Meet J Saenz | Music Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with J Saenz and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi J, what do you think makes you most happy? Why?
There are several things in life that make me happy. Those things consist primarily of making music, working on creative things (videography, photography, etc), spending quality time with friends and family, going to the movies, fishing, and connecting with other human beings.

I could talk about the why’s of each one but making music is where is feel the best. When I get an idea for a song, perform in front of an interactive crowd, or get a new opportunity for something music related, it is a feeling like no other. The amount of dopamine that releases in my brain is greater than any other experience I have in life. Like in a book I am reading called “Don’t believe everything you think” ,the book touches on the root of suffering being thinking. When I am creating or doing anything music related, I am not actively THINKING about what I’m doing, I am more so in a state of flow, taking thoughts and ideas and translating them into my art, which leads to less thinking and ultimately, happiness.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
The approach to my music came a little late in my life, in the beginning of 2019 when I was 21 years old. I did not know I had any kind of “talent” when it came to making music, until I started seeing the feedback of numerous people. I think what sets my music apart from other artists is the fact that I sound different from a lot of other artists. My favorite compliment that I get from people is that they can try to compare my music to similar artists but I “have my own sound”. I would like to say I’m quite versatile in making music from hip-hop, rap, pop, reggaeton, alternative R&B, and maybe even country in the future haha.

I am mostly proud of just continuing to be myself and creating what I want without having to conform to the likes, suggestions, and advice from others. I have never let the “clout” or noticeability change the way I treat my music, or treat others. I am also proud of how far I have made it considering the background my family and I come from, of having little opportunity.

I am most excited to see what the future holds for me and my music, from opportunities to new music I will make that others can enjoy. I am overall excited to see organic growth across the board.

There was definitely no luck in getting to where I am today. When I grow an interest in something, It quickly becomes a passion because it’s something I naturally gravitate towards and want to succeed in. The way I got to where I am today comes from being a sponge, and learning everything I can about the music industry and how it works. I first learned to write, which then turned into learning to structure a song, which then turned into learning to record myself, which then turned into learning to market myself. I am a very analytical person when it comes to statistics, which has helped me learn different techniques in being able to market myself in various forms. I think what has helped me the most is the fact that I am not lazy when It comes to my passions, I take the time and do the work to reach a goal, and never look for shortcuts.

Some of the lessons I have learned along the way consist of: time allocation, effort, consistency, and people. Time allocation plays a huge role in how to balance your real life, and your passions of making music, which are both equally important to maintain a “somewhat decent” mental health level and to reach a certain level of success. Effort and consistency go hand in hand, the more effort you put into your craft, the more consistent you will be which leads to improving over time. The less consistent you are, the quicker you are to fade, especially in today’s world. Lastly, learning people has been an incredibly important part of this journey. Not everyone has the best interest for you, and that can be a hard pill to swallow. Another important aspect is you HAVE to surround yourself with other people that empower you and your goals, especially people doing the same thing at a larger scale and people that actually appreciate your craft. For a long time in my life, I was always the person/artist that wanted it so bad, I was extremely consistent and had accolades that showed my growth. However the people/artists I was surrounding myself with were hobbyists or lazy at their craft and I always had to be the one to encourage them to get on it and try to elevate. That kind of approach will always drain your energy if you always pour onto others when you can be pouring it back into yourself.

I want the world to know that absolutely anything is possible if you manifest it. Manifestation to me comes from taking actionable micro-steps in order to reach a goal, not just speaking it into the world. It does not matter what background you come from, you can take steps to reach any goal you want. I came to this country when I was two years old, with opportunity, money, and resources being extremely scarce, but with the sacrifices of my parents, and my hunger to succeed, I am creating a path for myself and others around me. I also want the world to know that I am simply a person, just like you, who discovered a talent and locked in to make it happen. I am no better than the people around me and a lot of artists who find success tend to forget WHY they are successful, so its important to me for people to know I am nothing (music wise) without the support of them.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If a friend was visiting the area, I would plan an array of things to do, primarily centered around entertainment, like a live music show at Southside Ballroom where I have performed and seen some of my favorite artists! To start the day, I would take them to get brunch at Haywire and order them the Cinnamon-Orange pancakes and a plate of barbacoa chilaquiles omggggggg its fye. While we wait for the show at night I would take them to the AT&T discovery district where we could either get some more food or walk around and see the beauty of the structure of the whole place or alternatively I would take them to go to the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical garden with me and force them to appreciate the flowers, trees, and other growth as much as I do. After that, we would hit up a live music show at Southside Ballroom where hopefully an artist we both love is performing (preferably Smino). After the show ends we would be a lil rowdy so I would definitely take em down to Deep Ellum where anything (and I mean anything) could happen haha. But if they want a little more laid back ambience we would definitely get something to drink and eat around the star area in frisco. That would be a cool day to spend with a friend, throughout the week, I would probably just introduce them to really touristy areas they want to see!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First and foremost, my parents were the absolute factor in any of this coming to fruition. Without their love, lessons, and sacrifices, I would not have had the opportunity to even be answering this question right now. I am solely a reflection of my parents sacrifices, so a huge shoutout to them. I would also say my older brother Milton somewhat introduced me to the idea of rapping, when he first started making music. Although I didn’t continue that trend of writing and rapping immediately after, it definitely planted a seed in my brain which I watered and grew many years later. Another person who helped me figure out a lot of the basics and ways to maneuver my music career very early on, was Curtis Igunbor “Mez Records” out of Austin Texas. Lastly, one noticeable person that never stopped supporting me from the very beginning, was my friend Damario. Him and another friend named Colt were the first ones to ever go to a recording studio with me to record my first project. Since then, Damario has been nothing but a huge support and reason why I continued after the first project I worked on.

Besides everyone I named, I take a lot of my own inspiration from artists like Russ, J.Cole, Smino, and a lot of other artists that I feel have helped mold my sound from just listening to their unique sounds.

Website: https://jsaenzmusic.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_j.saenz/?hl=en

Twitter: https://x.com/J_Saenz8/status/1895682627484655802

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-182275608?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/JSaenz-Music-100063754351527/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRS9NnHbT36frok2z-Bb8eg

Other: TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@_j.saenz?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

Image Credits
J.Flixx Media. Jamie Garcia