We recently had the chance to connect with JC and have shared our conversation below.
JC, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
I recently went to Washington for a meeting with a potential investor and ended up opening for The Commodores. So random! lol
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a singer-songwriter born and raised in Nashville, TN and a resident of Atlanta, GA for almost 20 years. My brand is centered around clean, independent music. I have a full serviced production company, No.2 Pencil Muzik, LLC. I’m a songwriter first, but also an artist, producer, educator, and consultant. I was one of the first in my city to sign a major record deal as an R&B artist which made me vulnerable to a great deal of bad business. I pride myself in helping people “dodge bullets” in this industry.
I’m currently working on the biggest release of my life, after securing major funding for my upcoming releases. My goal is Fall 2025 for the first release through this partnership.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who taught you the most about work?
Both of my parents were extremely hard workers. But being the only boy, my Dad was big on teaching me work ethic. I’ve carried out what he taught me for the majority of my life.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
There’s a lot of suffering in life in general, but especially in the entertainment business. Suffering helped strengthen my spiritual relationship with God and in turn gave me the mindset necessary for staying grounded in such a corrupt industry. It also made me aware of how many of my peers had far more going on than I did. I’ve manage to withstand things that not many would push through.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
Talent still matters. This is the biggest lie of the music industry. Talent is a plus; but money matters. If you don’t have proper funding, you can only get so far. Everything is an algorithm. Streaming pays fractions of pennies. Those who can pay more, play more in this business.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. If you laid down your name, role, and possessions—what would remain?
My influence. I’ve encouraged friends, family, and an abundance of youth to be the best versions of themselves. I’m not a yes man. I challenge the people I love to do better. The values I’ve shared with my loved ones will live on much longer than me, which is something I’m proud about.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.itsyaboyjc.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/itsyaboyjc
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/itsyaboyjc
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/isupportjc
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/itsyaboyjc1
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/itsyaboyjc
Image Credits
– Shawn Renae
– Adrian Williams
