We were lucky to catch up with OJ Neon recently and have shared our conversation below.
OJ, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?
When I was 5, I would steal like 20 sheets my mom’s printer paper and use them to create sequels for my favorite movies as a kid. I wrote my first rap when I was 6, got artist of the week in my elementary school at 7 or 8 then started writing poetry at 10. During that time, I created this fire stick man comic loaded with all types of stories, no dialogue, just 2 notebooks full of action, fights, and abstract storylines. When I was 13, I started making music by recording on my StraightTalk android. I would hold my phone close to my laptop speaker, rap into my phone speaker so it recorded me and the beat at the same time.
At those times, it was all pure passion. You just wanna create. You feel like you have to. That’s the first part I learned about the craft. The hunger to put something down. The freedom to express in whatever form you want, however you can. At 13 I learned how to download music and access content on my phone, and from there I was obsessed. I indulged in all types of artists, blogs, interviews, YouTubers, performers, I loved gathering information, finding ways to make it unique, make it mine, OFWGKTA used 666, I used TGFCNG with 4444. I made my own logos, my own T-Shirts, my own crew. Till this day, I study all types of creativity to find inspiration from or for something, even if it’s just because I love and wanna experience it, I love learning the in and outs, the intricate details and secrets every artists used to build their originality.
OJ, 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?
I am OJ Neon, known as “The Greatest”, meaning I’m the greatest carnation of my soul that will ever live. Art is oxygen. You look at me, you see it, you talk to me and feel my passion. I’m here because I have several “IT” factors being a Jack of All Trades. I didn’t choose creativity, it chose me. It’s something that burns in me and thrives on expression in all ways I can imagine.
I’m a true creator. I’m currently in love with music, while pursuing my love for modeling, acting, photography, videography, and multimedia design. During the day, I’m an audio visual technician and engineer providing my expertise in sports production and livestreams. I’ve designed award-winning scrapbooks, book trailers, cover art, posters, you could ask me a few more.
What sets OJ apart is the work ethic that comes with my incredible amount of talent. I’m Dr. Make It Happen and I go get it. Right now, O is proud of his dedication. Since 19, I’ve taken my craft deadly serious and dedicated every area of my life to being a top tier creator. I’ve spent years making several beats a day , producing and mastering several tracks a day, study music of all ages and ranges every day. Analyzing fashion and all forms of art. Collecting enhancements from photos and music videos, YouTubers, you name more. I’ve invested tens of thousands into myself so far, from high school, to college, to living on my own thanks to the creativity God has bestowed upon me.
I’m one of the most innovative artists in the world. Not only can no one do what I do, I’m so high no will ever touch me. I’m my own arch nemesis and I win every time. My energy and my attitude is contagious. I’m going to motivate you by example and pushing through every obstacle. I’ll show you hard work and dedication.
O is no perfect person, but I strive to be the best. I’ll be honest. I don’t have a front, I’m willing to be vulnerable, I have weakness. I cry. I get upset. I get angry. I also prevail. I get stronger. I motivate. I celebrate. I win. I never give up. I’m the Greatest. I’ve been going at this for a minute and EVERYBODY has doubted me. I’ve heard it all. People celebrated my falls. Talked crazy to me. I’m going to prove myself right, and with God, it’s already done. What I want everybody to know is O is the new era and The New Era Is Mine.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
Tunnel vision. My craft is an obsession. It’s something I still struggle to control and measure out as far as when to rest, when to take breaks, and when to stop. Tunnel vision and perfectionism were true problems of mine. I can easily work on a song for eight, 16 hours straight and I’ll forget to eat. I’ll lose track of chores, I would shut everyone out, even help. I experienced the worst of this during the process of my mixtape A Bunch of Oranges. I had been promoting my tape all summer and got a lot of traction but when it was close to the time to drop, I had to upgrade my studio while moving into my new home. The sound of the tape wasn’t where it needed to be. I had to save up and invest in better equipment to be able to put quality product from the tape and after. I shut out my parents, I shut out friends, I closed everything off and fully focus on my tape to get it exactly how I wanted it. From August to December, the tape was always first on my mind. When I finally finished the project I looked around me and realized, no one’s here. There’s no one to celebrate with. I left everyone behind. It hurt. It really hurt seeing how I lost the real support I had all along the way because I was obsessed with the quality. After that I realized how much more I needed to love the journey.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.
It’s all on me. My success in my endeavors are solely based upon me. Engineers, doctors, most jobs you go through school and gradually get to the position you want. It is based upon grades and tests, and there are rankings and a system to follow. In my field, none of that matters. I graduated from college in Media Design, but if a 16 year old has a better portfolio than me or is more skilled in certain areas, creatively, the 16 year old will be chosen over me.
My journey is morphed by my work ethic, previous projects, connections, and networking. My degree is just a plus, it doesn’t say how great of a designer I am though. It just says I went to school for it. You can go to school for 5 years, but a designer can get a job after just six months based upon their connections. It makes every day matter more. It can become stressful. The freedom is amazing if you take advantage of it. Yet, it takes just as much discipline to not only maintain, but gain more out of your creativity. Personally, the challenge is fun. It’s always something new to learn and gain inspiration from. I’m becoming a better artist and creator, while getting paid to do that! Everyone’s dream is to get paid doing what they love, and I get to have the freedom to create and design to make a living, and how much I make is completely up to me!
Contact Info:
- Website: ojnbacon.live
- Instagram: ojneon
- Facebook: Orange Juusu Neon
- Twitter: ojneon
- Youtube: OJ NEON 🍊
- Other: OJ Neon on all music platforms