Today we’d like to introduce you to Jasmine Janai.
Jasmine, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’ve always loved music. Before I could talk, I was singing Lauryn Hill. When I was a kid, I was in the Phoenix Children’s Choir for a couple of years. We traveled to Russia once. My mom put me into guitar lessons when I was around 5, and in 7th grade, I joined the School of Rock in Boise, ID. They would match kids together and help the start a band, and get little gigs around the city. I was lead singer and I played guitar sometimes as well. I moved back to Phoenix, AZ for high school and I started playing volleyball and basketball so I kind of got too busy for music. I still had my guitar and I would play and sing to myself, but only a few people knew that I liked to sing. I have extremely bad stage fright also so it was really hard for me to sing in front of people. I got a full ride scholarship to play volleyball in Utah after high school, I had been recording myself singing in my bathroom for like a year and had been putting them on my youtube and Soundcloud channel. After my first year of college, I decided I wasn’t happy and that I felt like I could do something special with my life but I wouldn’t know if I didn’t try. So I left and moved to Atlanta to pursue what I really wanted to do.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s definitely not been easy. I didn’t really think things through as far as what I would do when I got to Atlanta. I had never been in the real world before, had a job, or stayed on my own. So I was sleeping on a lot of couches, and in my car (which barely worked) and just trying to find some stability for not only my life but with my music as well. It was hard being 19 and trying to navigate in this music business as a woman. A lot of the times I didn’t feel comfortable. I felt like I couldn’t focus on my craft because I didn’t have a safe space for to create. I ran into several scamming managers who really didn’t have my best interest at heart. It also put a bit of a strain on my relationship with my parents for a while. I sort of quit and moved out of the blue so I know they were worried.
Please tell us about Jasmine Janai.
I am a 22-year-old singer/ songwriter from Phoenix, Arizona. I write music from my experiences as a young, carefree woman in her early 201’s trying to figure this life thing out. Sometimes I feel like I don’t know what I’m doing, sometimes I doubt myself but I never give up, and I always keep pushing, and I feel like a lot of people will be able to relate. I talk about what really goes on in my life. I write songs for girls who are tired of the double standards regarding sexuality. Nothing makes me more angry than when someone tells me I can’t do something, or tries to shame me for something just because I’m a woman. I’m known for being really tall (6’0) my acoustic videos and having a sultry vibe to my voice. My music is in the middle of alternative, r&b, and House.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Never giving up, and always believing in yourself and the universe. I don’t believe in coincidences. I know that everything happens for a reason. So if I can dream it or think it, it can become a reality. I think the strongest and most successful people just never gave up. I always stay grateful for everything I have even if I’m not where I ultimately want to be.. I’m on the way there. I’m a perfectionist too so I feel like that helps sometimes.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 6024693786
- Email: jasminejanaimusic@gmail.com
- Instagram: jasminejanai_
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/JasmineJanai_
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3BEpvp8APXVaSmxsH5_n-Q?view_as=subscriber
Image Credit:
IG: Keno_yeeno
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