Meet Malachi Jean

We recently connected with Malachi Jean and have shared our conversation below.

Malachi, thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with us today. We’re excited to dive into your story and your work, but first let’s start with a broader topic that might be stopping many of our readers from pursuing their dreams – haters, nay-sayers, etc. How have you managed to persist despite haters and nay-sayers that inevitably follow folks who are doing something unique, special or off the beaten path?

I persist by realizing that people are going to critique everything you do. Knowing that, I might as well be successful while they say what they have to say. Being unapologetically yourself and growing within that mindset helps fuel this mindset. It doesn’t matter if you’re doing good or bad, people will still talk, so I might as well win. Give them something to look at while I persist towards where I know where I’m going to be. Accepting the path towards being the best version of myself and not being bothered by what’s being said and who’s saying it. Every time someone judges or tries to critique me, God continues to bless me with the hope and future he has lined up for me. So why would I stop? People will look at the mistakes you’ve made on the outside, while God will look at your heart and your spirit and use what’s left of you to persist. You can always come back from anything as I’m a walking example.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

My story starts and continues in New York and DMV area. Aside from my 9-5, I’ve found my creative outlets in modeling and DJing. Growing up in Queens, New York then moving to Gaithersburg, Maryland, I was exposed to many different cultures. After having my mother and close friend Brandon Leigh take photos of me, as well as being noticed by H&M, I continued to go down the path of modeling. I was also in the dance community as well, which helped broaden my musical knowledge. I’ve been blessed to work with brands such as New Balance, YCMC, Express, Snipes, Extra Butter, Canva, Daniel’s Leather, -Cide, as well as being published in several independent magazines. I’ll always be thankful for the DMV area for not only introducing me to many art forms and opportunities, as well as family who, to this day, have a special place in my heart.

I’ve also loved seeing people dance and have a good time, releasing my energy through dance. DJing is another way I feel like I’d like to give back to my community, especially moving back to New York where everyone’s a Dj in their own right. House music in particular, has healed me in many ways I can describe and to be behind the decks and share that energy with others means so much to me. I want to communicate with people through my DJing; I want them to feel what I feel. If you’re having a bad day, let the music I spin turn it into a good one. If you’re having a good day, let’s make it a better one. Shoutout to everyone who’s supported me throughout this DJ journey I’m still on. Also, shout out to the OG Sly Wonder, for never giving up on me and helping me realize that I have a lot to offer the world through my music.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

One quality I will say was impactful is my self-reflection. I continue to strive to be the best version of myself and to do that, I need to understand my thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Personal growth has helped me clarify my goals and learn from my mistakes while not being stuck in the “what if” mindset. This has also helped me develop emotional resistance, which has helped guide me through challenges and setbacks. Admitting and forgiving myself for the mistakes I’ve made, while forgiving others, either in-person or silently, has helped improved my decision-making and has given me more confidence in my plans and goals. I would say to those who want to embrace self-reflection on their journey is to practice mindfulness and be kind to yourself. Don’t beat yourself up for the things you did or what you didn’t do. Continue to grow and make those mistakes as it’s apart of your journey. Embrace imperfections, and love yourself. Once you learn how to love and accept yourself, share that love with your peers. Each moment is passing to us is an opportunity to know ourselves.

Another area I will say was impactful was overcoming fear and anxiety. I would always fear the unknown and be scared to take risks or of what people would think. I limited so many opportunities due to fear, as well as made decisions because of fear. Now I embrace fear; I dance with fear as I accept it and let it guide me through my passions and goals. My advice for this if you expect to stop being fearful, you’ll be waiting for a long time. Having courage doesn’t mean you don’t have fear. Accept that you’re scared and make the decision to have that courage to do what you want to do. Keep moving forward and make every day count, even if you’re scared.

Lastly, embracing change is something that was super impactful in my journey. Treating change as a partner in my journey has helped broaden my perspective of many things. Having a willingness to adapt had me fearful of future events. Being conditioned to certain things served as comfort due to it being familiar. Once I got too comfortable, I started getting uncomfortable, like I was being programmed to take the safe route. DJing is a good example because I tried to learn before, but wasn’t confident enough to embrace it and decided to put it off because I was comfortable where I was. I was afraid to fail. Fear of failure and perfectionism is what would block me from embracing change. After failing many times in things I’ve planned, I accepted that we are all imperfect, molded by what we believe we should be. Then I made it a goal to change my perspective and embrace change in my life. I moved back to New York, I met new people, I found new passions. I try to change something every day, even 1% of myself. Because we’re not the same person we were yesterday. My advice is to embrace failure and discover new experiences while rediscovering yourself.

What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?

My biggest area of growth within the past 12 months is putting a stop to bad habits and using that energy towards my goals. Sometimes you have to question yourself and ask how certain habits benefit you. This doesn’t mean a person can’t enjoy themselves, but make sure it’s a legitimate reason and it’s not being a distraction or interference towards your growth.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/malachijean23
• Instagram: @malachijean23
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/djmalachijean

Image Credits

Marz Jones
Aaron Pegg
Brandon Leigh