Check Out Jason Harris’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Harris.

Hi Jason, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’m a St. Louis, Missouri native, multi-talented artist, rapper, record producer, sound engineer, and educator. I currently live in Los Angeles with my wife and two kids.

I’ve been deeply dedicated to my craft since childhood, and I’ve been active in the St. Louis, Kansas City, Oakland, and Los Angeles music scenes since 2009. I started making my first beats at just 11 years old and by 13 was organizing house parties, hiring local top DJs, and making a name for myself as an indie hip-hop artist, forming my very first own rap group “The Criticals.”

Growing up, I was also heavily involved in church, where I learned how to play the organ. I’m an organ player that raps, my musical background is rooted in soul-filled blues and hip-hop. My latest single, “American Detox”, is sweeping with dope bass lines, drums, organ, strings, synths, sound effects, horns, and charismatic beats.

At 18 years old I set off for Kansas City Art Institute where I earned my Bachelor of Fine Arts- Digital Film New Media and immediately upon graduating, moved to Oakland, CA to attend Mills College’s Masters of Fine Arts- Electronic Music Recording Media program.

Since then, I have moved to Los Angeles to work in the music industry as a playback engineer for major label artists, music producer for independent singers, and composer for indie films. I enjoy having my hands in so many corners of the music industry. I’m always learning new things and collaborating with the most talented and creative people.

In my newest album, American Detox Vol. 1, I not only wrote and performed every track on it, but also produced, mixed, and mastered it all myself too. I find my motivation to “do it all” in my passion for the way music brings people together, promotes community, and fosters social change.

Over the past six years, I have worked alongside notable industry veterans, blazing my own trail both behind the scenes and behind the mic. In November 2022, I teamed up with Mike Lynn and Dano Leman (Eminem, Bruno Mars, and Anderson .Paak) and music industry powerhouse INGrooves to release American Detox Vol. 1. The album carries a mission held close to my heart: to inspire people to persevere throughout their life experiences.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Juggling parenting two young children, working as an educator, and building a dope brand isn’t easy. But seeing the look on my kids’ faces when they see what’s possible and building a legacy for them, that’s what keeps me pushing through the toughest moments.

My journey as a recording artist and music composer has been a struggle from the beginning. Education wasn’t my strong suit, but I worked really hard and earned my degrees in film and music. After graduation, I moved back to St. Louis with my wife, where we started our family. At one point, people were telling me that my career as a professional musician was over because I decided to have kids. I never believed them, but it was a struggle to hear coming from industry professionals I trusted.

After a tough breakup with my business partner, my wife and I decided to pack up and move to L.A. in 2017. We started grinding right away. I was lucky enough to have incredible mentors in the music industry, such as Kim Burse and Kevin Teasley. In 2019, I toured worldwide with the boy band Why Don’t We as their playback engineer. It was both exciting and challenging because I had neither toured the world before nor been a playback engineer. I was able to learn the job quickly and successfully completed the year-long tour.

But when the pandemic hit, it felt like all my momentum came to a halt. Losing my father to Covid was devastating, and not being able to be with him in his final moments was a hard pill to swallow. But his words of wisdom and encouragement still ring in my ears, and they give me the strength to keep chasing my dreams.

Learning the ins and outs of the music business has been a wild ride. I’ve put in work with my own money and rely on collaborations to push my creative projects forward. I’ve learned not to let anyone else define who I am or what I’m capable of. People have tried to bring me down and doubt my talent, but I stay true to myself and prove them wrong every time.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am an artist, rapper, music producer, and audio engineer, and I run an independent production company called Mind of the Noise Records. My music is all about facing life’s challenges with grace and not letting the broken systems of our society bring us down. I’m known for my strong cadence, live instrumentations, and lyrics that hit home for anyone trying to make it in this world. Fans have compared me to the likes of Public Enemy, Kendrick Lamar, and Lupe Fiasco, but I draw inspiration from the greats like Chuck Mangione, Dr. Dre, Nas, Rakim, and Pharrell.

As a music producer, I’ve been fortunate enough to work on some incredible projects, from scoring indie films to producing some of L.A.’s most talented independent artists. I’ve even engineered live shows for major artists like Ledisi and assisted in Lupe Fiasco’s virtual concert at Damon Dash studio. These days, I’m focusing on developing and producing for female artists with a neo-soul and pop vibe. In fact, I’m currently in the studio working on an album with the amazing Christian neo-soul artist Nat Stephens, set to release in May 2023.

One of the things I’m most proud of is my ability and eagerness to learn so many different skills in the music industry. It’s tough breaking into this business, but I’ve never given up on my goals. I’m always looking for new opportunities to expand my horizons and make great music for myself and my artists. So if you’re a fan of hip-hop, soul, and pop, keep an eye out for Mind of the Noise Records and all the great projects we are releasing!

Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
As a music creator, I understand the importance of taking risks in the pursuit of creativity and success. In my opinion, taking major risks is necessary if you want to build something worthwhile. Throughout my personal journey, I have taken numerous risks that have provided valuable lessons from epic failures or a chance to level up.

For instance, in 2017, we decided to uproot our family of four from our life in St. Louis, Missouri, to live in a single-bedroom at my wife’s grandmother’s house in Los Angeles. It was a bold move, considering we had no money saved and no secured job. However, we were determined to make things happen and knew the risks were high, especially with two very young children. Within the first eight months, we did well and moved to North Hollywood.

Another major risk I took was when I received a call to go on a worldwide tour as a playback engineer. It was a job I had never done before, and I only had a few hours to make the decision. Additionally, I had only one week to learn the job and ensure my family was taken care of while I was away. It was a huge risk to leave my wife and kids for long stretches of time, especially without access to childcare while my wife worked full-time. However, I believed that as long as we keep saying “Yes” to our dreams, God will take care of the rest.

Despite the fear and uncertainty that comes with taking major risks, I believe it’s the only way to operate if you want to achieve your dreams. I come from a humble background and understand that nothing has been easy. However, taking risks has helped me develop a variety of skills, build friendships with amazing creatives, and brought me to where I am today. If I hadn’t taken those risks, I would still be in the same place I was ten years ago.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mindofthenoise.com
• Instagram: @jasond_harris
• Facebook: facebook.com/jasondharris7
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/Yv5rpRo51r0
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/jasondharris-music 

Image Credits
Justin Nunez Daniel Ordonez Matt Francisco