We were lucky to catch up with Jack Rome recently and have shared our conversation below.
Jack, appreciate you joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
Learning the craft of writing and delivering rap lyrics was not something that came naturally. I still remember ripping up the first verse I ever tried to record because I couldn’t stay on beat like everyone else I was recording with.
But despite the lack of initial talent, I was totally hooked. I paid close attention to professional artists that had such a deep understanding of flow. At first I mimicked them, and then I started to learn to rap as if it was a sport, seeing how many words I could fit in one bar (though sometimes it would get jumbled).
But eventually the craft evolved, and I learned to trust my intuition, slowing down my rapping speed, and using the acrobatics of rapping as a way to embody a feeling rather than prove something.
The most important things I needed to develop were the willingness to stumble and the wonder to keep going.
Jack, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
As I worked to establish a music career as a rapper and songwriter, I found myself learning a wide array of creative digital skills: graphic design, audio production, event management, digital marketing, video production, technical troubleshooting, and so much more.
These hard skills became a huge asset for me as I started to develop a client base of folks that needed support for their digital projects. I fit very naturally into a role as a digital media consultant, creating multimedia assets for smalls business and organizations, while also teaching them how to do the things that I do.
Eventually, the teaching and training that I’d conduct with my clients started to look a lot like coaching, and by 2023, I finally decided to get formal training as a life coach.
While music, digital services, and life coaching may seem like separate endeavors, they are all connected to one sacred thread I keep following, with that same willingness to stumble and wonder to keep going.
I’m incredibly proud of intimate relationships I’ve been able to build with a diverse range of clients, supporting them as they discover their potential and answer their own questions with curiosity and compassion.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is when I get to witness what I created in collaboration with the divine. I believe that when I create anything, especially music, I am a receiver for something that wants to come out onto the page, into the music session, or onto the computer screen. It is often cathartic, satisfying, and spiritually fulfilling. And that would be enough for me, but then I have the absolute joy of sharing these creations at concerts with caring human beings that love music just as I do. It’s a huge blessing to know that music that has supported me through challenges and triumphs can also be something special to another person.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
The thing that society can do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem is to shift on an individual level. While there are societal, macro changes that can be helpful, the most powerful thing will come at the micro level, on an individual, day-to-day basis. I would encourage every single person to get in touch with an activity or endeavor that engages their creativity, regardless of what it is. A truly creative act is unbound by expectations and open to whatever needs to be created. If everyone could open themselves to that practice, our creative ecosystem would automatically thrive.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://jack-rome.com
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/jackintheway
- Facebook: http://facebook.com/jackintheway
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackrome/
- Twitter: http://twitter.com/jackintheway
- Youtube: http://youtube.com/jackintheway
- Soundcloud: http://soundcloud.com/jackintheway
Image Credits
Photos taken by family and friends. Digital artwork by Jack Rome (aka Jackintheway).