We caught up with the brilliant and insightful JaXon Gállery a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

JaXon, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you take us back in time to the first dollar you earned as a creative – how did it happen? What’s the story?

Here’s a shorter, polished version:

“My first dollar in the music industry came through LA Reid, thanks to Tricky putting me on his radar. LA flew me, Lonny Broux (Frank Ocean), Milla (Quentin Miller), and a few others to New York. I felt the pressure, as I had promised my parents I’d pursue music for a year before returning to college for baseball if things didn’t work out and I was approaching that year mark.. Coming from a small town like Hogansville, GA, with only 2,500 people, I never imagined I’d get this chance.

The flight felt like three days because I was so excited. When we arrived at Def Jam, LA Reid was playing pool as we played our music and all the label reps were on their phones so I get extra pressure because it felt like they didn’t want to be there for us…. When my song started, I stood up and began performing ..caught up in the moment I jumped on the pool table and performed, something no one else did. Without hesitation, LA stopped the music and said, ‘I’m signing him; he’s a star.’ That moment earned me my first check and a shot at my dream!”

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’ve always had a love for music.. specifically R&B music because it felt so authentic to me and where I come from which is a very small town called Hogansville which is filled with a love and energy unmatched… every cookout blared Al Green, Luther Vandross, Isley Brothers, and TheGap Band and so much more. My introduction to a solo career was inspired by my cousin Eddie Robinson , choir direction and musian .. as a child I was a handful I know but he taught me songs and how to sing from my early church days.. Easy to say music and I have always had a meaningful relationship hah. Fast forward to me actually getting into writing for artist I was blessed with the opportunity to write four songs on Charlie Wilson “in it to win it” album.. one of the coolest moments sharing time and learning from him.. even had the chance to FaceTime with him and my parents.. they were surprised but it was definitely a moment I’d never forget!

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

I wish I took more serious the idea of being a producer and songwriting early on.. I think that ability to be able to not have to depend on people for songs gives leverage and also being able to control the creative process which is essential for every artist.. if you aren’t willing then you’ll always be at the mercy of others and what they think you should sing as an artist. For me the idea of an artist is you being your authentic self through your expression not anyone else’s eyes and that was something I battled with early on.. everyone have an idea of who they thought I was but I knew who I was so I spent a lot of time fighting the typical “you’re black so dance and sing about the club “ stereotype.. so I began learning about writing and the art of melody which helped me become more confident in me as a creative. The Dream was someone I was able to learn hands on from.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson I had to unlearn was “just be an artist.. we’ll handle the rest” that’s BS.. I think a lot of time people want to keep you in the dark in your career so they cause create a narrative of smoking mirror to keep you outside the circle.. being an artist consists of everything .. fashion, music, songwriting,melody, etc.. I remember being with a producer who only wanted me to sing and never wanted me to write songs or learn production because that would allow me freedom of not be on his time as to when he felt like creating music for me.. so my career was always in everyone else’s hands and not mine. When I learned about this after some time I began to distance myself and learn from others people and ask questions they’d never answer for me and I began writing my own history!

Contact Info:

• Website: JaXonGállery.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaxon_gall3ry?igsh=ZWNuNXpsZ20wOGN4&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JaXonGall3ryofficial/
• Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/@JaXonGall3ry

Image Credits

PatrickHRogers