We recently connected with JJ EVANS and have shared our conversation below.

Hi JJ , thanks for joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I’ve pretty much always known I wanted to sing for a living. I’ve been singing publicly since I was two years old, so music and performing comes extremely natural to me. My family is also full of musicians and creatives, which has helped shape my outlook on artistry.

I sang at church, in local talent shows, at public events growing up, and until I left home for college. I soon decided to write, record, and produce my first album professionally during my last year at Georgia State University. By this time, I had a good bit of experience at least singing, writing, and performing in front of large audiences. This experience gave me the extra boost of confidence to at least to take the risk.

The album was a huge success in my hometown and neighboring areas! This moment on my journey affirmed I was on the right path. I’ve been creating and producing my own music and traveling the world sharing my gifts ever since. There’s no turning back! Lol

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Whatup Family! I was born in Gainesville, GA, a small town about an hour north of Atlanta, in 1985. I grew up in a loving home, where my parents valued love, faith, unity, and legacy. They started a music company in 1995 and it has been a major blessing for our family and community ever since. We currently serve our hometown community through sound, audio, and visual installation services. We also have an education sector of our company, teaching private piano lessons and mentoring youth in the public school system and the local community. I’m the second of three sons and I have four nephews and one niece. So, as you can probably imagine, life for me is always full of great moments and surprises! Lol

I’ve sung since I was two years old, starting in the church choir. My great-grandfather is the founder of our home church back in Gainesville, so attending church was more than just a Sunday service for me. It was the place where I felt a part of something greater than myself. It was part of my legacy. Therefore, singing there always brought me joy and purpose in my life. I sang, directed the choir, and led the worship team there until I left for college in 2004.

I attended Georgia State University in Atlanta, GA, which still serves as one of the greatest periods of my life. I met a few of my closest friends during that time and I also built a great business network that has enhanced my career in many ways today! I served as the Assistant Director of our college gospel choir, and also began working in the music industry as a recording artist, songwriter, and professional background vocalist during that time. I always knew I wanted to do more in life than just music though. I received a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, with a concentration in Managerial Sciences in 2009. This achievement would and has supported my passion for big business, art, travel, education, and style. Additionally, I knew I wanted to do what it took to create ways to support my passions and desired lifestyle. I felt studying business was my ticket in, so that’s what I chose to do. This decision has proven itself to be a great milestone in my entire career.

By the time I graduated from college, I had recorded two independent albums, began traveling the world as a professional background vocalist, still working in our family company, serving in the education sector in my hometown community, and living a pretty successful life. I later recorded three more albums, toured with R&B artist, Monica, sang background for numerous televised award shows, produced and wrote songs for other artists, and had a dream to take my solo career even further!

Even as a child, I had big dreams to live in Hollywood and sit with the stars I admired growing up! I believed I belonged there in so many ways, even though I still found so much joy in being a country boy from the south. I knew it would happen one day but I didn’t expect it to land in my lap when it did. Back in 2017, I received a major opportunity to write and produce Asian Pop music for a publishing company in Los Angeles, CA. Joombas Music Group was run by a songwriter and music producer I met in Atlanta some years before. I decided to accept the offer and made the big move to Hollywood, all in a month’s time. I had never lived that far away from my family and support system, so I was nervous, anxious, and excited all at the same time. It was a tough decision to make but I knew it was what was best for me at the time.

With over 30 song placements and six years later, I’m still loving my new life in California! I’m currently writing and producing more K-Pop music, even expanding into the Chinese and Japanese markets. I’ve been blessed to now travel the world, serving as one of R&B star Kem’s touring background vocalists. I’m also working with my family back home to expand our business even further, launching a few other business ventures really soon, and always recording and releasing new music for myself. Lastly I recently launched my company, Dream City Enterprises, which is an international, wholistic lifestyle brand built on faith, identity, and freedom. It is designed to create and promote authentic art, products, and content that inspire and empower people to transform their lives and become the best version of themselves. I am honored to be the first recording artist on Dream City Records, releasing new music really soon. Sincerely, it’s my heart and soul wrapped in one and I’m so excited for what’s to come!

I ultimately believe I provide a sense of love, joy, and hope for people. I love life and inspiring others to do the same. I aim to be as authentic as possible when it comes to releasing my art into the world. I believe sharing who we are at the core is the super power for our success.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I would say faith, identity, and freedom are what drive my creative journey. I recorded a song on my third album, called “Be Who You Are”, back in 2011. It was the last song on the album and the last song I recorded in the studio. I didn’t think more of the song other than I knew I loved it and it would be the closing number for my live show.

I began to promote the album when it was released and noticed it was a fan favorite, especially with young kids! My band and I would play it everywhere we went and the reaction was always the same. I could always feel a sense of breakthrough and empowerment in the room. It was then when I knew I had not only a powerful song and message for people, but the message had been the fuel to my success all along. I was exactly where I was in my life based on what I believed about myself.

I believed God wanted to spread that message of love all over the world through my art and creativity. Therefore, I began to find more ways to express it through artistic content. Since then I’ve designed merchandise specifically promoting the message and it has blessed so many people. It has become a huge part of my brand recognition. Fortunately my team and I are currently creating even more ways we can share the message and look to release more merchandise this year!

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Resilience has been another driving force for my artistic career. I can specifically remember a time years ago when many people would encourage me to audition for American Idol. I already loved the show and it would make sense to most that I would be interested. However, I’ve never really enjoyed being a part of singing competitions. I love to collaborate with other artists but never enjoy feeling as if I have to compete with them. So auditioning for the show wasn’t much of an interest of mine.

After some deep thought, I figured it could be a cool experience at that time in my life. I auditioned in Atlanta, GA that year and made it to the round right before being considered for television. I ended up not being selected and didn’t succeed past that point. I felt slightly defeated but at the same time, more affirmed in my core desire of not wanting to be apart of the competition. However, against my will, I sensed God nudging me to try again. So I decided to give it another shot in Greensboro, NC the following week!

I received the same results there as well but I noticed a different boost of energy and fight internally that prompted me to find another city to audition in one last time! I called my cousin Monique and begged her to fly to Vegas with me on a whim to give it my best shot! Thankfully she agreed and we were on our way! Lol

Ultimately, I didn’t make it through at that audition as well. However, in that moment I realized all the powerful things that had happened within me while on the audition journey. I noticed I became more confident, I was able to exercise my skills in ways I hadn’t before, I met so many new people in the process, and I became an overall better artist by nature. I’m so glad I chose to take that risk beyond my comfort zone. The overall process left me feeling empowered and open to more challenges ahead.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jjevansonline.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/jjevansmusic
• Facebook: https://Facebook.com/jjevans2
• Twitter: https://x.com/jjevansmusic
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTO7l9YhshG_Tw9fqbcEAHQ
• Other: TIK TOK : TikTok.com/@jjevansmusic

  ONLINE STORE : https://bwya-apparel.myshopify.com

Image Credits

Jose Rodriguez