Meet Junior Charles: Music Artist & Songwriter

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

Hi Junior, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
It took me a while to really find a balance between my career life and my personal life. Before, when I was single I only had to worry about myself and my career. That’s it. So I could go to the studio and record whenever I felt like it for how long I felt like. That all changed when I got married though. During the beginning it was hard finding time for one without neglecting the other. There was a point in time where I almost gave up music because I felt like I wasn’t spending enough time with my wife. That only lasted a few days though. I couldn’t stop thinking about music. The urge to create was irresistible. I just knew I couldn’t give it up. So after a few days of deep thinking and reorganizing my life, I finally found the balance that works for us. When I got home from my 9-5, I made sure to spend time with her. I would let her know ahead of time what days of the week I was planning on going to the studio. When we planned out the week, everything was set in place. Here’s the kicker. Now me, I don’t like going to the studio unprepared. I absolutely despise going to the studio to write because I feel like that’s time wasted. So I know you’re wondering, when did I find time to write? I’m ALWAYS writing. While doing the dishes, at work, in the shower, in the car while driving. I even learned how to write while having a full-blown conversation! Multi-tasking has become my best friend. While doing my everyday routines, I’ll be writing in my head. I’ll just write line by line. Once I get to a stopping point, I’ll find 2 minutes to myself to either voice record what I just wrote or quickly jot it down in my notes then repeat the process. This saves me a bunch of time. So now, I can spend time with my wife the way she wants me to and still go to the studio prepared when I’m good and ready. So in conclusion, I think of balance like this: when you have two things that you have to maintain, it’s not just about maintaining those two things. Thats not balance, it’s just maintaining. Once you can maintain those two things while maintaining your peace, sanity, and happiness, then you know you’ve found true balance.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m a music artist originally from New Haven, CT but i’ve been in Canton, GA for some time now. I always write my music with an open mind and open heart. I realized thats the best way to reach and connect with your audience. It also just seems 10 times more effortless that way. I almost don’t even have to try sometimes. I’m proud of the progression i’ve made over the years. Before, all I wanted do was rap. Thats it. Now, I find great relief in creating concepts and getting out of my comfort zone. I’m continuously pushing my boundaries. I couldn’t have done any of this without a experience and research. We all know that nothing worth having in life comes easy. With me being in high school and rapping alongside a plethora of people, I had to find a way to be different. I started doing research on those before me. “The Greats” if you will. I studied what made them who they are today and what contributed to the longevity of their career. I then compared it to the big artists at that time. I studied the differences and similarities. I also focused on their audiences. What did they react to? What did they not react to? With all of this information, I proceeded to apply this to my art. I began exerting more energy in my performances, mixing lyrical content with catchy melodies for people to get hooked on, and communicating with my supporters. With that being said, one of the most important lessons i’ve learned throughout my career thus far is to learn and understand your career. Don’t just do it because it seems cool. Never stop progressing because there is always something to learn. Nobody ever knows everything.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
First stop is downtown Atlanta. Much like NYC and other major cities, it’s very fast pace. There’s always something to do or something to see. Then I would make my way to Lenox mall to show them where they’ll see their favorite celebrities. At some point during the week I would have to take them to Steak n Shake because we don’t have that up north and they’re milkshakes are LEGENDARY! If the weather is nice enough then we’d shoot over to Six Flags just because. Then to conclude our week, go back downtown to eat at either the Sun Dial or Ponce De Leon Market on one of the rooftop restaurants. Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First and foremost, God. I wouldn’t be here without him. I would like to also shoutout my wife, my parents, Celeste, Erica, and Mikey for always supporting me and standing by my side in my darkest moments. I would also like to shoutout Justtjokay, DubbyGotBars, Truent, CashOnAble, June Jissle, everyone from the Cook Cabin, Ibrahim, Q (both of them), Kai, JT, Justin Turner, Charly Ingham, Melissa Bentley, and countless others! They all played a huge part in my success and I will be forever grateful for all of them.

Website: https://linktr.ee/JuniorCharles

Image Credits
B-Hold Da General, VanDaMan, June Jissle