Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to James Brabham. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

James, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

We can all say that 2020 has been a crazy year for everyone around the world. Many people lost love ones and many have lost their jobs, not know where the money would be coming from. But let me take you back a year of 2019.

In the year of 2019, I wanted to start DJing to add on to my music producer ability. As I started getting better, I was approached by a good friend of mines, Blanco Brown, who wanted me to come on tour with him when one of his songs started to take off successfully. Although I had a full time job, my manager allowed me to go on tour but whenever I wasn’t on the road doing shows, performing halftime shows, becoming the first DJ to DJ at The Ryman in Nashville or performing on tv talk shows I was able to come back to work.

Moving forward maybe around March or April 2020, the world is being shut down
because of Covid 19. Although things were shut down and all the touring had stopped, also being a musician, I didn’t have a church to play for either but I was able to go back to my full time job after they allowed certain people to go to work.

Within a few months of me being safe having some kind income coming in, I was let off my job because they had to downsize to save money. At that moment I didn’t have an idea what I’ was going to do far a finances. In order for me to survive I had to take a risk by drawing money from my 401k. It wasn’t much but it was enough hopefully to last until maybe I can find something else. No work wasn’t coming in and the only choice I had was to drive for DoorDash to at least help with bills. I don’t know what it was but those bills didn’t care if you lost your job because of Covid.

Later on when churches were able to open up a little bit, I landed a gig to play keyboards again for a church, it was a little bit of money to come in. Few months later, my job asked if I wanted to come back to work, not knowing 2 people who I was close with quit because they was cutting $7-$12 of their pay, but I told them no before I found out what was going on. At that time I was actually heading to the studio to work with Big KRIT’ on his new project. Although it sound great to go back to my old job to have a steady check but I wanted to move forward in faith by taking a risk in continuing pursing my dream. There was something else I had to do, I needed to make a change because I was losing so much money, I decided to become roommates with a good friend of mines, hoping to save money.

Now we are in 2021. Around April I get in a car accident. My car was the only thing I had to help with bringing in finances as I drive for DoorDash/UberEats, and driving to small gigs I had setup. So now I’m hit with another loss. I was devastated because I’m out here taking a risk on everything to keep a flow of money.

Now June comes around I get the chance to get back in the road with Blanco. Venues are taking a chance to host shows again. During that summer we had a few shows here there but it still wasn’t enough like 2019 where there were consistency of shows happening but it will do just enough to keep my head above waters.

Now since we are in 2022, everything has picked back up tremendously and I’m now trying to play catch up with all I lost in the last two years. With all that say, it takes a lot risk to pursue to goals but I like to call it walking by faith and not by sight and trusting in God during the process and chaos. I lost a lot but I know that the risk I have took and still taken, it will all work out for my good. As being a touring DJ it’s a lot you have to sacrifice to get to the level you want in life. I know as soon as I land a sponsorship it will definitely put me where I want to be.

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

My names is James “JBrab” Brabham. I’m a musician, producer, and DJ originally from Varnville, SC but I have reside in Atlanta, GA for 18 years now. I got into the music industry around 2005 while I was in college at American InterContinental University (AIU) because of a good friend of mines by the name of Blanco Brown. I landed my first music placement as a producer on LLoyd “Street Love” album which went gold. For me that never happened for anyone where I came from.

When you want to talk about discipline, I got my discipline when I learned how to make music in my dad’s studio back in Varnville, SC. He became the first person in that area to have a recording studio. I started learning how to play keyboard and then I took on the learning experience how to make beats on a Ensoniq ASR 10 from my inspiration like Timbaland and Swizz Beats. During the early 2000’s I Learned how to record vocals and music on analog. Which I produced the first single for a rap group I was in name Hard Hittaz. This all started my discipline in music.

Far as a musician, producer and DJ, I’m proud of being part of successful artist project like, LLoyd, Mario, Big Krit, Blanco Brown, and becoming the first DJ to DJ at the Ryman in Nashville which made People’s Magazine. I know I have a long ways but I can most certainly be happy for the process.

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

I think the society can do best by supporting artist, creatives, and an thriving creative ecosystem is by supporting with love. It’s so hard to get people to support someone who really has message that can change the world through their creativity. I believe if someone want to share they artistry, especially with the social media, all they have to do repost and then have their piers to repost.

Also, The world would be so much better if someone can share information on how to get from point A to point B but no one love to share information to put that person in position to be successful.

: Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

The goal I have that drives my creative journey is having to leave a legacy for my family and becoming successful in the place where my parents can live off the fruits of labor. I just don’t like to struggle. Also, I don’t want my kids kids struggling to get to the top their success with whatever they choose to do in life.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jbrabmusic.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamjbrab/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jdbrabham
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/IamJBrab