We recently connected with Joey Tapz and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Joey , thanks for joining us today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

Being an aspiring artist, I am currently working a full time job while also pursuing my music career. In the real world, a lot of us are forced to work a job to allow us to invest in ourselves and our visions’. It can be difficult to manage between both worlds’ but being in the right environment can allow you to also promote your music and gain other creative perspectives’. I have met some very amazing people at regular jobs that still to this day, continue to support my music and vision. Working a day job to make my dreams become a reality continues to keep me grounded and blessed for the life that I have created up to this point.

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

I grew up in a Latin household so music has always been a huge part of my life. I was introduced to all types of genres’ and legends at a very young age. In middle school, I started to post videos of me singing and doing covers on Facebook and YouTube. I started to get a lot of positive reactions and feedback that motivated me to pursue a career as a professional singer. Eventually, I started to get into hip hop/rap and wanted to pursue a career as a rapper. As I got introduced to the music industry and started connecting with other aspiring musicians’, I came to the realization that I did not want to be a “singer” or “rapper”; I wanted to be an ARTIST. I wanted to showcase my feelings and thoughts through my music and allow others to heal and feel motivated enough to pursue their own dreams. There is nothing truly out of this world about me, the only difference is that I did not give up on myself when the world was trying to break me down for being different. I have continued to build myself as a professional brand and business for over 7 years, learning more and more, paving the way for those behind me. This journey is deeper than just financial freedom and vacations’. I have nephews’ that look up to me, I want to be able to provide them a future and the ability to see that anything truly is possible with consistency and determination. Life is too short to be average so you might as well live life the way YOU want to.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Early on, I was seeking approval from the world around me. I thought that making music was supposed to be appealing to everyone else in order to make a difference. As I started recording and creating more, I came to the realization that music is completely subjective. Each individual person will have a unique perspective on my music and it’s meaning. Everyone interprets everything differently depending on their own personal experiences’ and thoughts. This is something that I was forced to quickly unlearn because it began causing a lot of overthinking and anxiety when it came to my creative process. Music is heard by an audience but the thing that allows music to stick out, is the fact that it is personable and it allows you to connect to the artist at their most vulnerable moments. Now that I listen to some of my favorite songs, I realize that the reason they continue to be replayed is because I connect to their words and feelings directly. I may show someone else the same song and it may not have the same impact but as long as it is making a difference for ONE PERSON, that is all I can truly ask for.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

As an artist, you talk to a lot of different people whom are non-creatives and have regular careers but still have love for music. One of the biggest misconceptions, is that in order to be a “successful” artist, you have to be signed to a major label. Most people don’t realize how easy it can be to have your career completely destroyed when you conduct business without any sort of leverage. It can be very easy to get picked up by a label with the right connections but it all comes with a cost. The thing that people don’t understand is that sure, advances are great but it is something that you will have to pay back and if for whatever reason, you can not pay it back; you will be digging yourself in deeper. You also have to keep in mind that you will be expected to upkeep a certain image. This can easily turn into micromanagement of your every move and decision. The pressure is also more intense with specific expectations on what type of music you should be making and marketing. This can easily turn into depression and an unhealthy mental state when you are being suppressed from truly expressing yourself and your true feelings. It can seem easier from the outside to just take the quick and easy route but every decision comes with a consequence.

Contact Info:

• Website: Joey Tapz https://g.co/kgs/hjCUYL
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/joeytapz?igshid=YTQwZjQ0NmI0OA==
• Facebook: Joey Tapz
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@JoeyTapz?si=ZODI6jQln3McbVuM
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6auLa6Lr1THidBzXXtsqc7?si=60C-ZYWwTYq1boMjEPgDlA

Image Credits
Photos taken by legendary photographers’ such as Kimberly Corona, High Visuals and Jaden Stal Morelli.