We recently connected with Jared Cabrera also known as Hovvrad (pronounced “How-rad”) and have shared our conversation below.

Jared, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Has your work ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized?

Ever since I started creating art, there has always been a talk about how I can create at the speed and level I can. On top of this people think the brand “Hovvrad Studios” is multiple artist or people but it is not, everything is coming from me. It sucks to see how the mainstream acts can be lifted up when they would not be able to do their work without the help of 15 other people. The idea that one artist can bring themself up as if a record label can without the help of other artist is not here in the artspace. As a queer brown artist I strive to shift the way artist are appreciated and seen.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Jared Cabrera, I’m from the Inland Empire and I run a solo creative studio/record label. I create what I would coin is cyber rap, the fusion of funk, rap, and dark growling synths. I also create all the visual art for the projects, all the art lives within a 3D world I call “HovvyWrld”. My inspiration comes from the early grind and mentality Kanye west had when people told him he could not do something he would go out and double down on why that doubt was wrong. My art comes from a place of wanting to be in my own lane and world, the queer art space I was in for a few years for painting and writing my book, and figured out it was not about what story I had, it was about how much skin or erotic energy I could give. My focus is to show artists like me, that you do not need to lean on others, take some time away from the world, disconnect from the internet space, and lock in on what makes that younger you happiest. My goal for my art is to showcase the happiness of multi-media power. You know how that quote goes, ” A jack of trades is a master of none” but most times we forget there is a line that follows that I will die by. It goes, ” A jack of all trades is a master of none but oftentimes better than a master of one.” I am jack. Bear cave boys in the mix.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I had to unlearn that being a queer artist does not by any means, mean one needs to be a sexual demon for the public eye. Queer art and the space is incredibly toxic in how it lifts up artist they deem important. I was an artist at the Tom of Finland foundation when I was 22, from this time around “the best” at my age I was able to step back and understand that this is where my art will die along with my self image, and mental.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I cannot go a day without creating something, if I can not I tend to not be as happy or ready to be around people. Creating art is what would be considered to most as like a journal entry, a little reminder, or even that cup of coffee in the morning. Creating art brings me the most joy in this life, the learning of multiple mediums, the failures, the wins. This is literally my life force.

Contact Info:

• Website: Hovvradstudios.com
• Instagram: @hovvrad
• Youtube: youtube.com/Hovvrad

Image Credits
All Rights Reserved by the Kind Shawties of Hovvrad Studios and in affiliation with The BearCaveBoys 2024