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

Jennifair, appreciate you joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I’ve been a singer and a performer for most of my life. I’ve always been a fan of learning and trying new things. In 2020, I went back to school because I wanted to learn how to become a better musician. I didn’t know music theory and at times felt as if my creativity was stifled because of my lack of knowledge. Going back to school to earn my degree in fine arts and music was the best decision I ever made. Taking the time to learn my craft and strengthen my skills was a personal goal. Growth and development are important to me. It’s nice when I compare something I made today to something I made 5 years ago. I thought I knew so much when I started the music program at Moraine Valley Community College. I quickly realized I didn’t know nearly enough. Even now, there’s still so much to learn. I’m a forever student; always reading and studying something new.

Jennifair, 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?

My name is Jennifair and I am a singer/songwriter, producer, and composer from the south side of Chicago. I moved to New York in 2014 to pursue my music career. During my New York residency, I traveled the country, curating my own tours and concerts. I also released my first project titled “A Tale of 2 Cities” which was about my journey from Chicago to New York, and the influences of both cities in my music. I had so many opportunities in New York, like winning 1st place at Amatuer Night at The Apollo in Harlem. I got a chance to open for DMC, Roxanne Shante, Rah Digga, and performed at festivals in New York.

I’m just an artist that is passionate about the art I make. I truly and genuinely care about the art. I pull from personal experiences and things I witness around me. I don’t stick to one specific genre. To be honest, I don’t really know what my style of music is because I enjoy making things that feel and sound good to me. I grew up listening to all types of music. My dad was a huge fan of artists like The Beatles and Dionne Warwick and my mom was a huge of fan of singers like Anita Baker and Sade. My oldest sister listened to artists like Tool and Incubus. I mean, I’ve heard it all. From one style to another, I just developed a sound of things I enjoy listening to.

If anything would set me apart from other artists, it would be my voice. It’s unique and distinctive. I don’t sound like anyone else. Maybe what separates me would be the music I create. I pull inspiration from everything around me and I’ve never made music that sounds like everyone else. It’s always been different, part of the reason why I can’t be boxed into one specific genre.

If there’s one thing I’m most proud of, it would be myself. I’ve been making music for a long time and I’m still going. I’m proud of myself for not giving up on me.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Honestly, it takes nothing to support your local artists. I’m not talking about purchasing something in order to support because that is always appreciated. Sometimes it’s as simple as liking a post or sharing something. Word of mouth goes a long way. A follow here and there or sharing something you enjoyed with the next person, goes a long way also. Support your friend that just started a business by telling someone about it. A like, a share, a comment, a stream, helps out tremendously.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

One goal is to become a better version of myself. I used to chase numbers, instant gratification. I was worried about what everyone else was doing around me. I tried to compete, constantly compared myself to others. I don’t do any of that anymore. I just want to be better every day. That’s it. My goal is to look back on a previous project and hear the growth.

Also, I started teaching private beginner’s music lessons to youth and adults. That’s another goal of mine. I want to gain more students that are looking to learn the basics of music theory, piano skills, and voice. My ultimate long term goal would be to open my own school of music, where I can teach kids and adults that look like me, who might not have the resources to learn. I want to be able to give back to my community.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jennifairinternational.com
• Instagram: @iamjennifair
• Facebook: facebook.com/iamjennifair
• Twitter: @iamjennifair
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/iamjennifair
• Other: TikTok: @iamjennifair

Image Credits
Personal photo, IG: @geeque for the first photo Photo 2, IG: @juju.ro Photo 4, IG: @goldenlytphotography