Today we’d like to introduce you to Jujuan Thorn.
Hi Jujuan, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Jujuan Thorn, keyboardist, DJ and producer, was born March 26, 1993 in Flint, MI to Kenneth Thorn & Zondra Thorn. I began my musical journey at the age of 10, playing drums for the Cornerstone Missionary Baptist Church. In the 7th grade at Flint Southwestern Academy, I went to the school counselor and placed myself in band class as a percussionist under the direction of Reginald E. Page–without my parents’ permission.
In the 8th grade, I was forced to learn and play melodic percussion simply because no one else would do it. From that, I fell in love with music theory and began to develop a serious work ethic. I absorbed things extremely fast, and my band director considered me to be a prodigy.
In 2008, I was introduced to Jazz music. My band director gave me the opportunity to play my first “gig” with him at a big dinner showcasing my improvisational skills on the vibraphone that year.
I went on to win “best freshman” in band that year. In 10th grade (09’), he became assistant section leader of the drumline. I became Junior Drum Major in 11th grade and Head Drum Major in the 12th. I placed first as a Drum Major in every marching competition during his marching band tenure (5+ competitions), and in every year of high school, I was awarded “Best in Class- Instrumental Musician”.
I also participated in the Michigan School for Band & Orchestra (MSBOA) Solo & Ensemble festival during my last two years in high school, earning the highest score of a “superior” rating at the district and state levels both times.
Utilizing my knowledge of music theory, I began teaching myself piano & organ in 2011. After two years, I ended up playing for New Jerusalem Full Gospel Baptist Church as the church organist in October of 2013. I still remain as the organist there. Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to accompany the likes of Gospel recording artists Detrick Haddon, Briana Babineaux, Jessica Reedy and many more. Playing alongside the legendary Jeffrey LaValley (who has won a grammy for his writing credits on Kanye West’s ‘Jesus Is King’ album with the song ‘Selah’) at New Jerusalem FGBC every week has been paramount to my musical career, with Jeffrey being one of the biggest influences in my musical career.
I began to learn the skill of DJing in 2017 after being influenced primarily by DJ Jazzy Jeff. In 2018, I began to focus on producing and writing my own music.
As of today, I serve as the Music Program Coordinator at the Sylvester Broome Empowerment Village, where I teach the music production & DJ class while simultaneously running the Antidote Studio in the same building. In the studio, I engineer and produce for many local artists. The Antidote Studio has become a staple in the Flint area.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Anything worth obtaining will always have its fair share of challenges. Especially in music. There were times where I didn’t know what my next move was going to be in music. At the age of 19 in the beginning of my piano journey, one of my mentors who was helping to teach me piano passed away during a church service on the organ. I had no idea what I was going to do next, but God made a way!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a musician, producer & DJ. I simply consider myself a Vibe Dealer (lol). Depending on where you meet me, you may know me for being any one of these things. My people from the church community know me as a pianist/organist. I’m DJing all the time, so there’s that group of people who know me as a DJ. Then, there’s me as a producer/engineer. I operate primarily in the Hip-Hop, R&B, and Pop music genres as far as production, but I’m not “boxed-in” to those genres. I’m open to creating all music. I feel that I’m most known for my musicality & feel in all of the lanes I operate in as a musician, DJ and producer. Above all things, you’re going to feel me. I think that’s what separates me as well. I’m bringing the feel and knowledge of a musician to all of those lanes. I’m currently focused on producing full projects for artists so that I can show what I’m really capable of, while continuing to create a name for myself. I’m most proud of the fact that I’m starting to get some traction outside of the Flint city limits. I’m in Chicago & New York quite a bit these days, and the music community in those places really respect and love what I’m doing out here musically. Big cities can be hard to create a name for yourself, because the bar is set so high. I’m learning that I can really hang with the big dogs.
Huge shoutout to Jeffrey LaValley, Maryum Rasool, the whole team at SBEV and the Antidote studio for helping me to live out my dream.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love the culture of Atlanta. I love the food there too. It’s really the land of opportunity, and I can’t wait to have some life-changing moments in ATL. I’m speaking that into existence.
As far as Flint, I love the culmination of creative individuals that reside here. It’s unlike any other place I’ve been. I dislike the lack of resources here.
Contact Info:
- Email: Jujuan@sbev.org
- Website: www.antidotestudio.org
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/_vibedealer
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mymagicjuan/
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/my_magic_juan
Other: www.vibedealer.us
Image Credits
KT Kanazawich Shayan Bawaney
