Meet Jackie Venson: Artist/Musician

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

Hi Jackie, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I thought, “I can do this, I can run this and I don’t need anyone telling me what to do. I can do this and I can do a great job and so I will.”. That was the thought that started the fire that turned into my independent music career. 

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My family is a musical family, my Dad is a professional musician and my brother is also a career musician. I always had music in my house. My Mom isn’t a musician but loves music, hence marrying my Dad, and signed me up for piano lessons at a young age. Nothing in life worth having comes easy; I spent 13 years mastering the piano and went off to college at Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. I learned a lot of hard lessons here, mostly when it comes to social interactions, expectations vs reality, and vulnerability when it comes to sharing your art with other people and artists. I had grown up in a supportive bubble and I didn’t realize how brutal and blunt the world is. This eye-opening experience thickened my skin and that was necessary for the years that laid ahead. I came back to Austin after graduating in 2011 and immediately started to learn how to play the electric guitar. I had this vision that I could be the entertainer of my dreams if I could just learn how to completely rule on the electric guitar. I have no explanation for why or how this vision struck me, it just did, and the rest is history. Austin, Texas welcomed me back with open arms and ever since, I have built my entire career on writing songs, singing, performing, and playing the electric guitar. What I think is to be learned from this is a few things; follow my gut, be myself no matter what, be careful who I let into my life, always remember to zoom out.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Whenever I’m in Atlanta I make sure to get wings at J.R. Crickets, or if I’m feeling fancy I’ll go to Bellina Alimentari for their spaghetti carbonara. 

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Wanted to shout out Guitar Gabby for being such a warrior for the struggle of black women in music. She’s always taken the lead on making sure to hold the door open for black girls and women and it’s inspiring. The world can be a cold place but people like her remind me to never give up fighting the good fight, it keeps the darkness at bay.

Website: http://www.jackievenson.com
Instagram: @jackievenson
Twitter: @jackievenson
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jackievenson
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/jackievenson
Other: Tiktok: @jackievenson Reddit: u/JackieVenson

Image Credits
Ismael Quintanilla III