We recently connected with JAMPOP and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, JAMPOP thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Do you feel you or your work has ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized? If so, tell us the story and how/why it happened and if there are any interesting learnings or insights you took from the experience?

Genre is absolutely subjective. It’s a great way to categorize the many sounds and moods we enjoy. I love pop music, I love hiphop music, I love house music. I create all three. And as someone who’s spent time creating music in a variety of different genres, it’s hard to remember to keep it simple. There’s often overlap, there’s often influences from many places.

Most creatives make art that is just as complex as they are, it’s just as complex as the listeners themselves. But as creatives, we’re often asked to communicate the entirety of our work in a way that’s easily digestible. I struggled with this a lot.

And instead of sharing a specific story (I have many), I’d like to offer up a counterpoint: it’s okay to be misunderstood sometimes. It’s perfectly fine. But I encourage anyone reading this to make sure you never misunderstand yourself.

Know yourself, and love who that is. Others will follow. And if they don’t, that’s alright too. Not everyone was meant to understand you. And when I learned this, I was able to finally and truly become who and what I was meant to be!

JAMPOP, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is JAMPOP, and I am a pop singer-songwriter and producer from the Cleveland, Ohio area.

Before becoming a Resident Rocker at the world-famous Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, I spent over 15 years writing, producing, and mixing original music for fun. I played in rock bands as a drummer, DJ’d parties, produced electronic music, released over 100 songs as a rapper, and spent what little free time I had left in school band and musical theater.

I’ve always been around music, and I can’t overstate how important it’s been as an emotional outlet for me. And I think that’s what makes JAMPOP so special. It’s warm and fun, yet emotional and sincere. I love being a musician, and I want others to feel the same joy I feel when I get to create. I truly love what I do, and I love being able to experience that with others!

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

When I was 8 years old, my mother was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. The following year my dad was diagnosed with cancer. They both fought chronic illness for the rest of my childhood, and my father passed 3 years ago. As a young person, it’s hard to make sense of mortality so early. But I was incredibly blessed and fortunate to have a support system that surrounded me when my parents couldn’t. They always say it takes a village to raise a child, and my village had its own area code!

But making it through those times and growing into a decently-adjusted adult (haha) has taught me the importance of people, the importance of collaboration. And I believe that love for collaboration has followed me into my musical career as JAMPOP!

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

When it comes to best supporting artists and creatives, I believe it starts with the kids! The man I am today owes a lot of credit to the various music and art educators who poured into me as a child – even though I’ll bet many of them were underpaid and under-appreciated. I’ve found a passion in my life, and I’ve been given many wonderful opportunities that wouldn’t have existed if, for example, there was no music education program at my school growing up.

There are tons of stats to support that art education helps students perform better and engage more. But to be honest, art education changed the way I think. And I believe we do our society and our futures a huge disservice when we don’t provide our children with those kinds of experiences!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jampopmusic.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/JAMPOPmusic
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jampopmusic
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/JAMPOPmusic
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/J4c1-eqpA5M
• Other: https://linktr.ee/JAMPOPmusic

Image Credits
Amber Patrick: 1,2,5 Megan Cleland: 6,7,8 Grace Sullivan: 3,4