We were lucky to catch up with Jake Tavill recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jake, thanks for joining us today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

To answer the question “am I happy as an artist/creative?,” to be honest I’m not sure, but it honestly doesn’t matter.

I AM AN ARTIST, it’s who I am and what I do naturally, and I’m not alone in this. It’s not “easy” or instantly gratifying, but it’s not a choice for me. Even if I did a “regular job” I’d still be an “artist” doing a “regular job.” I know people who create amazing art who don’t have that same existence, as well as inherent creatives like myself. To be clear, neither is better or worse, just different. It is comforting though, to know there are others on this planet who feel this deeply intense and consuming drive to create.

At the end of the day, it’s all about being sustainable, both mentally and physically, an objective I’m still trying to figure out as someone in their mid-twenties. I spent my teens finding my artistic voice, learning all I could about my craft, and developing my skillsets to be able to communicate with other artists and collaborators. I’ve spent the first half of my twenties now figuring out where I fit into the world. I’ve worked jobs and on projects encompassing all facets of my industry, skating between creative and business roles. I’ve seen both artists and businesses held back by personalities and fear. I’ve seen disconnects between the artist and the audience, culture and the government, society and community.

I started Indigo Soul NYC in 2022 with the goal of being a resource for the arts community, both locally and across the globe. I saw a lack of accessible creative spaces as the rising cost of real estate pushed many to close their doors, people moved to working alone from their homes, necessary during Covid, but suffocating to the collaborative process. And I wanted to make spaces that artists felt supported in, support to be inspired, to create, to present their art, and to go beyond their comfortability. The future of art and culture is ever expanding collaboration, across mediums, backgrounds, and genres, nothing is just “one thing” anymore, nor should it be (in my opinion). I’m of the mindset, that the best art, works on its audience as skillfully as it can using all the tools at the artist’s disposal to accomplish their goal, their feeling, their message, their thought. I’m not saying that simplicity doesn’t have its time and place, because it definitely does, but art done with intention and restraint that makes use of the boundless possibility the chaos we pull from affords us, is truly magical.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I started playing music at a young age, learning piano from the age of six and starting vocal instruction as well as songwriting at the age of 9. Songwriting came naturally to me and evolved with me. My music draws influence from classic icons of soul, funk, and jazz like Marvin Gaye, Bill Withers, P-Funk and Miles Davis – as well as innovative modern music-makers like Snarky Puppy, Vulfpeck, Moonchild, and Robert Glasper (who taught me at NYU). With my music I try to evoke as much emotion and empathy as possible from the listener. In 2019, I graduated from NYU Tisch’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music, in addition to studying at both The Village East Conservatory and Berklee College of Music.

I’ve released two albums, Indigo Child (2014) and Twisted Ideology (2017), as well as single, “Noah’s Ark” (2015), received airplay on over 200 radio stations internationally, coordinated the renowned GroundUP Music Festival since 2019, worked with talented musicians from Jazz to Pop as a producer, co-writer, and engineer, scored for Film/TV, notably K-Dramas such as “A Piece of Your Mind” and “It’s Okay Not To Be Okay”, and performed for audiences across the world. As an audio visual engineer I have had the opportunity to work in live and streamed/broadcast productions for theater, music and more, ranging from intimate venues to Radio City Music Hall.

I founded Indigo Soul NYC in 2022 with the mission of nurturing artists of all levels, mediums, and backgrounds by providing accessible space, community, and education with the goal of shaping society through the means of culture.

We plan to do this through:

The opening of affordable state-of-the-art studios for every arts medium from music to visual art and beyond

The creation of safe, constructive, and supportive spaces for artists to exist, collaborate, and feel at home in NYC
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The production of in-house events that educate, inspire, and present artists
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The creation of original media and content that moves culture forward through empathy, ingenuity, and collaboration

In February 2023, we opened our Brooklyn recording studio The Sound Cave, and are so excited to bring this dream to reality. We’ve been working on an array of original albums, podcasts, video and educational series that we’re excited to share with the world. We also facilitate events for artists and art appreciation throughout the city to foster community and connection.

For our clients we provide an array of services that encompass all aspects of media and event production. Our services include the technical aspect and engineering of media and event production, staffing and coordinating artists for various projects, and even developing and implementing educational programs and curriculum in partnerships with institutions and organizations working with students and creatives of all ages.

From editing a podcast to creating a theater class or producing an album, we are a one-stop-shop for all things creative. In addition, we’ll be making our educational classes available soon through our website so artists around the world can hone their skills and be inspired.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

To be honest there are two aspects to this, what can people do themselves and what can governments and institutions do.

When it comes to the individual, they can make a point to support art and artists: go to shows, performances, gallery openings/exhibitions, buy art, merch, and albums, follow and share artists on social media, subscribe to Patreons and support crowd funding campaigns for artist projects. Even just sending words of encouragement and appreciation help to keep an artist going.

As for governments and institutions, there needs to be a shift to providing more financial and legislative support for artists. More accessible grants and funding need to be created and provided for artist projects and organizations outside of and in addition to repertory art, and artist housing needs to be made more common and attainable. From a legislative perspective, there needs to be more budgetary expenditure on arts education, affordable healthcare options for artists, and laws passed that acknowledge proper worth of art and music in the market place, favoring the artist over the bottom line of corporations.

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

To be honest, the best resource I can recommend to artists on their creative journey is other people. My artistic and creative process became exponentially more efficient when I embraced working with collaborators. Our core team at Indigo Soul NYC consists of Haley Gashi (Director of Programming), Taylor Tote (Director of Content), Casey O’Connell (Director of Production), Meredith Ginsburg (Director of Education), and Klem Bohdanowicz (Director of Marketing and Partnerships). Without them Indigo Soul NYC wouldn’t be what it is today or achieve everything that it will in the future thanks to their and our collaborative effort to achieve its mission.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jaketavill.com
• Instagram: @jaketavillmusic
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/jaketavillmusic
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-tavill/
• Twitter: @jaketavillmusic
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/jaketavill
• Other: www.indigosoulnyc.com Instagram/Twitter: @indigosoulnyc