Read the Jhaybird Interview below and share it on social media.

Please tell our readers who you are and what you do?

My name is Jhaybird. I’m a 20 year old musical artist out of Waco, Texas. Small town, big heart. I’m a part of a musical collective that I created known as BIRDDHAUS, prounoinced just like birdhouse. What I do is tell stories of the world around me reflected in the music that I give back to it. I write songs based off of the emotions, experiences, interactions, and events that the world gives to me. I’m predominantly a rapper but I greater suffice to say that I’m an artist because my palette expands beyond just rap. Just like the world isn’t one dimensional, neither is I. I have singles but I haven’t come out with my debut project yet. I’m currently working on it behind the scenes though; alongside the construction of my group. I just love making music, and at the beginning and end of the day, that’s what I want to do for the rest of my life. Plain and simple. I want to give back all the love that I’ve been given, and I see no better way to do it that through the beauty of music. My singles are up on SoundCloud; which is where my debut project will probably come out on. Check it out and if you rock with it, tell all ya friends. https://m.soundcloud.com/jhaybird

How would you describe your influences and how have they changed over the years?

My number one influence is definitely God. He’s the one who got me here. I spent the majority of my life fighting the idea of doing music. At one point I refused. But it just kept showing up and kept becoming more a part of me. Now, it’s all I want. Artistically, my first musical influence was Eminem. After that introduction to rap, I’d say the next rapper to really get me was Biggie. I got caught up in how smooth his flow was and how much of a story teller he could be when he wanted to. Since then, I’ve found inspiration in artists like Flatbush Zombies, Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, Drake, Isaiah Rashad, Kanye West, Kid Cudi, Chance the Rapper, Bas, J.I.D, Smino, and EarthGang, who happens to be my favorite duo right now. Chance was definitely my biggest influence at one time and there’s still an auditory affect of his influence on me, but I’ve evolved into myself more since I first found out who he was. Now it’s just bits and pieces of everybody I named, some people that I didn’t, and a lot of my original creative personality.

What´s new right now?

I’m lining up some shows and venues but the dates and finality of it all are TBA. Like I said earlier, I’m working on my debut project behind the scenes of everything. I have three pretty big singles that are going to be coming out soon. They’re gonna be the first major step forward towards everything I have planned. There’s a lot going on. The world will see in due time.

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Are you a superfan of anyone? How did you become a superfan? Do you remember how you become a fan and what turned you into super fan? Have you ever thought about why you´re such a fan?

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What was the biggest mistake you made when you started making music and what would be the number one tip you could give to a newcomer musician?

The problem I had when I first started was that I allowed other people to determine the value of my art. At the beginning of my creativity, I was really insecure about my work. So, the opinions of other people really mattered to me and I took their word as law; which cause me to not make some decisions that I otherwise would have, and maybe should have made. What I would tell anybody who’s new to music is to be confident in yourself. Everything, everything you do stems from your confidence in your ability to execute your vision. Use people for criticism, not validation. They’re there to help you get better, but not to assign your worth.

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How do you get gigs? Can you share any tips?

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Do you have good promotion tips for other musicians?

The best way to promote is to become a genuine part of your community. When the people in your environment begin to support you as a person, supporting your music comes naturally. Promote relationships, and the music will follow.

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Do you have insights on how to grow your audience on soundcloud that you want to share with our audience?

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What has been your biggest challenge right now? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?

I’d say my biggest challenge was finding my sound. Being a lover of music at the core, it’s easy to emulate the artists that really influence you. But, if you want to grow and influence others, you have to find ways to be unique, to be yourself. You can be somebody else if you want to do something that’s never been done. I got over that by being patient and intentional with myself and my art. I sat down and put all the pieces of my influences together, added my own creative flare and identity, and sculpted it into what I wanted it to be and who I thought it was. It took time, patience, and a lot of introspection, but it was worth it in the end. I’m still working to be better, but isn’t everybody. Just be honest with who you are. Don’t chase the fame of anybody else.

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How do you personally discover new music?

I typically discover new music through surfing the web, media outlets, streaming services, all that. Twitter is a boy informant on new music, both mainstream and underground if you know where to look. Other than that it’s just discovery tabs on Apple Music or suggested videos on YouTube. Of course there’s always people talking too.

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Once you discovered new music, do you tell others about the new music/artist you discovered? If yes, how exactly?

“Of course. I always want the art I appreciate to get recognized. I usually post the work on my twitter or Snapchat; but I always spread art via word of mouth.

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What is your number one tip to improve your music production or songwriting skills?

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What is your best tip for those who struggle with finishing their tracks?

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We meet again in one year. What has changed?

A year from now my group, BIRDDHAUS, will be fully constructed and functional. I will have a project out. I will have a clothing/merchandise line that goes with my image and my art/group. I will have several performances under my belt and hopefully I’ll be planning a tour (the scale of which is yet to be determined).

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https://m.soundcloud.com/jhaybird

https://mobile.twitter.com/JheffBlunt

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Enter your questions to the artist in the facebook comment section below.
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