We caught up with the brilliant and insightful JOVA a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

JOVA, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you tell us about a time that your work has been misunderstood? Why do you think it happened and did any interesting insights emerge from the experience?

I make Christian Rap, somewhat. One thing I learned about making music is that people tend to put you in a box, A LOT. You know, they’ll say “you sound like this or that” or “you’re not making enough of THIS music” and as artists we don’t realize how dangerous that is.

Do I believe I’m still misunderstood as an artist? Yes, but that’s alright. I realized I make music based on my experiences and the lessons learned through those experiences. Sometimes that means the song will be heavily inspired by my beliefs and sometimes it will be inspired by my thoughts (two very different concepts). In the end, the product of tip toe-ing that line creates, in my eyes, a mixture of perfectly imperfect lyrics and music.

I make music for me and for the kids that need to hear somebody like me. Somebody that’s gonna tell them, “yeah I believe but I also go through pain, and doubt. I’m human and that’s okay.” It’s music for the outcasts.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I am JOVA. I’m 29, born in Bayamón, Puerto Rico and raised in Houston, TX.

I started writing lyrics when I was 14 and haven’t stopped. I have three mixtapes out: one Spanish and two in English. I’m currently working on my fourth one. Music is my passion, when I’m not making music I’m thinking of new ideas for my songs. I recently released a single called “Inmortal (El Gran Tali) which you can listen to on Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, even Tidal, y’all make sure to check it out.

Aside from making music I also do design work. I make prints and cover art. I’ve worked with a few local artists to make their ideas and visions come to life. I’ve designed company logos and I am always looking to do freelance work.

Y’all should follow my socials @youknowjova

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the fact that you’re creating something out of nothing. Making music, or art, is so freeing. So cathartic. It’s nice for people to appreciate your art but I love the feeling of stepping back and listening to a song that hits just right. A smile forms on my face and I know it’s something special.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

I’ve always said that support is free! Support, support, support your local artists! You’re already paying for Apple Music or Spotify, play their songs. Share their posts on social media.

You’d be surprised how many “friends” or “family” members would rather ask me for a copy of a song I just recorded rather than stream it. The best thing is you’re helping that artist grow and be heard. Which in turn leads to money to grow and that leads to more music.

We spend so much time supporting artists that don’t even know we exist but the ones we do know we leave behind. You don’t have to buy their merch if you don’t want to (which you should, our merch is better anyways) just play us every now and then.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Instagram.com/youknowjova
• Twitter: Twitter.com/youknowjova

Image Credits
Images by Jovanny Marcial