Today we’d like to introduce you to JaaLa.
Hi JaaLa, 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?
At the age of 13, I was introduced to the studio life through my sister’s schoolmate and fell even more in love with music and its artistry. I started performing at the age of 16 and have been on this music journey of finding myself ever since. There have been ups and downs, pauses and unpauses, children and schooling, work and college degrees, but I could never shake my love of music.
So here we are, years later, FINALLY being confident in who I am and my purpose! JaaLa; singer/songwriter! No more doubt, maybe a little comparison here and there (if I’m being honest lol)… but COURAGE to keep going no matter what! I can’t wait to see where God takes me next! Music is my life and I’m honored to be used as a vessel to spread light and love!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Well being a mom on this journey wasn’t a breeze. This brought on a couple of those pauses mentioned earlier. But I wouldn’t trade my boys for the world! They’ve helped me to be who I am. They’ve grounded me, brought me back to God and added to my sense of purpose and my drive! It’s because of them that I stuck it out and finished my bachelor’s degree in music education! I’m FOREVER grateful for my blessings! It’s through this “pause” that I discovered more of myself musically in school and interacting with other musicians so I believe it was God’s way of fine-tuning my gift!
Another rocky moment was when I lost my voice for an ENTIRE year! Yes, and entire year! I made the top ten of an Instagram vocal competition led by Wanya Morris of Boyz II Men which led me to being in Las Vegas’ dry air. My voice had never experienced such dry air which caused my voice to undergo a series of vocal fatigue moments where my voice went out, where I couldn’t hit my high falsetto notes anymore, where I couldn’t really sing at my best and I had to constantly adjust my vocal melodies to accommodate before my vocal fatigue kicked in… all while teaching middle schoolers how to sing in their head voice, a voice I could no longer access. It was VERY stressful and depressing, but I made it through!! A year later, rest and vocal therapy, and I’m back! Thank God!
And lastly, I experienced my first ever writer’s block! In all the years I’ve been singing and writing, I’ve NEVER had writer’s block. And as soon as I rebranded and birthed my new artist name, BOOM! Writers block. I couldn’t produce any new music to represent the evolution of my new artist’s name and what it stood for. I was shook! But I kept at it, kept singing, posting my reels, and performing, trusting God… and BAM! Writer’s block was squashed and the beginning process of a new song was birthed in the presence of my audience at a live show! God works in mysterious and miraculous ways. So be on the lookout for that! I’m excited!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a singer/songwriter. My voice is my first instrument, but I also play guitar. You’ll most times see me with a guitar while I’m performing.
I’m most proud of my consistency as of late that is keeping me focused and aiding in my supporter’s growing as I spread light and love through my music.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
The main lesson I learned during Covid was how real God is and how much He will do to get His people’s attention from all the distractions of this world. I got really close to Him during Covid and I’m grateful. It also taught me that EVERYONE has greatness inside of them and we don’t have to settle for less. We can create the greatness we want to see by doing what we’ve been born to do!
Contact Info:
- Website: officiallyjaala.com
- Instagram: www.Instagram.com/officiallyjaala
- Youtube: www.YouTube.com/officiallyjaala
Image Credits
Montyangelo Productions She Shoots Photography
