Meet JJ Williamson | Music Artist

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

Hi JJ, what role has risk played in your life or career?
One of the main things I always encourage people to do is “follow your dreams”. For a long time I *thought* I was following my dreams, but it ends up I was just playing it very safe and close to the chest.

When I decided to focus solely on my own music career, I realized that I was basically going to have to start over. I was going to have to start from the bottom and make it based on the merits of my talent and my ability to perform… and it wasn’t easy. haha

It still isn’t, but it’s fun and I love it. I’m doing what I absolutely love to do and I’ve somehow made a business of it.

People say “fake it til you make it”, but *I* say “believe it til you achieve it”.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
What sets me apart from others musically would have to be the meshing of the variety of influences I’ve had over my life and my inability to escape them when I’m expressing myself as an artist. Haha But truly, I just released an EP (The Mystery EP) that has Rap, R&B, Folk/Country, House, *and* Latin Jazz! Somehow, it all still ends up flowing into a cohesive musical statement. My wife says “Your genre is vibes”, and I can’t entirely disagree. Haha

When I was growing up, I was always a huge music head. I’d follow producers instead of artists. I was big into Pharrell, Timbaland, Nujabes, and Gary Katz. I grew up in the Bible Belt of the south, so I ended up at a Bible college where I sang with a small acapella unit there. It was there that I learned *real* harmony. I also learned how to read music, write music, compose music, and all kinds of other things that still help me to this day. When I graduated with my music performance degree, I moved to Alabama to work at a church. I was miserable. Haha

I started writing songs and none of them were church appropriate, so after a series of events I ended up leaving the worship leader thing behind and focus on my music. I moved to Nashville first to try and still use some of those connections to help get my music done, but Nashville really wasn’t the place where I thrived musically. I learned a lot about life and people, but I had to go back to Atlanta to do music. In doing that, I knew that I was abandoning any “connections” I’d made this far in my life and I’d have to start from the beginning again and work harder than I’d ever worked.

Sometimes that’s what it takes to push you into the next chapter, you know?
That’s what it did for me.

I’m now performing all over Atlanta. I travel and sing/play music with my friends in a band called Young Hearts. I have a record produced by my all time favorite producer in the game, Nicolay.

I’m nowhere near the end of where I’m going, but I’m happy to be on the road I’m on and where I am currently.

Again, I’m always telling people “FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS”, so FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS. BELIEVE IT TIL YOU ACHIEVE IT. If I could make any of this happen for me, you can do that thing you love to do and make it work for you. It’s not easy, but you can do it. Trust your favorite JJ (me).

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.
My favorite spots in the city? If I had a friend visiting and had to show them my favorite *favorite* spots, one night we would have to go to Paradise Grille in Marietta and get some Rum Runners.

We’d have to visit the SCAD FASH museum and see the Ruth E. Carter exhibit. Seriously one of the coolest things in the city right now.

We’d have to hang out in Piedmont Park at least once and see what’s happening, because there’s always something happening!

Pullman Yards is a super cool place to visit. They have the Van Gogh exhibit happening now and they usually have cool food and drinks and really cool stuff to just walk around and check out.

The best view of the city is at the rooftop bar at the Glenn hotel, SkyLounge.

If we wanted to dance, I’d see where The Black Amigo is DJ’ing and hit that up expeditiously.

I’d take them to Chopt in Atlanta for some delicious AND healthy food. I used to work there, so I can actually vouch for the legitimacy of how fresh and delicious that food is.

And lastly, we would hit the Battery. Catch a game, grab some grub and drinks, hear some live music, all the things.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My wife, Gracia, who at the time was my girlfriend, really told me to bet on myself and follow my dreams. I wouldn’t have released one song had it not been for her encouragement.

She’s currently a wellness coach and a yoga instructor and you can follow her on Instagram here: @yoga_de_gracia.

Website: http://linqapp.com/thejjshowofficial

Instagram: http://instagram.com/thejjshowofficial

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jj-williamson-92b021216

Twitter: http://twitter.com/thejjshowoffish

Facebook: http://facebook.com/thejjshowofficial

Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCHgAedu-_TYKRpSr0YxHmbw

Other: Bandcamp: http://thejjshow88.bandcamp.com

Image Credits
@parrish.marketing.atl