Meet J. Irja The Sexy Psycho | Musical Artist & Enterpreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with J. Irja The Sexy Psycho and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi J. Irja, why did you pursue a creative career?
My first memory is me on stage with a microphone, singing. Music got me through a lot of hard times throughout my life. I grew up super poor in Canada, and it was even worse when we immigrated to the United States. I was bullied relentlessly and used music as my escape. I saved up all my money one year to buy a TalkGirl cassette recorder where me and my little sister would record the songs we wrote. One of my poems was even published when I was in Middle School. Instead of focusing on the sadness surrounding me, I funneled it into anything to do with music. I taught myself and became classically trained on flute, piccolo and clarinet and won many solo and ensemble awards. It’s safe to say basically my entire life has been pointed in the direction of Music.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Everything lyric I write is truth, is based on my real life. I don’t fake it to make it, I just am what I am. I don’t to Wishlist Rapping I do Reality Rap. It’s awesome to me that I get to paint a picture of my struggles through my music and that it not only inspires others, but it becomes my therapy also.

I had to overcome so many obstacles to get where I am it’s impossible to list them all for this interview. A lot of times I look back at my life like I’m watching a movie unfold, not my actual memories. Throughout all the abuse, homelessness, excessive hustling, alcoholism and everything else I endured, I’m most proud to be able to say I rose above it all and am able to help them do the same.

One of the biggest lessons I learned is to follow my instincts and not to listen to anyone else’s opinions or inputs on my dreams. You should do the same. Forget about what anyone else thinks. Just Be You, Do You, NO Apologies.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Since music is my life, I would take them to the studio to record a new song and a new music video for that song, have them record a piece of it and take part in some way. Then I would get us on stage a concert, I love Trees and Gas Monkey they’re great venues. We would spend the night at a suite at the Omni & Virgin Hotels, they both have different and unique pool scenes. Of course for dining we would go to Nick & Sam’s for a classic upscale Dallas Dinner.

There’s just so much to do in Dallas, but we’d have to jetset to Vegas for a few days too, hit all the hot spots on the strip like Ceasar’s and Cosmopolitan and some Freemont Street classics like the Golden Nugget.

Then to Hawaii for the remainder of our time to just lounge n the beach for a real vacation. I’ve never taken a real vacation in my life.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Thank you to everyone who has ever related to my music and ever shared or streamed my music, without you there would be no purpose to my music. You’re not fans to me, you’re family.

Thank you to Kenny “Kinfolk the Plug” Adams-Bills, my manager, who took me in as a homeless alcoholic and helped me heal and transform into the Business woman and Music Mogul I am becoming today.

RIP to my mentor and adopted father Shahid “Apollo Creed” Smith who never gave up on me, and without him never would have made it recording my first project.

RIP To my Little Sister Bekah who was my biggest supporter & best friend, without her I wouldn’t have made it through so many rough patches in life.

Thank you to my personal assistant and best friend Frederick “Rico” Ard who has been with me for 2 decades, since the beginning of my rise, right down to burning my first CDs one by one on the floor, I’ll never forget that.

To everyone who doubted me along the way, thank you, because you fueled my fire and pushed me to go harder. To everyone else who helped me along the way, thank you, You are everything.

Website: https://www.thesexypsycho.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/j.irja/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesexypsycho/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGryX11kkZzkUHKphtG7r9Q

Image Credits
MOB TV