We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jonathan “Jai’ Eagle” Parker. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jonathan “Jai’ Eagle” below.

Jonathan “Jai’ Eagle”, appreciate you joining us today. Do you wish you had started sooner?

Like most creatives, I really wish I would have stepped out on this journey a lot sooner. Much of my creative ability was molded and developed in my adolescent years. However, back in 2008, being an entrepreneur or relying on your creative gifts to independently support you was not celebrated, nor popular. Now, while many of the people who were around me at that time can tell you that I was not a stranger to being a rebel, I was very much a logical decision-maker. At 18, I’d written and recorded my first album, styled myself, and creatively directed my album cover. In the same breath, I choose to end my pursuit of an education in entertainment from Full Sail University (every creatives dream school in Florida) to pursue a “secure future” in Human Resources. I got my degree, while also very passively pursuing my passion. In school, I wrote another EP. I served as a Fashion Coordinator in a Modeling Troupe (FACES, Inc.), so I didn’t ignore what I love, but it definitely took a back seat.

All the while, I had friends and connections that were rebels, that went with their heart vs logic, and they were excelling. They were doing really well and accomplishing amazing things that began to show me, I should have jumped in head first a long time ago. Fast forward a couple years, I continued to write and produce music, play around with styling friends here and there. It wasn’t until I ended up separating from my job, that I decided to pursue a Masters degree in Entertainment Business from Full Sail full-time. Shortly after earning that degree, I funded a personal creative project that stood alongside the George Floyd trial that caught a lot of attention from the creative community. Shortly after that, after COVID came and then settled down a little bit, I took a chance at working with my network of musicians and agents for music bookings around the state.

Now, I have a full LLC dedicated to styling and creative direction that keeps me very busy. I also am booked to sing all throughout the state nearly every weekend. I am even at a place now where I have to deny some opportunities just for a chance to rest. While that sounds great, I’m not exactly where I want to be yet. However, had I started this journey when I was 18 vs when I was 30, I truly think that I could be so much further along.

With all that said, I must say that I am a firm believer of it NEVER being too late. Although starting sooner would have been cool. I do trust and believe that I learned and experienced things in that time that contributed significantly to who I am now. I am just happy that I never gave up on what I love most.

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

My name is Jonathan, but everybody (and I mean everybody) calls me Jai’ [pronounced just like the letter “J”]. I was born and raised in Miami, Fl. as the baby in a very large, musical/creative family. I have always had this very natural gravitation towards music and fashion that no one every forced me to suppress and it leads to the creative that I am today.

I got my first taste at recording music when I was around 18 years old and my first try at styling people when I about 20 yrs old in college. Those experiences gave me more gratification than I could have ever imagined and I think that was the point that I knew for a fact I needed to be engulfed in these areas if I really wanted to be happy. The hard part was trying to determine how I could do them both.

Eventually, I decided that rules simply do not matter. I walked away from a pretty fruitful career in Human Resources and Customer Service to figure out how to pursue everything I actually love. I attained a Masters degree in Entertainment Business to learn how to manage my affairs the right way. I then developed a strategy to be the Peoples Stylist and the Peoples Songbird all at the same time. I eventually started an LLC “The House of Eagle” for styling and creative direction services and have continued to pursue music through the production of original music as well as public and private bookings across the state…and I haven’t been happier since.

The House of Eagle is a one-stop shop for clients concerning Creative Direction and contracted services for visual projects. As the most popular service to our clients, we can handle photoshoots from concept to creation. We provide creative direction, wardrobe consultation, complete styling and purchase of wardrobe, project management for the photoshoot, networks of make-up artists, hairstylists, photographers and videographers, location scouting, literally everything you need. 2-3 phone calls and all you need to do is show up. Clients rave about the couples, maternity, or family photoshoots and how they never had to lift a finger in the process. Making it easy is what we do.

As a singer, “Jai’ Eagle”, I not only provide entertainment services with a full-live band in local restaurants, festivals, and entertainment venues, we also provide services for private functions. If you ever need a vocalist and/or instrumentation for a Birthday Party, Banquet, Wedding, Funeral, we can supply your needs from beginning to end.

We love what we do, and what we love even more…is the chance to do it for you.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Supporting artists is literally the easiest thing in this day and age, and it often doesn’t cost the supporter a dime of extra money. The first is social media. “Like” the content. Subscribe to the channel. Comment on the postings. Engage and interact. All of those things communicate to an algorithm that the content needs to seen, heard, and shared. I have had people view my content and then communicate their appreciation to me in a text message. While that is beautiful, and I do appreciate it, it helps nothing but my ego. Leave the comment on the page. That’s what gives us the publicity and is a direct link to the access we need to be successful. Beyonce’ drops a new album and everyone reposts it 20 times (and trust me, I did too …because Beyonce’ duh!) But, if you like and appreciate my music the way you say you do, make a Tiktok dance to my new song, blow up the timeline on my album release, and watch me grow.

GOOD criticism. I hear this often: “just because it’s my friend doesn’t mean I like it. I can’t share what I don’t like.” Yes, that is fair. However, have you told them? Good criticism doesn’t mean it always has to be nice or in favor of the artist. It means that the criticism is valuable and has the potential to make the artist better. Be kind in your delivery, but be honest and use opportunities to make the creatives you are connected to better.

For content creators, STREAM! Take an hour out of each day or a couple days out of each week to consume local creatives content. Youtube vloggers, singers/rappers, podcasters need your streams. That’s a direct link to their wallets and funding their opportunities to continue to create.

Whatever you do, effort to give creatives a chance. Our art is soooooo necessary.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Everything that I do as a creative is about how it makes my consumer feel. I know what music has done for me when I didn’t even realize I needed its healing effect. I have noticed how getting dressed up, taking care of myself and then looking in the mirror has completely changed my whole attitude.

I love that what I do has an immediate effect on the people I do it for. There is nothing like walking into a restaurant and seeing everyone on a phone not even engaging with their company, and then to see them up, smiling, and dancing just 30 minutes later. Nothing like styling a gentleman seeing his shoulders back, his chest out, and that fake-humble personality shining through as he is checking himself out (lol).

I do what I do for the people. To impact mental well-being, to reinforce the necessity of art, and to inspire the creatives coming after me with reminders that their gifts are intentional and necessary!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.TheHouseOfEagle.com
• Instagram: @Jaieagle & @Houseofeagle_
• Facebook: Jonathan Parker
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/jaieagle
• Youtube: Keeping Up With The Parkers

Image Credits
Reje Rush Akeem Daniels Kaillanie Lamy Darnisha Parker Forest Parker