Today we’d like to introduce you to JR Carter.
Thanks for sharing your story with us JR. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was born August 1st, 1999, in Newark, New Jersey and grew up with only my Nigerian mother providing for me, my two sisters and three brothers. My family moved around a couple of places for a few years before settling in Covington, Georgia. Ever since birth, I was drawn to the arts whether it was music, performing arts, or visual arts. At a young age, everything changed for me when I saw Michael Jackson on tv. I was mind blown and truly felt like I could do what he did, and from that day on I knew what I wanted to be, an artist.
I started by writing songs and singing them but I wanted more, I needed to have full recorded songs but unfortunately I had no access to a recording studio. I saved up some money from allowance and bought a cheap mic on eBay and started recording what I wrote on the family computer using Audacity. I put the songs on SoundCloud and got some mixed reviews because of the quality which led to me upgrading equipment.
In the 9th grade, I got my first laptop and a small studio setup with better quality equipment. The songs I started to release around that time were gaining traction and would gain attention from supporters to labels and managers. Moving to Atlanta around the time I got dropped from college really put me in places where my music could grow and I could build a bigger fanbase. Fast forward to today, I’m working on new content to excel my career, further push my message of “being the best you possible” and inspire the next generation of leaders and creators.
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?
I faced many struggles along my journey but I was born completely deaf in my left ear only leaving me one good ear to navigate me through life but I never saw that as a struggle I always thought of it as a supernatural ability. Other key moments were getting kicked out of the house and also getting dropped from college, but the beauty within that was it helped me realize what I needed to be doing with my life, it created the space to fulfill my purpose.
Growing up, I was in bad environments exposed to both physical and verbal abuse, drugs and just a different way of life, so my personality at first mimicked the environment I was subjected to. You can say I became a product of my environment until later in life I decided I had to change my ways and be a better person in hopes that it inspires others to be good people.
The last key moment was when my music career took a hit because I did bad business with an independent record label and some other people but I quickly learned how to maneuver in this industry by learning the ins and outs of the business and growing as a businessman.
Can you give our readers some background on your music?
I create amazing art! I compose and sing songs of all genres whether it is R&B, Pop, Afro Beats, Dancehall and EDM and I am in the process of finishing up my introductory album with many more to come after.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
My drive and determination are the two most important characteristics that I attribute to my success. I always keep the end goal of being a successful artist in mind whenever I feel deterred! It is very important that you do not give up on your dreams and goals because the day you give up could have been the day that you get your big break.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/artistjrcarter
- Other: https://soundcloud.com/jrcartermusic
Image Credit:
Constantino Borrelli – Instagram @scattered_perception
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