We recently connected with Jacob Weisenburger and have shared our conversation below.

Jacob, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

I think that the most meaningful project would be my current one. I’ve released a few projects in the past and they are each close to my heart in their own individual ways, but this project is special because I’m the only person touching it. I realized earlier this year that often times if you are a person who is always extending yourself to help others, that it’s typically not reciprocated. That’s me, I’m the helper. Earlier in 2024 I was at a creative low point and reaching out to people I thought were close to me for advise/help.

I learned really quickly who was actually a friend and who wasn’t.

That made me mad to be completely honest, and I’m not the type to sit and simmer. I take action. In this case, that action was making an entire project by myself (minus production, shout out to BMTJ) and not reaching out to a single person for advise, feedback, thoughts, etc. I decided it was time to learn how to mix and master, I decided it was time to learn what a seo content strategy was and how to properly market myself as an artist while still showing a relatable personality.

As bad as it sounds, I cannot wait to have my “na na na na boo boo I did this without you” moment.

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

My name Is Jr Weise (pronounced wise) and I am a musician who has been writing for other artist for the greater part of the last decade. I also make my own music which is what I have recently been focusing on the last year and some change. I grew up writing poetry and at 11 years old my Dad gave me Lauryn Hill’s “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” and told me “This is poetry too.”

It was the start of everything.

Once I grew up, I moved to Los Angeles and the rest is history, just kidding!

After a slow start, I got my groove back like Stella and since have had the opportunity to work with companies like Riot Games, Apple, Ahnu Shoes (and more). I have also done countless ghostwriting that I wish I could legally brag about, but in the words of Britney Murphey in the movie “Don’t Say a Word” I’ll never tell.

I like to think what separates me apart from everyone else is the fact that I GENUINELY LOVE MUSIC. No shade, but the music industry is broken right now, resulting in a majority of creatives struggling to make ends meet from their talent. This then leads to hyper inflation in almost every aspect and the actual love for music and the way it feeds the soul gets lost.

I have always been a firm believer of “forget the trends, forget what’s popular, what is YOU?” when working with my clients and making my own music. I don’t like feeding into tropes, or stereotypes. I don’t like making one aspect of someone’s personality their entire brand and I truly believe that there is a way to showcase who someone is in an authentic way that will be received in that same way. Authentic.

It is possible for people to like you for you, I promise.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

It seems like a hard question to answer, but it’s really simple.

Most people don’t realize how powerful word of mouth is. Whether IRL or online. By clicking share, commenting, saving sounds and reels, you help creatives on an insane level. The algorithm notices and pushes them which opens up opportunity for new fans/jobs.

In real life, go to their shows, if you can afford it buy some merch, show your parents/friends/siblings/anyone who listens the creatives art. When you see creatives talking about the struggles and how things need to change in their industry, listen in and if you agree with them help make their voices heard.

Honestly just show that you care and appreciate the creative in whatever way that you can without setting yourself back in life.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My main goal with music is to create a space where there is inclusivity. People you’d think would be polar opposites can have more in common than siblings as crazy as that sounds. I’ve had actual gangbangers tell me my music spoke to them, and gave the same reason as the 15 year old Caucasian kid who lives in Beverly Hills. I’ve had people reach out to me because of my song “Focused on Me” and tell me that it gave them the strength to go to therapy, or that one of my songs changed the way they look at a certain situation.

I strive to show every side of myself in music, from being the gay kid who grew up in poverty and violence to processing it all as an adult and realizing that where you’re from isn’t who you are. I put it all into my songs in hopes that someone else out there who is struggling hears it and feels less alone.

Also obviously another goal is to make money, but it’s so that I can open youth centers focused around the art programs being cut from public schools (I went to school for early childhood education, so it’s pretty important to me that kids have the resources needed to become functional adults who can express themselves in a healthy way).

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jrweise/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jrweise/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-weisenburger-811b5510b/
• Twitter: twitter is evil
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jrweise833
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/jrweise

Image Credits

@_bleusnapps on instagram