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

Alright, Justine thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with 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?

I love being an artist but it hasn’t been the steadiest choice of careers. Not only are my financials in flux, but I have to be super proactive about maintaining my emotional well-being. However, there is no other job that I would rather do than be a creative. My list of regular jobs (usually with menial pay) is pretty substantial at this point. The jobs range from being a barre instructor to nannying to hostessing at a pizza joint.

Justine, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My singing career began because of Musical Theater and singing in a band in High School. I then went on to study Musical Theater for six years (college and conservatory at NYU). Since then, I have been blessed to have performed all over the U.S. at a multitude of different theaters and events.

As a multi genre singer, I am able to adapt my song choices and style of singing to meet the needs of my clients. This ranges from jazz, Indie pop, wedding songs, pop/rock, and even a bit of country. I can do large show-stopper songs or provide ambient vocals in the background of their events.

I am happy to collaborate with other musicians but am also capable of performing as a soloist with back-up tracks depending on the space and package.

I am most proud of the range of works that I have been involved in. Guests and audiences are shocked to attend one event where I am performing only to hear/ see me do something completely different at another. The consistent part is my dedication to making my interactions with my clients as seamless and enjoyable as possible.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I have had to pivot many times in my career. This happened mainly in part because of my location. I have lived in six different cities (East Coast and West Coast) since graduating from college. This means, that I have had to re-network every time that I have moved. So much of being a successful artist is from networking and who you know. As you can guess, the stress of having to do this almost every two years has been intense. Somehow, I have always managed to continue performing with every move. I have pivoted mostly in the array of side hustle jobs that I have had to pick up along the way. Some of these include, quadruped puppeteering, circus instructing, barre instructing, nannying, hostessing, brand ambassadorship… you name it.

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

I love the arts for its ability to share stories and lessons in a way that is palatable or more understandable to its audiences. I love even more its power of escapism. This is probably why I was involved for a long time with a performance venue that specialized in elevated immersive experiences (Cafe Nordo in Seattle). Even as a child, I wanted to be transported when I was watching or listening to something. The world right now can be very tumultuous and I know the power that music has of lifting us into a lighter and more joy-filled space. My goal is to be a part of creating that space in whatever capacity best serves those around me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://justinedavisdenson.weebly.com
• Instagram: Justine_y_davis

Image Credits
Headshot by Dan Lao photography