We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jazzy Olivo. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jazzy below.
Hi Jazzy , thanks for joining 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.
Talking about risks I’d say, I’ve risked it all from the moment at 3 yrs old I stood up in-front of my school and sang and performed the school play, I was the presenter of my elementary class as well. So ive always felt that there were parts of myself I needed to risk to make it to the next step in terms of my artistry, always searching for an outlet. I threw leap of faith and moved to another country. I became a contestant on a reality singing competition filmed from Mexico City to be broadcasted internationally. It was a called La Academia USA, a reality singing show where i remained living inside of a TV studio. I was completely separated from everything; from society, from time and human interactions, just living and performing in a tv studio with very limited outside world, but that was the idea of the show. After the show ended awarding me the 6th place I moved back to my home town SLC. where I toured for a year across the the US. Then, I received an email from a former coach in the tv show telling me If I ever consider going to Mexico and pursue music I could just call. A month later I was with my bags at the Mexico City Airport. 1:21 pm ready to start a new life.. Changing everything and giving all of me to the unknown. Allowing myself to be vulnerable and to change and love and work and rhyme. I believe this is what music is about, transcending and navigating thru the unknown until you find magic. One day, after working late at a night show. A new found friend called at 7 am, waking me up to say: Broadway is looking for MotorMouth Maybelle for Hairspray the Musical, you’re coming to the audition with me and this is happening in an hour. I had no previous theater experience and i’m half sleep. But I rhyme and sing with my heart, what else can I do than throw myself one more time, with fear and all to put all I knew on the plate. I went in and soon became MotorMouth Maybelle, and toured with the company for almost two years. That was the beginning of my Theater career Giving me as an artist an immense amount of space to explore the chameleonic parts of my art and sound and interpretation. After 5 years of becoming over and over all these different characters, I finished my last theater job and I took a flight back home. It was time to become my own character, my own music my own essence my own jazz so Jazzy Olivo was born. I would say, ive been taking risks one after the other, to transcend, and evolve, and become, with my rhymes, my stories and have discovered in risks and new sense of love and magic every single time.
Jazzy , 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?
I’m a Latin Jazz Fusion Singer, Songwriter, Actor, Stage Coach and Personal Branding Coach. I believe I’ve done this my entire life. It all started before I could speak, later My melodic sense and stage presence positioned me at performing at the age of 3, haven’t stopped since.
After Performing on numerous singing competitions and shows in my natal Dominican Republic I moved to the state of utah and continued my vocal and acting studies as well as performing locally around in SLC. Later, I was casted on La Academia USA ( Spanish American Idol) awarded 6th place, moved to Mexico City to join Broadway Mexico, starting a career in the aztec country in the musical theater realm for 5 years. Along with perfecting my stage and vocal skills, I was able to collaborate and learn from different professors and mentors who shaped some of my knowledge today.
Through time and experience on different projects Ive been able to collaborate with multiple local musicians, which led me to co found the jazz fusion band The Mix with my love partner and musician/songwriter Courtney Isaiah Smith and perform on different local venues and festivals. Giving me a perfect scenario to start sharing my original compositions and later release my independent solo project.
Other notable appearance is Tedx Salt Lake City. Where I was able to tell my relationship with silence and how it reflects on my creativity and authenticity. How shutting down the outside noise can bring me back to my sense of worth and natal value. I share that essence in my music approach and songwriting, I make music in English and Spanish, its all about the feeling, we can connect by feeling and sharing the honesty of our passions, story and soul, and potentially heal.
Now with the Sudden loss of my Love and music Partner Courtney Isaiah Smith, my world has filled up with a strong sadness, which I choose to transform into music, Courtney’s and I’s Music. Created the Producing company Soulchata serving as a home where all of our magic resides and is released to the world.
Since a very young age Ive been able develop a sense of self and apply this to my craft and by result coach other creators to utilize their natal self to project and expose their magic. We all have a story to tell and can gather a community by doing so. So I’m here not only to share my magic but to liberate and enhance the magic in others. I’m an indie artist creating music while sharing my story, enhancing the potential that specially creatives of color bring to our towns to, the world.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
2021 started as one of the toughest times of my journey, not only creatively but personally. I suddenly lost the love of my life Courtney Isaiah Smith. Besides sharing our love for each other, we shared our music. Two music makers together and in love, make life and music together and that’s magical.
We did that!
Created our producing company SoulChata and our jazz fusion band The Mix, performed all over the place, cowrote, produced and released some of our original music.
After 7 years of love and music partnership, we had to say our last goodbyes when Courtney suddenly passed away and that was devastating and lonely.
Our entire present and future was just gone in one day and so my soul and my willingness to give art and life again. I didn’t know how to rhyme again without my best partner.
I believe by connecting to my purpose, our purpose I’ve been able to slowly find a new way for our journey to come to the surface.
I live for both of us. I was born an artist just like him and our love and music commitment is eternal.
In the last year I’ve been able to release 2 of the productions of my original material we did together. but also his original music he didn’t get the chance to bring to the public ears, All from my bedroom, alone, holding on to just LOVE and my loyalty to music, to Us.
In the process I’ve found a new shape of our love story, our music. Im still getting used to this new format. Every day is a new journey and I believe I’m not the only one pushing their craft while grieving their happiness. Cool thing I’ve seen sparkles of joy in the hard work that comes with resiliency, specially after a big loss. It’s not planned, ingrained inside pushing to the surface by love and passion and truth. While grieving my old life, I took all the beautiful things in it and held to them as much as I could. By doing so I’ve been able to get up and perform again, release my music, Courtney’s Music, coach creatives with their goodness and honor Courtneys legacy and inspire others.
I am convinced all magical things have a purpose and its my duty to continue multiplying love and power.
In the month of January of 2023 my single “No” will be released, done in collaboration with Courtney, followed by his single “However Far” cause where there’s a will there’s always a power. Our music has that power.
Broken Bloody Heart and KidiBoom two of my single music released during this challenging year are available to listen in all music platforms and Siente Conmigo ( feel with me) by Courtney Isaiah Smith as well. Listen up!
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
Yes, the desire to connect and share my journey, my story and heal. I have gotten inspired by others journeys and their ways to still shine even when they’ve been covered in mud. And that’s thanks to their bravery of opening up. There’s something fascinating about the pain, and the joy that overcoming taught moments can bring you, it’s like seeing the rainbow at the end, even it’s for a split of a second. Looking inside of you to let your self power take you places, not only physical places but emotional, self discovery places to connect to your spirit. I share that with my music, with my words and thoughts, and take you on my road and show you how I still commit to the power given to me by the universe, the power I nourish with my magic and vulnerability. I Create sound, where there was none. That’s beautiful and I want to connect with others through that.
While riding this road and discovering the new versions of myself, I can honestly share my heart and potentially Heal in the company others, for and with others. I create music and share my personal stories of Emotional and Physical Abuse, Abandonment, Spiritual Journey, Diversity, Depression, Love, Self love, Shared Love. All of it!
Music Makers are an important part of society. We lit up and share magic where there was just a stage. We take our society story and turn it into art, risking it all just to share the magic.
I want all of us to talk about that.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://solo.to/jazzyolivo
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jazzyolivomusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jazzyolivomusic
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jazzy-olivo-875059148/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/jazzyolivomusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JazzyOlivoMusic/videos
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6UBwGMqbIoofaRLBb9bSke?si=809VGjoeSFa1WehKG4VYMg
Image Credits
1- Tedx Salt Lake City 3- Omar Castanon 4,8- Don Julio Media 7,9- Brad Montgomery 10- Lex Anderson