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

Hi Jamison , thanks for joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

As a creative, or in my case a songwriter/artist/manager, you take a risk every day. Whether it’s sharing a new song, releasing a new song, working with a new artist/writer/producer, posting to social media, giving industry advice/guidance — it’s all a risk in one way or another. You risk vulnerability, being misinterpreted, your mental health, your relationships, your time, investing your hard-earned money; but that’s not always a bad thing, it’s how you grow and learn. I know this isn’t a specific risk, but it’s my truth and hopefully others inside and outside of the industry feel less alone reading this.

The biggest risk I’ve taken is releasing LGBTQ music, starting with my single “Monster” in the beginning of 2021 and most recently my latest single “Phone Sex” (which actually doesn’t include any pronouns but me and my co-artist, Maria Lynn, are both lesbians). Just the title alone is enough to raise eyebrows, but it’s not what you think it’s about, go take a listen!

What’s risky about this is I’m also a public school teacher, and now that my music is exposing more of my personal life which includes LGBTQ content, I’ve been doing my best to keep my art separate from my day job. I have mixed feelings about it because I want to share it with and inspire my students, being LGBTQ is nothing to be ashamed of, but at the same time, I want to protect my professionalism and privacy (which is hard to do when all your social media and music are public and under a recognizable name). So yeah, that’s a pretty big risk but one I’m willing to take to share my art.

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

My name is Jamison Fox aka Jamison. I was born and raised in New Jersey and now live in Nashville TN as of last July. I always knew I’d be a part of the music industry as well as a teacher. I started playing trumpet when I was 9 years old but also writing songs as an outlet for my teenage emotions, which is still an outlet for me as the adult version of myself. I remember writing songs in my room in middle school and recording melodies into my cassette player and dreaming of being a “pop star” but also not in the traditional sense. I knew that wasn’t quite fitting for me but there was something about music that was innate. I always knew who the next big artist or the next big “hit” was going to be. Fast forward 10 years later when I discovered I could create a collaborative artist project that satisfied exactly what I was looking to do — share my music without being the voice and/or the face entirely. Sharing my words has always been the most significant part of sharing my art.

As a teacher, I’m constantly offering my knowledge to friends, music peers, my students, family, and artists I manage about music, songwriting, and the music industry. I am extremely passionate about helping educate those about music and the music business because knowledge is power and in an industry like the music industry, getting taken advantage happens all too often. I know this, because it happened to me, and feeling helpless is one of the worst feelings, especially when it involves money. I want to share my experiences and knowledge as much as possible so others can hopefully bypass the mistakes I made.

I’m most proud of my work ethic and integrity as well as my way with words and storytelling. My lyrics are what set me apart from other writers and artists. What I want my potential clients/followers/fans to know is that I value transparency and honesty and I will always share what I know and how I feel via those lenses, including in my songwriting for myself and others.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is the creative process. The validation, compliments, and feedback once a song is out are always welcome and rewarding, but for me personally, the creative process takes the cake. It never ceases to amaze me that something that did not exist, can exist only hours later and remain for eternity, especially if it gets to be shared with the world. Words, melody, harmony, production; it’s incredible how one idea, phrase, or messy voice note recorded at 1am or while driving in the car can turn into a song and that still blows my mind. To me, that’s the magic of it all. Especially as a songwriter first. That’s my bread and butter. A lot of food references here. But I guess it’s actually similar to eating your favorite meal; the experience is always slightly different, yet each time the experience is just as amazing as the last.

When I can be a part of an artist’s project where they feel so connected to something I helped create, or my own project, there’s nothing quite like it. I can’t seem to put it all into words because it just doesn’t capture the magic that happens in those moments. I can think back to times when I’ve been so synchronous and in tune with who I’m writing with, that we literally read each other’s minds or say the same thing at the same time and it’s stunning in the best way possible.

I have a similar experience when I get production or a mix back when I write toplines (write melody and lyrics to an instrumental or production). A few songs stand out to me when I think about this. The transformation from having a few words, to writing full melody and lyrics, to having full production, it’s honestly wild. It revitalizes my passion for songwriting during moments of doubt or burnout. It’s what keeps me doing this thing.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

Once I realized how little I knew, I began to dive into educating myself about the music business, particularly publishing and master royalties/splits/percentages. Honestly, a good ol’ Google search will do the trick for most questions, but some resources that really helped me learn are BMI’s weekly emails/blog posts, Cliff Goldmacher’s website and blog, The 100 Percenters (Instagram account), Jason Blume’s website and blog, and Songtrust (Admin publisher and blog). I’m sure I’m missing some, but those are the big ones that come to mind.

Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for help. Some people will be unapproachable or pretentious, but most will be willing to help or at least point you in the right direction. I’ve also gained significant knowledge from asking others who are more well versed and experienced. And if you can find a great music/entertainment lawyer – you’re set!

Contact Info:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2WtpbEiC90cYpMMHJpIDD7?si=4nMDVw_OQNaREsDvid40SA

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamjamisonmusic/
• Other: TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@iamjamisonmusic

Image Credits
Phil Silverberg (black photo with guitar) Brittany Lane (Orange tank top and donut photos) Live performance – no credit needed