Meet Serrin Joy

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Serrin Joy. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Serrin below.

Serrin, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
Honestly, I think it comes from genuinely enjoying what I do. The arts have never felt like a chore to me, which is why it has never been an interference to myself committing to studio time for long hours on days, rehearsing and sharpening crafts, planning out marketing strategies for myself, putting together productions, etc. My work ethic when it comes to the arts has always come natural to me, because while yes it is work, I’m having a good time while doing it.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
My name is Serrin Joy, and I am originally from Akron Ohio. I come from a very musical family, and as the oldest of five my siblings and I have always been very close. My father is in the gospel industry and my mother is a classical pianist and former pageant girl. Growing up, my siblings and I grew very used to hearing different styles of music around the house from jazz to classical, rock, pop, gospel, etc. We all sing and play instruments as well. Around the age of 14 years old, I began recording myself in my home studio and posting YouTube singing covers online. I would record demos at home everyday after school for hours on end. I was really honing in on my craft, writing songs, recording content for my instagram, rehearsing to karaoke tracks as if I was performing live shows, etc. I was a very ambitious girl, in a small town that holds a lot of talent, but not as many major opportunities as I wanted for myself.

Since attending my hometown alma maters, (Miller South School for the Visual and Performing Arts, Firestone High School: Akron School For The Arts), I relocated to New York City in 2019 to pursue my education in Musical Theatre at the American Musical & Dramatic Academy. While attending campus, I went to school during the day and performed in various open mics at night. In 2020, I got the opportunity to perform with Women of Color on Broadway with Tony Award winning actresses Lachanze and Melba Moore as well as I became the first person from the city of Akron to compete on American Idol. I was 18 years old at the time and very excited for what was to come! I got three yes’s, advanced to Hollywood week and was eliminated during Hollywood week, although, I didn’t let that stop me. I began putting out music of my own, and I noticed within the first four months of releasing music, I had 6,000 listeners a month on Spotify off of one song! (“Pull Up”). I then returned to my college in New York City to continue my training and I graduated from my two year program with my Associate’s Degree. I then relocated to Atlanta, and I landed a job working for the Coca Cola Company on the entertainment staff. I was going to work during the day and performing in open mics at night just trying to network my way around the city. Through networking from one of my open mic clips on my Instagram, I landed myself a role working in the studio with Ne-Yo, Zae France, Layton Greene and received my first label opportunity as an artist. I also got to work on my first set of films in Atlanta, (The Color Purple, Fantasy Football.) These opportunities led me to quit my job to pursue my dreams, which was a huge test of faith.

As much as I want to say everything afterwards just came so easily, there were definitely still some real life situations at hand. Between figuring out housing & transportation for some months, I kept pushing. I continued to build my modeling portfolio, post singing clips from shows and I even started performing in competitions which provided financials that were needed for me at the time. It was in these moments where I was no longer performing just for fun, I was performing to eat. At the end of 2022, I was presented with my second label opportunity to which I signed and relocated to Los Angeles. I now at 21, am back in school working towards my bachelors degree in Fine Arts, attending school during the day and featuring in shows at night. I rehearse everyday and I am releasing new music this year! I’m so excited for what’s to come in my life.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
You know the crazy thing is, as much work as I’ve been acknowledged to do, I’m no where close to where I want to be at all. I would say as far as my journey thus far goes, I’ve learned that one, closed mouths don’t get fed. When I walk into a show or studio, I walk in with a motive. I walk in knowing my purpose for being there, whether that is to perform or just to network with others. In knowing my end goal for attending such events, my approach to collaborate with artists, plugging my music in with Dj’s, introducing myself in studios, etc, is very direct. Know what you want before you attend, so that when you’re in the room, you know what to say. People don’t know what you don’t tell them! Always remember that in every relationship. I also recommend learning chess. I have recently and it’s molded my thinking process in a way where I look at all of my options before making impulsive statements or decisions which has helped in these rooms.

Second, I would say to not let minor inconveniences throw you off. I would say I’m a very spiritual individual, and I believe that what God has for you is already for you. You just have to walk in your passion and I believe that will lead you to your purpose. There have been many times where I have wanted to book something so bad! I just knew the role was for me, but God knew that he had something greater. For example, last year I had auditioned for a regional theatre production of “The Color Purple” in Atlanta. I had received a callback for Nettie, and it wasn’t until I got into the audition space that I realized I had been rehearsing to the wrong track, and naturally, I didn’t get the part. I was bummed at myself for thinking I had done the preparation I needed to do for the show. Maybe two weeks later, I saw an advertisement for “The Color Purple” the movie and I had sent in my application. I ended up booking the movie! Through networking, I worked my way up from just being an extra, to being featured and asked to be a stand in for Taraji P. Henson throughout filming. This was the first movie that I was a part of, and I didn’t see it coming at all, but it was what God had for me. I’m also aware that we naturally as people, tend to compare ourselves to lifestyles that we are not ready for… read that again. In knowing that what God has for you is already for you, also know that he doesn’t give you things that you aren’t ready for. Look at the legacy of stars! The only difference between them and yourself is the amount of work that has been put in. I always keep that in mind. My journey is mine.

Lastly and I learned this most recently, I would say to always remember that you can’t please everyone. When it comes to music, there is such a wide range of genres, styles and most importantly, listeners. There are those who prefer jazz music over everything, some who only listen to rap, some who only listen to singers that riff and run, and even those who prefer the more acoustic side of singing. When presenting my own music to others, I always find it so interesting listening to their opinions and then proceeding to listen to their taste in music which furthermore explains why they feel more attracted to certain styles of mine. I’ve learned that there is always going to be someone who loves what you do, as well as there will always be someone who isn’t your biggest fan. Regardless, be you and appreciate those who are on the same wave. Grow with who grows with you.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I like to work with people who I see have the same drive and work ethic as myself. So many times I will get DM’s from people who want to work with me, but don’t put the work in for themselves. I love collaborating with dope artists who are constantly sharpening their crafts, and would still have things going for themselves if I wasn’t to play a role. Personality wise, I like to have fun on the job, but I also know when to separate time for fun and my time to work. I have been told that I work very fast, whether it’s me writing verses, recording songs or teaching parts to musicians for shows. Being a musician myself, and having grown up around musicians, I know what I want to hear, and I know when someone is “half doing it”. I don’t tolerate that at all because we never know when it’s our last time to use our gifts. Even when in my studio sessions, I’m very direct on how I want my reverb to sound, when I want the beat to drop out, how I want my EQ’s, etc. I would say I’m very technical.

I think the best approach to working with me, is not coming off as an opportunist. I think I could say for any artist, nobody wants to feel as if they wouldn’t be acknowledged had they not done “x,y,z,” in their lifetime. I like working with my friends and people that I have genuine connections with. Even if our first time meeting is working together, I want to feel a good vibe around whoever I’m working with. There are so many people on my social media that we support one another, whom I would love to work with. I like nice people, to laugh and have a good time. Major points if you have some years of training on your belt!

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Natey Nukez Ethan Milner

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