Today we’d like to introduce you to J Cameron.
Hi J, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve always been around music since an early age. My mother used to be a part of a girl’s group in our hometown of St. Louis, Missouri and my uncle is part of a rock band (Concrete God). Growing up both my Uncle and my mother integrated music as a part of my life, so much that they probably did not even realize they were doing so. As a child, hearing my mother sing her favorite artists around the house such as Tony Braxton and Mary J. Blige, I would try to mimic the exact song she would sing. This would spark my interest in singing. I never really thought about recording myself however, this was until I met a friend of mine by the name of Jahreem Johnakin at our middle school Dacula Middle School, Jahreem was a kid who was notable for singing around our school. I was more of the shy type who did not let people know that I liked to or could sing. Jahreem was the only person who knew I could sing and would soon introduce me to the recording process of capturing vocals.
Just as all kids do, we played around with our voices making songs in his home studio but the music never really went anywhere, I think we both always wanted to be stars because we were always popular in school but we just didn’t know how to get our music heard really. Later in life, at ages 18, Jahreem would introduce me to an opportunity to be in a church group led by Gospel Musician Canton Jones. Canton was starting a young Christian group to travel around Atlanta, Georgia to sing and spread praise to God around the city. This experience would increase both me and Jahreem’s curiosity into taking music as little more serious than we ever could have imagined. Touring the city of Atlanta, doing shows, making music videos, we did it all, it was an introduction to the beginning of our music careers. After we split ways with Canton Jones, I went to college at Savannah State University and fell back with my aspiration with music while Jahreem continued pursuing his dream. In 2013 Jahreem had been a part of an R&B group and did some American idol auditions making his rounds throughout the music industry, His persistence would challenge me to get back into thinking of taking my music career serious, but this time I knew I needed a game plan if I was going to get on his level or on the level of the musicians I aspired to be.
In 2018, I began my studying of the music industry, I purchased a MacBook, some KRK speakers, an interface, and a broken Rode NT1-A that Jahreem had given me to start the process of recording myself. After a few months of constant studying of the music industry and all its aspects I began creating my songs, one song in particular stood out one summer. The beat, the melody and the name stood out to me ‘Act Up’. I had gotten the name from a lady I used to work with whom I remember she would always say “boy you gonna make me act up’ anytime I would play her favorite songs at lunch. I knew that ‘Act Up’ was going to be the song I wanted to release to the world and so I did. ‘Act Up’ received notable critiques from do’s around Atlanta and natives surrounding the city. The song would land me mixtape placements, exposure, and a name for myself within the independent underground music scene. Landing myself to network with other music industry professionals and other well-known artists in Atlanta. Seeing that my first single did so well, I continued to do the same formula for my other releases hoping to continue spreading awareness to my songwriting and vocal ability.
Today, I am still in the same work mode, ensuring that my talents are heard and that I rock the music industry as an Independent artist, continuously learning and growing within this field. My goal is clear, show other artists how to win in this industry by standing on their business first and music second and by having J Cameron become a household name one day.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The music industry is tricky, it has its good days and it has its bad days. More bad than good sadly, but it all comes down to how you take everything. The bad experiences in the music industry have to be taken as lessons. There is no room for crying in this industry. Some struggles of course are the late nights working as a Label to ensure your business stays on course with your competition. You also have the constant scammers that try to get money out of you for services that they “sell” or exploit your talents for their benefit. Those are just a few of the struggles I deal with on a daily basis, aside from the late-night recording processes, the difficulty of maintaining healthy relationships, and the mental stress that comes with maintaining your image as an artist. Because that’s what it all boils down to at the end of the day with this music thing, it’s a lifestyle and there really isn’t an off switch once you choose this as a career.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I record music, specifically R&B music.
I am known as J Cameron the R&B Independent Artist from Atlanta, Ga.
I am most proud of everything I have accomplished within my music career thus far due to it mainly being the hardworking and trust I put into myself to ensure I got to the point that I am at today in my career because where belief fails, hard work conquers.
What I would say separates myself from my competition is the fact that I am willing to teach myself everything about this music industry and take chance after chance. Whether that means failure or success doesn’t matter to me. I know the life I chose when I started making music and I knew the risk involved. Going broke being the biggest risk because at the end you are investing in yourself to make the world believe in your talents. I am willing to put behind my own money to the last dime in my pocket to ensure myself and my fans can see my creativity come to life. I move as record label while others wait for a record label to save them. I don’t need saving, I just need to stay focused and never quit. That’s the difference between me and these other artists. Im in it for keeps.
What makes you happy?
Honestly, I’m still trying to answer that question myself. I feel as if music is the closet thing that makes me happy but I still feel like I am searching for that answer, music is my heart but sometimes I feel as if I am searching for something beyond this world to bring me my happiness, I don’t know maybe it’s just the artist within me who knows, but I would say creating music independently and releasing it to the public definitely brings a smile to my face.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jcameronuniverse/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jcameronuniverse/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/jcameronworld?lang=en
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_Q4tngbv4XQNBYC45J14nA
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/jcameronmusic
- Other: https://linktr.ee/jcameronuniverse
Image Credits
Tyreq Goode Anitra Isler
