We recently connected with Jasmin Toubi and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Jasmin thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

I think choosing to be an artist in general is taking a risk. A financial risk, a social risk. Not everyone is going to be supportive or understand why you feel the need to do what you’re doing. But if you’re called to make art, sometimes you feel like you have no choice but to do so. When the pandemic hit in 2020 I was sure I made the right choice. The world could end at any moment, so why spend your life doing something conventional and safe? We have one life to live, might as well take the risk, take the chance, and see what comes of it. And even if you fail, you’ll still have something to show for it. Even if no one ever sees your art, you still made it. Even if no one buys it, it still has value.

Jasmin, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Shedonist started in 2019 in Los Angeles and has since moved to Nashville, TN. Founded by Persian-American songwriter Jasmin Toubi, the band mixes grunge, blues rock, classic rock, and 90’s alternative sounds. As the daughter of immigrants from a country where women are banned from making music, Toubi’s songs express the punk-rock attitude that merely existing as your authentic self is a sort of rebellion. The band is currently set to release a new single and music video this fall.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Personally art is a release, it is a self reflection, and it is a statement to the world. You take the energy and the feelings from inside you and mold them into something the world can digest, and in turn people relate to that and the world becomes smaller and less scary.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

I majored in philosophy in college, and the search for meaning is something I think a lot of artists can relate to. Socrates was my favorite. He asks simple questions that baffle the experts. There is always something you can learn, so being open to new ideas and humble of your knowledge is a key virtue for life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://shedonist.live
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shedonistofficial/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shedonistofficial
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@shedonistofficial

Image Credits

Samantha Fudens, Ryan Hamblin, Burque House