Today we’d like to introduce you to Juss Singn.
Hi Juss, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Thanks for having me! I am Juss Singn, a singer/songwriter here in Atlanta. I moved to Atlanta from the DMV. I am Dominican and my Afro-Latina culture has heavily influenced my Caribbean/ Afro beat sound. While growing up, I have always loved to dance! I would dance to all types of music but mostly Latin and African music. Pairing this love with my first love for singing is what I do best and I have never let fear or anxiety get in the way of me putting on a great show.
Faith over fear has been the theme of my life. I grew up in a spiritual and religious household, so having faith was a big topic growing up. That’s why I have such strong faith and belief in myself today. I know I was born for greatness, I know I was born to overcome, I know I was born to inspire, I know I was born a light, and I know I was born to be free. My mom tells me the story of how I used to step on my tippy toes as a baby and start dancing while singing with a spoon to my mouth. I laugh every time I hear that story. She says that’s when she knew I was a star, that very moment. She also tells the story of how I was always looking for talent in order to create a girl’s group for my elementary school talent shows every single year. I remember hosting rehearsals for each show in my driveway and being super strict when it came to every dance move and the way lyrics were sung. I wanted to put on an amazing show, and I did every time. Throughout my whole education, preschool, elementary, middle school, high school, and college career, I never missed a chance to showcase my talent. Every family gathering, cookout, and function there I was singing. So I knew I had it in me.
As I mentioned earlier, I am an overcomer. And even though I showed courage getting in front of people to sing and dance, I knew I was overcoming something much greater; anxiety. I didn’t let that stop me because I had so much love and passion for my artistry. I didn’t really know much about anxiety or panic attacks until later on in life. I saw my dad go through it, and that’s how I learned how crippling it could be. He also showed me just how much of a fighter he was. We had that in common, my passion was much stronger than my anxiety. Little did I know that my own journey with anxiety and panic attacks later in life was gonna lead me to a crossroads that would inspire me to create a mental health brand called WE-SACRED, which is coming into light this year in 2024.
Even though I didn’t major in performing arts In college, I spent most of my college career doing musical theater, choir, talent shows, and many productions. I could not get away from it because it was what I loved and what I was meant to do. Society puts so much emphasis on college and getting into debt for an education, but the reality is you are never really guaranteed the opportunity to make money once you graduate. After graduating college in Maryland, I wanted a whole new start. After going through a very hard breakup and losing one of my closest friends to a very sudden death, I took my oldest brother’s offer and moved down to Atlanta with him. It was a scary thought at first, but once again my faith overpowered my fear and I made the move.
It was difficult finding a job that would pay me what I deserved. I went through so many jobs, and it started to get very old after a while. My brother introduced me to multi-level marketing business that offered personal growth and development seminars. I quickly started to dream again and learned about building the life I wanted. That really sparked something in me and reminded me that I was made for much more than just working a 9-5. The busy business of life and having to take care of bills and responsibilities can really stop you from dreaming and realizing that you can do whatever it is you want and put your mind to. We forget about our child like ability to dream and believe in ourselves.
My brother and I shared a similar interest, and that was music. He loved freestyling, and I loved to sing. When we were kids my parents used to always have us perform in front of the family, it never failed. So, every chance we got, we did just that. On every road trip to the personal growth and development seminars, we would put on a show for his team, and it was awesome! So, I kept building, working, learning, and singing. I had a moment one day where I wanted to decide if I really wanted to become a singer once again and realized that I was in my head about the industry and how dark it could be, which also deterred me. More doubts, anxiety, and excuses kept creeping in once again.
About a year later, I was encouraged by a very special person in my life to start a TikTok account and start singing on there. He saw how much talent I had, and he always affirmed me. He would let me know how much of a light I was and that I could do whatever it was I wanted to do in life. Apparently, TikTok was the next big thing at the time. I had no social media at all, so I didn’t know what to expect. I did think that it would be a great outlet while working a full-time job, and it would allow me to showcase my talent as well. So I finally decided to get out of my head and post my very first video. I really liked that I was able to do what I loved and feel free while doing it. I started a slogan after every one of my singing videos. I would say Juss Singn after every video. It started to catch on. This name stemmed from the concept of getting out of my own head and never allowing intrusive negative thoughts and anxiety stop me from doing what I was made to do. It encouraged me to stop overthinking and act upon whatever it was I wanted to do. I loved this, and I continued to post.
There was one year where I really wanted to get my mom something great for Mother’s Day, and I just couldn’t think of anything. I called up my big bro, hoping to get some ideas. He suggested that I write mom a song. I thought it was a great idea, but I had never written a song in my life. I thought it would be a great gift if I could sing an original song for her, so I took the challenge. To my surprise, it wasn’t a challenge at all. I couldn’t believe how natural I felt writing on top of an instrumental I picked out. That day I discovered I had a whole new talent, I felt great.
With this new discovered talent, I started writing nonstop. I wrote on TikTok, and I wrote originals. It became my therapy; I wrote no matter how I was feeling. Happy, sad, regretful, ashamed, through every emotion. I wrote when I wanted to encourage myself or be transparent. My first single Carpe Diem (Seize The Day) was actually written during a time where I was feeling low and needed to uplift and reaffirm myself. Little did I know my transparency and vulnerability was soon gonna start an inspirational movement.
I took a leap of faith, once again choosing faith over fear, and invested in myself. I went to the studio and recorded Carpe Diem (Seize The Day) and No Pride with Suave, an amazing producer here in Atlanta. After that first session, I was encouraged to make my TikTok slogan my artist name, Juss Singn. Yes, I had these songs recorded, but it was like I was holding them hostage. I would show them to my friends and family, but never really worked up the courage to release them. Until one family tragedy changed my life forever.
I am the second oldest of nine, and one of my younger brothers was shot and killed; it changed everything. About 3-4 months before I got this news, I had shown him Carpe Diem (Seize The Day), and he asked me, “Why haven’t I released yet?” And I didn’t have an answer for him. But I knew what I had to do. I would have never thought that was gonna be the last trip to Maryland where I was gonna be able to see him on this earth again. When I got the news, my whole world stopped, and I went back home to Maryland to be with my family for a while and had the funeral. This type of pain is one that no one can explain. Even though I was going through this, I knew what had to happen next. I would have to go harder than ever to honor my brother, and that’s what I did.
I went back to Atlanta, and with the help of my manager Leo Free and his production team at Linc Productions, I released my first single, CARPE DIEM (Seize The Day) and No Pride soon after. I had made my decision. Life is so precious and short! It doesn’t matter how long it takes and how much work I will have to put in; I will go for my dreams the way my brother JC wanted me to. I know that he is always with me on my journey, guiding me. I decided that I was gonna pursue my independent artist career without fear. Overcoming whatever obstacle may come my way: anxiety, full-time job, industry, doubt, etc. That’s what I’ve been doing, and that is what I continue to do. Right now, I have a movement going with my single Carpe Diem (Seize The Day), and I am getting closer and closer to inspiring billions of people. With the help of my team at Linc Productions, my music video will soon be coming out this year, 2024. It is only up from here. My manifestations are becoming a reality because I believe. This is my year!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, my journey has not been smooth, and I am grateful that it hasn’t. Without overcoming anything in life, there is no story or testimony. I am happy to say I have overcome anxiety, and I am still overcoming it to this day. It has shaped me into the strong and faithful person I am today. Panic attacks, negative intrusive thoughts, not feeling good enough, overthinking, beating myself up over and over again, etc. The mind is a powerful thing. There is not enough mental health awareness, and I will change that. I’m proud to say that my own journey with anxiety and panic attacks in life has led me to a crossroads that inspired me to create a mental health brand called WE-SACRED, which is coming to light this year in 2024.
The loss of my younger brother was the biggest obstacle of all. You could never prepare yourself for anything like that. Losing a close family member is one of the biggest pains you will ever feel. Every day, I choose to overcome and go for my dreams in honor of my brother. The only promise we have is that nothing is promised. Today is all we have; tomorrow is not promised. It would be easy to stay down and give up, but I choose not to. LONG LIVE DINERO, this is our year bro. I miss and love you very much!
Going for my dreams while overcoming the busy business of a 9-6 lifestyle is an obstacle within itself. I choose to continue to build each and every day. I have been a busy worker bee since I was 15. So trust me when I say financial freedom is key. Those who have the same mindset understand what I mean. So I continue to share my music and share my story no matter where I go and where I am. Yes, social media is an awesome way to market yourself, but word of mouth is often taken for granted. I connect and network all the time, just one of the many good habits I picked up when exposed to multi-level marketing.
Lastly, I have been an obstacle for myself throughout my journey as well. There have been plenty of times where I was in my own way but wasn’t aware of it. We can easily be in the way of our own greatness and that’s why it’s good to be present and reflect. Put any pride or ego aside and look at ourselves in the mirror. It can be hard to admit that you’re wrong or you’re the problem, but it’s necessary.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am an Afrobeat/Caribbean artist and singer/songwriter in Atlanta. I love to dance and incorporate my Afro-Latina culture/Island vibe to my sound. I also love to be transparent and vulnerable in the way I write to where people can relate and get inspired by my music. My single, “Carpe Diem (Seize The Day)”, was written and recorded during a time when I needed to uplift myself and encourage myself to keep moving towards my dreams no matter what life throws at me. At the time, I was dealing with a lot of anxiety and self-criticism. I was in my head so much that it was actually paralyzing me. I would convince myself and makeup excuses as to why I couldn’t do something. I got tired of being sick and tired. So I was done talking and started doing. I have a Carpe Diem (Seize The Day) movement happening right now where people are using my sound on social media. The highest human act is to inspire and that’s what I intend to do by posting my song until I inspire billions of people. The word is spreading, and I’m excited. This is all because I’ve been marketing non-stop and sharing my music everywhere. One of the most important things to remember is if you don’t believe in yourself, nobody else will. So, I’m excited for my growth. I have the music video for Carpe Diem (Seize The Day) coming out this year, 2024.
I wrote and recorded my second single, “No Pride,” soon after. “No Pride” really came about me feeling prideful and not being able to take criticism. I wanted to grow, but I wasn’t being the sponge I needed to be. Sometimes, we get in the way of our own greatness. It was a song to remind myself to get out of my own way. This was such a crucial lesson for me to learn. I released this single towards the end of 2022 and have started a marketing campaign.
My music is my therapy. I have overcome a lot of anxiety and obstacles in my life, and I’m most proud of the fact that I keep moving no matter what because of my faith. Faith over fear every time, that’s my choice. Making choices every day is the key. It doesn’t matter what has already happened, what matters is what you do next. Deciding to be resilient, deciding to forgive yourself over and over again, deciding to renew your mind each and every minute of your day if you have to. I want people to know that it’s ok to use your own setbacks or shortcomings as inspiration. You never know who you will touch or inspire. It’s good to get out of your own head and be free. When you eliminate all self-judgment that’s when you’re truly free.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Self-belief is the most important quality or characteristic to my success as an artist and creative. If you don’t believe in yourself, no one else will. There’s no room for doubt on this path. Yes, do I sometimes have setbacks or times when I overthink things? Of course, but it’s about continuing forward and not letting those down times keep you down. Belief in one’s art will be the determining factor for success.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juss_singn?igsh=MXhnbjU2ZXFyeWFiMA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@juss_singn?si=RP_mvoQ9GKZZJaLX
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@juss_singn?_t=8j2VCnEhGOo&_r=1
Image Credits
Linc Productions
