally charged in a way that promotes healing while helping people tap into their own dark feminine energy. I love writing it. I love performing it. And right now, I’m focused on my second album, which will be released soon. It’s heavier, louder, and more metal than my first album, and I think fans are going to fall in love with its intensity. Imagine stepping into a dark cathedral lit by guitar riffs and pure emotional chaos. That’s my next album.

And yes, while my music channels a lot of feminine rage, let me be clear: I don’t necessarily hate men. I just understand the societal complexities that come with living in a world where some men’s nonsense tries to shape our lives. That being said, my existence is not for men. My existence is for the girls, gays, and theys. I see you. I hear you. I love you. And I make music for when you need reminding that you are unstoppable.

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?

First: Emotional Honesty.
Being open about my emotions never came naturally. I grew up in a household where showing feelings was seen as weakness. I even hesitated to share my sad songs as a teenager because I didn’t want people to “see me too much.” Now, I wear my emotions like armor. Being emotional is not a flaw, it’s strength. It’s beauty. It makes leadership and art more powerful. Even the hardest feelings like hopelessness, rage, and grief can be harnessed and transformed. Channeling them into music has been one of the greatest gifts of my life. It allows me to understand myself and, more importantly, to give others a space to process, feel, and heal through my songs.

Second: Being Fearless and Taking Risks.
My journey in music has been full of steep learning curves. I’ve spent countless nights frustrated, wondering when I’d make it and reminding myself: I’ll never know if I don’t keep going. Taking risks such as experimenting with sound, performing in a different way, putting myself out there is what builds resilience. Every bold choice, every “what if I fail?” moment, has made me stronger as an artist and as a human. Fearlessness isn’t the absence of fear but moving forward with it.

Third: Community.
Finding my tribe has been essential. As a DIY artist, I do most things myself, without a big team backing me but I’ve been lucky to be surrounded with incredible people. Producers who get my ideas and sound, friends who help with visuals and ideas, and a best friend who’s an amazing videographer supporting me in countless ways. And then there are my fans! My wonderful, badass, beautiful humans who remind me every day that what I’m doing matters. My community is a mix of collaborators, supporters, and fans, and they are the backbone of my journey.

Advice: Making it in music can feel daunting. I am a small artist in a big town and if you find yourself in a similar situation, we can’t let that stop us. You have to be your own hype squad, your own manager, your own cult of one. Experiment until it terrifies you. Collaborate with people who set your world on fire and take calculated risks. Be unapologetically yourself and accept that you won’t fit the mold and that’s a strength, not a flaw. Not everyone will love your music, and that’s okay. You’re not here to please others. You’re here to leave your mark, impact the world, and create art that only you can create.

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?

As an independent artist without a big label, getting my music out fast enough is a challenge but I refuse to wait for someone else to hand me a spotlight. Right now my solution is to post, Post, POST! Hit the shows. Connect on social media. Spread the word by any means necessary. I want my music to be seen, heard, and felt and I’m building that stage myself. Every post, every song, every interaction on social media and in person connection is part of it. It’s messy, exhausting, but will lead to a fulfillment worth every second. This grind is teaching me patience, consistency, and how to balance creating with promoting. Most importantly, I am reminded daily that if I want it bad enough, I have to make it happen.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Avory Lent

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Leadership Development
Where does your self-discipline come from?

One of the most essential skills for unlocking our potential is self-discipline. We asked some

Productivity
Tactics & Strategies for Keeping Your Creativity Strong

With the rapid improvements in AI, it’s more important than ever to keep your creativity

Productivity
Working hard in 2025: Keeping Work Ethic Alive

While the media might often make it seem like hard work is dead and that