Today we’d like to introduce you to JVLIX.
Hi JVLIX, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
Being an introverted kid, I frequently had my ears under headphones. I would listen to songs over and over for hours at a time and meditate on the melodies and harmonies. It became something I could do to help my brain rest. I was very close to music in that way. It was healing emotionally and mentally, and I was interested in how music does that. When I was 7 years old, I asked my parents to let me take piano as an extracurricular. Participating in talent shows, recitals, and competitions was my earliest instance of playing in front of an audience. Despite having school lessons, I didn’t learn to read music and relied on playing by ear. I carried performing piano from third grade into my teenage years when I played for the church. I still play piano today, and even though it was my first instrument, nothing feels more like my instrument than the guitar. I picked up my first acoustic guitar in grade school but got serious about learning it around 14 or 15. I was blessed to have supportive parents who invested in my musical interests and encouraged me to stick with it. Since then, I’ve been fortunate enough to use the guitar in many different ways and places. Throughout college, I played with and for singers as accompaniment. Currently, and for the last year, I’ve been performing instrumental solo acts influenced by the genres that inspire me the most.
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
The greatest challenge I’ve faced has been with my mental health. I think that is important to talk about. My journey with music is about as old as my struggle with mental health, and both tend to affect each other. Even and especially in childhood, I experienced true emotional and cognitive dysregulation. There are days when I face some severe anxiety and depression. There are days when I intend to actively be a part of a project or event or whatever it may be, but I am barely doing an excellent job of being present with myself. Intrusive doubt and panic arise, and I’ve seen that affect how I perform and create. It comes down to being as proactive as I can about maintaining my mind and body. Taking care of my mental health has often taken the back burner, and it shouldn’t be that way. It is as necessary to prioritize as everything else that we are usually expected to put first, like a 9 to 5 or the needs of our loved ones. My well-being should go first, and that’s taken me too long to realize. I can’t be the best in any of my roles if I am not the best for me. I am grateful to say things have progressively gotten better with time. I must overcome this obstacle over and over, day by day, but the conquering started with discovering, on my own time, what things are necessary for my personal healing. Cutting out processed foods, meditating, and exploring natural and herbal remedies have benefited me the most. I’m now taking my difficult episodes and turning them into learning opportunities and inspiration. I’m giving myself grace as I move through these situations and working to encourage people to do the same.
Thanks for sharing that. So, tell us more about your work next.
I am most known for my work on the guitar. I love the blues, neo-soul, R&B, rock, and funk. My work is a fusion of all those genres and my music experiences. I am currently a recurring musical entertainer at Cooper-Young Community Farmer’s Market. I’m there most Saturday mornings from 10 AM-12 PM, and tips are welcomed and appreciated! I also regularly gig in local venues such as the Hi-Tone and the Lamplighter. Live looping is my specialty, and I enjoy creating all the elements of an instrumental, from bassline and percussion to chordal tones and leading in real-time. It creates an ambiance that engages my audience and is fulfilling for me. Earlier this year, I released an instrumental single. It is called ‘Psych’ and is available on all streaming platforms. That instrumental started as a loop I created at home that felt like psychedelic blues. Very soon, I plan to incorporate other elements in my loops and live performances, and I’m very excited about developing into the artist I want to be in the future.
How do you define success?
It can be easy to define success based on the accolades and achievements we attain. I have some moments where I question if I have enough to show for the work I’ve put in. Like, I want to see the physical proof. What I’m working towards adopting as one of my philosophies is that a great deal of success is the pursuit of the journey itself, not the attaining of a result. I experience the most success when I am taking aligned action towards my goals and truly believe I’m successful. I have a lot of faith that practicing those things has an impact that cannot always be seen immediately but will eventually manifest evidence. You don’t always notice the day-to-day growth of a plant, but if you water it every day and expose it to sunlight and nourishment, you will see how much it’s grown in weeks, months, and years. That is the view I’m working to have on myself and my artistry. Success can be a slow burn, and that is okay.
Pricing:
- $100/hour for Private Events
Contact Info:
- Website: jvlix.com
- Instagram: @jvlixricx
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JVLIXRICX
Image Credits
April Abdul-BaaQee Mark Harbin
