We were lucky to catch up with Jesi Rok recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Jesi thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

First, let me start by giving thanks to God for this opportunity to share my story and a big thanks to my lovely Louisiana mother and my late Nigerian father for providing me the tools and mindset to get to where I am now. I started learning how to play the piano as a young kid maybe around 7 or 8 years old. At that time, it was more of a hobby that my parents had provided for me. I hadn’t thought about music production as a career at that time. My dad was a computer programmer tech and he taught me and my younger brother a lot about electronics and technology. Me and my brother also worked with our local church’s AV team on Sundays, learning the technical side of audio engineering and camera production. I think a crucial starting moment happened while I was in middle school. I was on the football team then and me and a couple of my teammates and classmates had a class based in performing arts. Our class was scheduled to perform different types of plays in our assigned groups. The group that I was in decided that we were going to do a performance based off of the famous group “ The Temptations “. We performed to the classic song “ My Girl “. I never really saw myself as a music creator but, more of an athlete, so this was pretty new and different for me. To my surprise, I enjoyed the whole experience. In high school, I remember when I got my first car, a 97 Ford Explorer. I wanted an updated audio system in it but didn’t want to pay to have someone install it so, I did a lot of trial and error installs until I finally was able to get it to work. That was a big moment for me when it came to the technical side of audio. The biggest part of my audio background came a few years after I graduated from high school. A good friend of mine known as “ Fli Beats “, introduced me to an audio production software called
“ FL Studios “ and showed me the beginning stages of producing music. This was the official start of my music production journey. Now, I’m able to produce, record, mix and master my own music the way I want. I still continue to learn new techniques and skills by listening and watching professionals on their own ways of production.

Jesi, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

For everyone who doesn’t know me, my name is Jesi Rok. I’m born and raised right here in Dallas, Tx. I am an artist, producer and audio engineer. All of my music is available on all of the major streaming platforms. Teamed up with my younger brother Geoffrey Irokwe, who is a very talented and diversified national actor, founded the multimedia production company named, “ Collection Of Visuals “. Being raised on both community service and technical support, provided us with the mindset of creating our own platform to help create and, build opportunities not only for ourselves but, for those who may also need it. With that said, I want to emphasize how important it is to follow your own vision and stay on the path that you see and, always continue to be open to learn and grow in the industry you choose. Anyone can turn a dream into reality. It just requires your discipline and dedication to your gift. It would be a lie to say it’s going to be easy but, if you stick with it through the good times and bad times, you’ll find your door to open. Being able to produce my own music has given me the opportunity to create a different sound that fits me as an artist. It’s a different feeling being able to create a melody and, then add my own perspective. Music, to me, is more than just the cliché entertainment that we all see online but instead, a way to tell your story in your own way. I’m not a perfect person and, I don’t strive to be but, I will do my best to tell you what I’ve been through or going through to hopefully help someone in the same predicament. The people that you associate yourself with and surround yourself with play a huge part in how and, what you conquer. The people around me are more than just your average “ friends “ instead, we refer to each other as
“ bruddas “. That’s the way that our company “ Collection Of Visuals ” aka, “ The COV ”, operates. We want to be able to set an example, especially to our younger African culture, of what family means and, with the right mindset and discipline, anything you want to achieve is right at your fingertips!

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

At first, my goal was just to accomplish what I was chasing in my music and to create the best possible content that I could but, as I got older and struggled with my own trials in life, it became clear to me that my dream was bigger than just me. I started to realize that someone out there may need the same type of encouragement and motivation that I received. Now I see the mission as being the possible example for that someone. Or, being the motivation behind the dream that someone else may have. I’ve learned that life is more than just, “ I “ and “ Me “. Now I’ve discovered that it’s much more about,“ Who “ and “ What “, do I stand for.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I think the best part about being your own creative is, the ability to show off your self, in your own way. Whether it’s through music or visuals, you can show who you are and maybe, change a mindset or lifestyle. Or even, create a dream for someone you don’t even know. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy being a creative for myself and striving to accomplish my own goals. But when you have someone ask you how you did it and, what they need to do in order to get where you’re going, definitely brings a whole new type of energy to your mindset. The reward becomes more of, how can I help than, how do I accomplish.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @Jesi.Rok
• Linkedin: @Jesi Rok
• Youtube: Jesi Rok
• Other: IG: @collectionofvisuals
  Apple Music: Jesi Rok
  Spotify: Jesi Rok

Image Credits

Collection Of Visuals