Her Story
About Joniyah
I'm an artist at heart, and COVID actually helped me discover what I really wanted to do in life. I started in 2020, singing, making music, and writing songs. When I got my first management team, they actually mismanaged me - they provided me producers and stuff like that, but they didn't manage me well. So I was determined to figure out how I could manage myself. I went to Full Sail University, and that's what gave me the education I needed to be able to produce my own music. Now I have platforms like Logic Pro and Pro Tools to produce and finish my own music, record myself, and put myself on songs. I released my first single called 'Hold On My Low,' and now I wake up to emails from brands and see what sponsorships I have for my content on social media. Then I start my PR for my song, getting the press and release for it. After that, I go search out for live venues to perform my song at, you know, get it out there, and do auditions like Star Search and The Voice with songs that I created myself. I'm also in my master's program now, which I take online so I can have the business side of the artistry as well as the creative side. I'm working on a full album to follow my single, and I really want to get some type of recognition in the next one to two years, knowing that I made it.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Joniyah
01What do you attribute your success to?
I really attribute my success to my mom. She was a big help, big support. And just the celebrities I see that have inspired me, like Beyonce and Michael Jackson, you know, the two greatest performers. Just watching them, I just want people to watch me and feel the same way I did when I watched them, and inspire them like that.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I've ever received is to love what you do, and do what you love. That's what got me started in the first place, and it just kept me going. Having that in my head stopped me from getting jobs just for the money, and started me doing it because I like it.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would definitely say it's never too late to start. That was my thing, because when my mom said that, I was like, I'm already 20, can I really start a music career at 20? I thought you had to do that at, like, kid age, like 13. So definitely, it's never too late, and you only fail if you stop trying in this industry.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Definitely, like I said, working for free. I'm living too, and having a job as well as trying to pursue music has been the biggest thing, juggling my time. I do get it in on the way. And finding community, you know, people who are as dedicated to their craft. Because most people, artists mainly fail because they give up. So finding a community has been important.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I'll definitely say dedication to your craft and making time for yourself as well. Dedicating time for that, so you're not stressing out and falling apart, basically. So, dedication to your craft and yourself.
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