The Deep End with JAH on Noticed
It's weird, isn't it, but the simple fact is that not everybody has the talent or drive to really put the work in their craft. JAH, on the other hand, has had her nose to the grindstone for longer than she'd probably care to specify, irrespective of the fact that she isn't the type of artist who's willing to be acting out with the antics to be "Noticed." Her music gravitates towards a different crowd, one who can relate or find some correlation to her introspection. However, it sometimes feels like that other shit is what garners the most attention when she's been out here bleeding her real-life & emotions throughout her music. She's expressing that frustration here & letting us in on what prompted her absence from the music, a disappearance that almost became permanent.
Artists always seem to struggle with balancing life & career, so much so that they sometimes wound up with a misnomer. Still, with that being said, it can be easy to want to give it all up; this artist's life creates a division between us & the ones we love. You can hear her struggle with the acceptance that not everyone understands what she's doing nor even wants to try to; she opened the portcullis surrounding her heart &, in return, was left with cracks on her glass heart. That's a hard thing to bounce back from, especially when you got different people in your ears telling you different things. The solution won't always be as clear as you'd like it to be; couple that with losing a family member & a dear friend, walking away would seem like the best bet.
Rather than turn the other cheek, though, she chooses to confront these issues, utilizing her pain in the best way she knows how, through music, once that's in you, then it isn't like you can give it up. It becomes integral to who you are; it winds up being more than just a chase for whatever it is you may be hoping to gain from this career path. It becomes your own personal therapy & like the wise words of Quincy Jones, write what you know & people will forever feel you & though she was hesitant at 1st to return, the turmoil, inner & outer that she's faced this past year has only further pushed her pen, she's rapping like she's holding onto dear life like this is the only thread she has left to hang onto.
However, these visuals you'll find on her IG & shot by none other than QNTM prove otherwise. Being that she's clearly back home, after all this time spent trying to find herself, it's nice to know that you'll always have some family to come back to, regardless if she & her mother don't see eye to eye, what matters is that they're starting a dialogue. As creatives, we so badly crave that approval from those we love, especially our parents. We long strive for them to understand why we do what we do & why we are the way that we are & unfortunately, they won't always get it, but it doesn't mean they love us any less. Now when that comes down to a lover, it can get a little more complicated; as Jah clearly states, it's kinda impossible to have your cake & eat it too, but she's learning every day to accept things for what they are. It's out of her control but what she can control is how she responds to it all & thank god in it's the healthiest way she knows how. Thank god it all made her instead of breaking her & now that the foundation is laid out once again, it's time for her to rebuild on top of it slowly, regardless if you take notice.
First off how has Jah been, how’s life been treating you lately?
JAH: in all honesty it’s been hard to stay motivated it’s been hard to stay creatively consistent but I keep a smile on my face & keep going. I’ve just been standing up every time I get knocked down
Anything new in life that’s been happening you that you would want to world to know about?
JAH: copped a new whip, a new house and got a new personal studio that I’m very excited to work in daily just to better my craft and become less dependent
How did you get started in doing music?
Middle school was rough for me. I constantly got bullied because I appeared to be more fitting into masculine things. My cousin picked up on the frustration and gave me a journal told me to vent in there so the words kinda just flooded out and like Tyler Creator once said “I just happen to rhyme when I get emo and find time to write facts”. So those words turned to me freestyling battling and one day my uncle rented out a whole studio for 4 hours and told me we could make whatever we wanted so that turned me into a damn feen when it came to recording and creating
I believe the definition of music is different to a lot of people, in your words what does music mean to you?
JAH: Truth and Freedom...no matter if it’s good bad ugly or even something that isn’t even said. Truth is shown through the tone. You can match a song with how you TRULY feel and let it free you & your emotions in that moment in time
Has there been any record that you did that meant to most to you?
JAH: I have a song that is about a situation I blamed myself for years for that happened to a loved one. The year I came to terms with letting that guilt go was the day a recorded that song. It freed me from so much weight I didn’t realize I was carrying. The day that I choose release it will be bitter sweet but I think it’s necessary
One artist & one producer you would want to make a song with living or decease and had one person to direct it, who they be and why?
JAH: Artist would be Jhené Aiko. The producer definitely 40 & to direct it would be Donald Glover. Think it would be super epic and highly emotional in a good way. I’m into zodiacs so to know that those three in some way intertwine with my chart is dope. Donald and I are both libras, Jhené is a Pieces that’s my rising & 40 is an Aries which is my sister sign. It’ll bring a even balance of contrast in my opinion
I know this interview became possible because you won our Freestyle Frenzy contest we had during the start of the pandemic, what motivated you to compete in the contest?
JAH: Everybody in SA either don’t know about me as an artist or if they do they think I just make music bout girls. They don’t see me as a full on rapper, which is fine but never forget rapping is what made me.
Last year on King Khali project Poor Decision, Good Intentions 2, how did it feel to be the only feature on the album?
JAH: Man this probably my favorite question. It was interesting, unexpected and really a blessing in disguise. I’m huge on getting signs from the universe and the higher power and Khali making that move was a huge one for me. King Khali was actually the first artist that I heard in the SA Hip Hop scene that was away from the Converse area and the first project I heard from him was the first Poor Decision, Good Intentions. When I tell you that flicked a fire in me, I told myself ppl gone know me like they know him in SA and to follow up with bein on the sequel still fucking blows my mind
Shouts out to Khali
Really love that guy
We know the last record we’ve heard from you has been “Buttflies” and you’ve been ghosting from social media, anything you have planned coming up that we can get the scoop on?
JAH: LOTS AND LOTS OF SINGLES. I try to get away to detox and make sure my music is as pure as it can be with out keeping up with the wave so a lot of singles that shows you how flexible I am as an Artist.
Being an artist who I felt was getting out more in the scene doing shows, how did the pandemic affect you? Any change in motivation?
JAH: It showed me that nothing can matter in a heart beat so fighting the odds is very important.There’s always gonna be an obstacle and if you stop that’s it they’ll forget and stop caring so keep going even if it’s something minimal of a step keep doing it.
Any artists from the city you got eyes and ears on to work with in the future?
JAH: Swanny Ivy
Anything you want to see happen later in 2021 for you, say out to the world and let it manifest for you right now?
JAH: Bigger crowd that adores my art and me as a creator in general. I want ppl to realize I’m nothing to play with when it comes to music and visuals. I’ll be setting an example very soon on how to do things authentically. Staying me & not riding waves and still loving everyone from my city that’s in the same field. Also got a big idea to get everyone linked as a creator space I’m pretty sure the idea I have will make SA the next festival city