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

Hi JDymonds, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.

Growing up in poverty, my single mom did the best she could with what she had. She made me feel grateful. She bust her tail waitressing while raising my brother and I. And if we were facing eviction or needed food, she always found a way to provide for us. She rolled up her sleeves and went to work. My mother had no option to fold because she knew we relied on her. That inspired me, the fact that she didn’t quit.

My pops was in and out of my life. He had his own demons like we all do, but he has a beautiful heart. Unfortunately, he left my mom to do all the heavy lifting. Despite the trauma my mother endured, she never stopped me from seeing my father. I would always go seek him because, despite the circumstances, I am grateful for both of my parents—they made me. And the only way we can break generational curses is by understanding the lives of the ones who gave us life.

I observed my parents individually. They say the apple don’t fall far from the tree, so I am the type of soul who wants to test that. I acknowledge the good and bad qualities of my parents to see which I should nurture and which I have to unlearn to further my growth. So, through observation, and experiencing the opportunity to have both parents in my life although it was dysfunctional, I was able to shape and create the type of woman I wanted to be.

I am grateful for my mom. She is the tree trunk to my sisters, brother, and me. With life and inspiration, she also provides hope. And I would not be who I am today without having such a strong, beautiful mother in my corner who believes in me.

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

I am Jessica Gloria Moreno, A.K.A. JDymonds, and I love creating music! I am Columbian, Italian, mixed with other ingredients. I like to use difference influences from my background because sound is universal. It can make us come together no matter what unique background we may come from. It’s always one love, one race, one blood in Jesus’s name. This is why I love music so much. It’s therapeutic. It can assist you with any situation you’re struggling with, be a comfort for you with all different emotions and experiences. I have known hardship and struggle since I was brought into this world, and music has always been in my corner—that is why I have such a passion for it.

Growing up, sports gave me the discipline I needed that I didn’t always get at home. But I ended up becoming really nice in basketball and it kept me on a steady path as a kid, away from the wrong crowds. When I tore my ACL in 2001, basketball wasn’t the same anymore. My knee was weak despite physical training. During this time, I was really depressed because basketball had become my path to success. It was my ticket paying for college. But God had bigger plans. I ended up turning to a passion that had always been there for me: music. I became friends with 88keys and JustBlaze. I watched both of them hustling and grinding, working with the biggest artists you know of today. I was at baseline when Kayne was only known for producing. I would observe and pay attention to the way JustBlaze worked. I am grateful JustBlaze welcomed me to the studio, a place where I got to witness greatness from all these talented individuals who are legends today.

I saw what it takes to be an artist, from producing a sound to perfecting a rap then creating the mix to turn it into a masterpiece.

And I recognized the same traits in them that I saw in my mom. That hunger, that desire to keep going despite all odds. Inspired, I felt like I had no choice but to use what God gave me to create. I fell in love with that! I fell in love with the hard work because of my mom, JustBlaze, and 88keys. From these influences, I saw hard work and determination sprout abundance. That’s where I learned that hard work always pays off and I fell in love with that idea. Plus, I knew that if I love what I do there would not be a moment of work, only greatness could come from it.

This is who JDymonds is, a diamond in the rough. The pressure, the heat, and all that I endured made me grateful to become who I am, to be here, and tell my story. Yes, it was a long road, and I had many opportunities, but not all opportunities are good ones. You have choices and decisions you must make and you grow and learn from them. I decided to be a student of life, to roll with different punches. I knew I was unique with an energy I could only describe as a blessing, to have not only a passion but an original talent for music. This is how I transitioned into hip hop. I knew the moment I was around JustBlaze this was the culture I wanted to be apart of. I mean, God lead me here, a world that allows you to express your gifts through creativity and art.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

As I write you in this moment, I would say this moment, my story,  is a story of resilience. My heart has the torch burning with the same desire I had as when I was first inspired at baseline with JustBlaze years ago. I did not QUIT. I went to school. I did the 9-5. But that never left me with the fulfillment I desired. I threw the blueprint out & created my own, not willing to give up on my dreams. I am grateful I am here today to tell my story. I was walking in plain sight all these years, overlooked by many. Other artists were chosen over me. And I observed this. But I didn’t quit, no matter who has supported me or not. I keep getting better and better, growing each day, always open to learning new things, to flourish even in defeat. That’s resilience. Gracefully. Do what you love with grace and integrity.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

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I think we all get to a certain age and realize a few behaviors we need to unlearn. And that’s the difficult part about breaking conditioning. You must understand the lesson or you will not break the cycle. Ever hear the saying, you can’t teach an old dog new tricks? They’re conditioned, set in their ways. They’ll think others are the issue before they admit where they’re wrong. Growth is only possible if you’re true to thyself and willing to take full accountability for your actions. A dog can learn new tricks then if it is open to acknowledging where they are lacking and allowing themselves to grow and unlearn toxic behaviors that aren’t benefiting themselves or others.

I’ll use my debut album for example. This was one lesson I’ll never forget. My album is about fragments of my life, the deception of being cheated on, feelings of betrayal, the double life my partner was living. When I found out, I was devastated and my response was reactant, fueled by initial hurt. I used to always react  based on what I felt in the moment, which I can now register as an adoption of my father’s behavior who used to act out of anger, not compassion. I had to unlearn that reactiveness, to not lash out with bitter words of hate but to instead take time to regain my composure, construct my feelings, and communicate them calmly and effectively.

I will say my girlfriend is an amazing woman. I enjoy my moments with her, and the life we created. She’s my family.

Sometimes family members are the ones who will hurt us the most, but they influence us greatly, and give us the greatest lessons in life. It’s those lessons that build character and shape what type of person we become. What we take and keep with us and what we unlearn is up to us.

Sometimes we can get so content with the normalized lifestyle that we’ve learned from those around us that we lose sight of our own purpose and hinder our personal growth. I am grateful to always be learning and growing, and to have my music through it all on my journey because in the darkest of times, music saved my life. My album saved my life! I translated my pain into a masterpiece. My album healed my broken heart. I was in the dark night of the soul at that time, and my album served as a light to shine and make it out to a brighter, happier place where I can continue to flourish and pursue my purpose—my music.

I need my supporters, my Diamond Headz, to know that it’s never too late to discover your purpose. The blueprint designed by our forefathers is not the only way. Your purpose is your gift, and uncovering how you can utilize it to evolve not only yourself, but to also propel the human race forward to evolve as one. Make sure you take time out for yourself and meditate. This way you can become one with your inner child, the child who isn’t afraid to dream. Tap in, or as I would say, go in. Don’t be afraid to work hard and chase your dreams.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.JDYMONDS.com
• Instagram: IAMJDymonds
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@JDymonds?si=2S4ZI0af0chsCooN
• Other: On my website will have all logos to each social media platform. Thank You for taking the time to tap into my light

Image Credits
Alfredo H Moreno, Sarah Jessica Curtis, Stacey Perez, Virginia G Curtis