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

Austin, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

It definitely wasn’t easy. The biggest first step for me would have to be moving across the entire country from the east coast to LA. I knew no one, so it was a pretty big move for me. After that, it was just about getting out there and meeting people as well as getting better and better at my craft: writing, recording, and performing music. The more I did it, the better I became, the more opportunities I got, and I just pushed on and committed to growing and learning until I could reasonable support myself doing it! I also think a key thing that has kept me going is passion: aside from work ethic, I really do love what I do!

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.

I’m a recording artist here in LA that does pop/rock music mixed with Hip/Hop. I tour, am apart of different bands, and I write my own music!

Iv’e headlined events such as Six Flags Magic Mountain’s annual “Fright Fest” show and then touring nationally as the lead singer. I’ve gone viral on TikTok and Instagram, gaining 100k+ followers on instagram and 350k collective streams on Spotify, all before the release of my EP, which has gained over a million Spotify streams. That has caught the attention of industry professionals who are helping me hone my sound and brand, including several Grammy-nominated producers and the legendary “Mama Jan.”

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, it would be connecting with audiences in person, at my shows and on tour. There’s nothing like having people come up to you and tell them how your music has affected them. I love the connection on stage, there’s really nothing like it. As much as I enjoy connecting with my fans on social media, there’s really nothing like that in-person experience that you get when you see people, feel their energy, in person. To me, that’s the most rewarding thing about being a musical artist.

How did you build your audience on social media?

At first, posting on social media was a way for me to connect with people because I was so lonely. I had just moved to LA and didn’t know anyone, and when I posted videos of myself singing, people responded to it, and the more I engaged with them, the less alone I felt. It felt like I had no friends in LA, but they were my friends. With time I got the hang of it and fine-tuned my online presence, but I’ve truly never strayed too far from that original sentiment. To be a place to feel less alone, to feel a connection, to come on and talk to my friends.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.austinjay.net
• Instagram: @daleaustinjay
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AustinJayMusic
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daleaustinjay/
• Twitter: https://x.com/DaleAustinJay
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@daleaustinjay
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/daleaustinjay?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

Image Credits

Credit: Alberto De Jesus