Check out Jason Billy’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Billy.

Jason, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
In 1998, I moved to Atlanta, Ga from Cape Town, South Africa where I was born and raised during a period of racial segregations called apartheid. My father moved us to Roswell, GA where he started a church. Like so many musicians, I explored my passion for music in church. At the age of 13, I took a liking to the drums, though I was formally trained on the piano. My passion grew over the years and developed into a love for producing. By the time freshman year of high school came around, my friends and I formed a production team called DreamSellaz. I don’t think all of them took as seriously as I did but it was always deep in my heart to find success in the music industry. Needless to say, I stuck with it. As life went on, while trying to navigate my way through the industry, I picked up a job as a tutor for a property developer’s son in Alpharetta, GA. I quickly lateraled into an administrative assistant position in the company and worked my way to CFO in less than two years. Due to a divorce between the owner and his wife, my position was dissolved. That was a major turning point in my life. I understood then, that working for anyone but myself would leave me vulnerable to losing all the time, energy and resources invested in someone else dream. It was never about the money.

To avoid this happening again, I decided to take up photography. I used my skill to bring leverage to my relationships in the music industry. In addition to picking up the camera, I was always advanced in graphic and web design. So with those three skills, I started a company called ProLevel. I wanted to offer both the big leagues and indie markets a professional experience while enhancing visual digital content for those communities.

It wasn’t long before I was commissioned by Yung LA who walked me through the doors of Grand Hustle Studios in Decatur, GA where I was introduced to Atlantic Records’ producer Stroud. Stroud became a friend and mentor to me, even giving me my own office at the studio. I quickly applied my skillset and grew to the studio manager position in less than a year. From there I acquired a variety of skills including the art of event curation, pr, digital marketing and branding, booking and almost every skill a successful manager would have.

Fast forward to seven months ago, I started a movement that marked the beginning of my legacy here in Atlanta. Combining my passion for charity, music and equality, I forged a monthly concert series called BillboardAtlanta which showcases five musical acts from different genres and races. My intention was to teach people to appreciate other cultures and music to push the notion of unity. What makes this event unique and special, is that not only is it free to the public, but for everyone that attends, sponsors donate $10 per person to a charity I started called QuenchAfrica. We build water systems which provide running water to villages, schools, and orphanages in Uganda, Africa. We are currently working on funding our 4th installation. Each install provides over 10 million gallons of water annually, for a lifetime.

Aside from Billboard Atlanta, I am currently working with Label No Genre as an A&R and Chief Marketing Officer. We manage several talented artists such as Tokyo Jetz, Lil Keed, BoB, Katie Belle, Keeyen Martin & More.

My ultimate focus is creating opportunities to unite the people of Atlanta and make the world a better place; one life at a time. I’m working to set the world up to be a better place for our children and generations to follow. I want to be known for my love and faith in Jesus as well as my fellow humans. I want to see everyone WIN.

We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I create relationships and situations for people to learn about other cultures and races around them. I want to teach people how to love over hate and that they have more in common with their fellow humans than they thought.

I do this through concerts, graphic design, photography, production, videography, and management.

The stereotype of a starving artist scares away many potentially talented artists from pursuing art – any advice or thoughts about how to deal with the financial concerns an aspiring artist might be concerned about?
NO EXCUSES! Sacrifice sleep and work till you don’t have to.

Uber, Lyft, Deliver pizzas. Whatever you have to do to be your own investor.

My #1 financial success comes from Tithing at church. God has blessed my seeds and I eat off that harvest DAILY!

Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
People can see my work at the following Instagram accounts:

@billboardatl
@jlabilly
@prolevelphotography

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @jlabilly; @billboardatl; @quenchafrica; @prolevelphotography

Image Credit:
@prolevelphotography

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