We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jon Reece a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Jon thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s the kindest thing anyone has ever done for you?
This one is easy, my parents take the cake. They gave me a second chance, when no one else would. At a young age I was very accustomed to rejection, due to both of my birth parents walking out on me, and leaving me for “the system”. Growing up in foster care is harsher than most realize with lasting effects that I still deal with today, but on one fateful day two people just happened to be there to adopt another little girl (my sister). They saw the potential in me, and after months of fighting both tooth and nail they were able to finally give me a loving home that every kid deserves. At first it wasn’t without its issues of course, but they never gave up on me. Two individuals collectively made the decision to teach me what “unconditional love” truly was, and Ill never be able to repay them for their kindness, nor ever forget it, and if it was obvious already- I love them dearly for it.
Jon , 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?
R.E.C is a multifaceted, genre-bending, Grammy nominated independent artist from Brookland Arkansas. Starting in the grimy streets of Hollywood, R.E.C pulled his way into the music scene in 2018 with a mastery of hiphop/pop mixes. since then he has released two independent albums. His second album “OCCHIOLISM” garnering a grammy nomination. After the success of his second album- he continues to break boundaries by pushing for a third album this year to complete a trilogy of his story, starting a secondary band called “white sabøt”, releasing a clothing brand, and finishing up a fourth album for next year.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
Connecting with the fans. I remember the first time I was ever recognized in Public- I was walking in a parking lot, and over my shoulder I just heard someone scream “You’re R.E.C” and then proceeded to run over and give me the biggest hug. I had no clue who this person was, and frankly they didn’t really know who I was, but my lyrics had struck a core with them in a way that we understood that we understood each other. It was quite beautiful.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
Starting out, before R.E.C was a even thought of, I had once wanted to be an actor. Thus I enrolled in a performing arts school in hollywood California and pursued that dream. It was rough- at first I felt frustrated because everyone just wanted me to be someone else. Can you play a thimothee chalamet or a Johnny Depp, and I never wanted to be those guys. On top of that, the pandemic hit and obliterated the industry for a while which made it extremely hard for those just starting out. I became extremely depressed with no outlet, and finally I realized I needed to take into my own hands. So I said fuck it, grabbed a pen and paper and it just flowed out of me. The rest just fell into place.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/joncreece?igshid=NGExMmI2YTkyZg==
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@r.e.c3412
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3Bm7pD5DvJrq7yMEufxgI4?si=Orpre2dqS3Co6Y3sIvpd5A
- Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/tzjM6
Image Credits
@Solomon.photography @annaphobia @14_namrepus