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

Hi TJ, thanks for joining us today. Do you wish you had waited to pursue your creative career or do you wish you had started sooner?

I always think about how much further I could be if I started making beats in high school like I first attempted. I sung in the choir, and we actually had a music studio built into the back of our chorus room. After school, we use to go back there on the iMac which had Garage Band and just make songs with beats we found off Youtube, like everyone else of course. During that time, my chorus director had a computer he wanted Mixcraft downloaded on, so that was really the first music DAW I attempted to make beats out of. I think the first one I made had an Arabian type loop and I added some really bad drums, but it was on beat and my first thought that maybe I can do this. FL Studio, or Fruity Loops as some producers refer to it, was my next attempt and that was an utter failure. I stopped trying really until my Sophomore year of college, when I finally got a Macbook and had Garage Band back at my fingertips, and I started putting out a few beats. That’s when I got Logic a few months later, and I never looked back.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is TJ $uavé and I am a 26-year-old Music Producer born in Miami, FL, and raised in Palm Beach County.

After completing high school, I started college at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, FL, and graduated in 2021 with a degree in Business Administration, majoring in Integrated Business. At the end of 2017, I first started honing in on my production skills and began producing in Garage Band, then moving into Logic. While working on my first few beats, I began associating with an Orlando-native Hip-Hop collective known as Hat$zn. After two years of crafting my sound and working on different songs and projects, I released my solo debut Beat Tape titled “Calico” on Nov. 11th, 2019. I originally intended for it to be a full vocal project with rapping and singing, but the music industry, even in a smaller capacity, doesn’t always align with your vision.

During the Spring and Summer of 2020, I started collaborating with many local Orlando artists to produce my second series in the beat tape trilogy, “Calico II”. I released this project on Oct. 10th, 2020, with both releases having a release party the day before dropping. I was fortunate enough to be able to showcase and display my beats in Miami and Charlotte through open mic nights and performances throughout 2020 as well. As 2020 ended, I began working closely with a frequent collaborator, Thewizardsprogram, and we were able to travel around Florida and create two EPs within a year, North Pine I & II. Also, during the Summer of 2021, I released my third and final beat tape of the series, “Calico III”, on June 6th, first on Soundcloud, then on various platforms afterward, one day after my birthday.

I wanted to release an EP the Summer of 2022 under my Zodiac sign, Gemini, but decided to extend the project and take more time to craft it. In the Summer of 2023, I released my next project series, titled “GEMINI”, with the intro track formatting as a roll call for all Geminis. I’m currently looking to work with local artists and produce beats, and I’m currently Executive Producing a Mixtape with HITMKR, Inc which is releasing later in 2023.

I specialize in Hip-Hop, trap, R&B, and Modern style beats. I work with a variety of artists who can sing, rap, do spoken word, and even play instruments. I am most proud of my catalog which is available on all streaming platforms. I have a total of 6 projects (4 albums and 2 EPs) and a small collection of beats that other Artists have used, which are also available to listen to on all platforms.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Honestly, the easiest support now a days is where most of people’s energy go anyway, Social media. A simple like, share, and repost goes a long way to expose content to someone who actually might want to absorb it, but would never be exposed to due to the mainstream algorithm that’s pushing these major label signed artists. It makes me laugh when I see people I went to school with or met through music support someone who wouldn’t even take a picture with them if they asked in public, but can’t stream a song or spread the word on an up-incoming artist they personally know. The best support is whatever the creative is asking for within your means. I had a friend who literally played her boyfriend’s music at the time on repeat on low just to help get his streams up. Putting your people in positions to win, especially when they supported you, is also a great way to support.

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

The ultimate mission of course is supporting myself and my family with my creative journey. The people closest to me in my life have always shown me support and I have to make sure they are taken care of. My mother has been my rock throughout my life and as a supporter for my music. I know without her, I wouldn’t have been able to make it this far in life. I was scared to tell my mom I did music at first, to the point I didn’t invite her to my first listening session. When she found out, she of course offered me nothing but prayers and support and I knew then, I had no reason to fear telling her of my dreams and ambitions, she would ride for me regardless. I look to support those and bring my people along with me on this journey, they know exactly who they are.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tjsuavemusic.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retro_suave808x/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RetroSuave808x/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Retro_Suave808x
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCeUAJdr1rne7vGZIU7ZArg