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

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

As a child I was fed a narrative that success is determined by financial status, wealth, and obtaining a certain social status. I excelled in academics and was led into pursuing a career in veterinary medicine. My entire life revolved around my studies, and a few years into this program I hit a mental wall. I did not feel like I was being true to myself, but I had no idea why or how to change that innate feeling. Eventually I took a film photography class as a fun extracurricular, and I instantly knew this was how I was going to be able to express everything that had been lingering beneath the surface. Being creative lit a fire inside of me, and self expression allowed me to heal parts of myself that I didn’t know could be healed. I finally knew what I really wanted to do with my life, and as long as I was able to pursue this passion professionally I would feel at peace. I quit my vet program and moved across the state to enroll in a music production course and eventually got my Bachelors degree in Music Business from Berklee. Now, I refuse to chase a version of success that does not inspire me.

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

My focus right now is launching a new platform called The Mouth which is a curated live stream of music videos from independent artists all around the world. You can watch those currently at TheMouth.tv and you can also follow us on Instagram @themouth.tv Here we post links to live streams on Twitch, and have a link to submit music videos. Think old MTV vibes but a wide variety of genres, cultures, and styles. For this project I curate the videos as well as research bands, labels, and venues internationally. The primary couple that I work with (Julia Kugel and Scott Montoya) are fiercely motivated people and we collaborate on lots of different projects including a music festival in Long Beach, CA. Happy Sundays Fest continues to grow every year and we don’t intend on stopping anytime soon! I help with many aspects of the fest including booking, organizing, and managing the event. I have worked at many festivals over the years including Music Tastes Good, Coachella, Outside Lands, and Psyched! fest. I am always looking to expand my knowledge and experience in live events, as this is one of the jobs that brings me extreme joy!

Creatively speaking, I will be a film photographer for the rest of my life. I like to construct a different reality in each one of my photographs, using experimental techniques to alter the negatives and produce unique worlds for the viewer. Some techniques that I apply are film soups, multiple exposures, film swapping, and chemical destruction. I find most of my inspiration in nature, the feminine figure, and collaborating with other artists. I also enjoy printing on different mediums including wood, metal, and plexiglass. I recently started dabbling in ceramics to add variety to my shows. I intend to submit my work to more galleries this year and ultimately produce my first solo show. You can follow my personal photography on Instagram @yourintimatenoise

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

think the best tool for an artists success is other artists! Find a creative community and focus on uplifting others within. Go to your friend’s shows, buy their prints, share the work of people who inspire you, and support those who are dedicated to their craft. This momentum is what makes our communities thrive.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect is moving in your personal truth. There are no short cuts in art. You work, you fail, you rework, and experiment…in the end you are left with a tangible piece of yourself, the essence of your authenticity.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @yourtimatenoise, @happysundaysfest, @themouth.tv

Image Credits
All photos were taken by me :)