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

Hi Aaron, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
It was a way that I could express myself. I grew up shy and not really confident in myself. Pursuing the path of an artist allowed me to not only express myself more authentically, but personally develop myself and my perspective.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My art is a story of growth. Early on, even though I had a passion for music, I was extremely shy and self-conscious. Music was just a what if dream I had in my mind, but it didn’t stop me from wanting to create. I used to be on the verge of panic attacks performing my music to 1-2 people, but it never stopped me from creating. The path wasn’t easy, but it taught me a lot about myself. I overcame by simply not giving up. Despite how things seemed on the surface, I trusted the feelings and vision I had internally and I was guided through all the hurdles. Some of the lessons I’ve learned along the way is to always trust your intuition, sometimes those with vision are placed around the blind, and it’s so important to know who you are because that corresponds with what you receive in life. I want the world to know that the light I shine is something we all have within ourselves, what you see is just a reflection of what’s in you.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m honestly a bit of a homebody, so I don’t travel or explore much unless it’s involving work, nature, or music. Some spots I’d definitely want to take them though would be the beach, the Chesapeake and Norfolk Arboretum, some open mic nights around town, the urban hot pot in Chesapeake, and a local bar or two

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?
It’d be too many to name, so I’d simply like to shoutout all the people who aided in the betterment of myself along my path. Whether the gesture was big or small, it still made an impact that sculpted my experience for the better.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afrojojo1234?igsh=bm5oNjQzMmt4eDEw

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@RipEmUp318?si=h19OUOAwYb2N15Uf

Image Credits
@thebrightersidee (Ivanna Denisee)

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutAtlanta is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.