Today we’d like to introduce you to JCR.
Hi JCR, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My story of how I ended up as a music producer and artist starts with my dad. He had an enormous love for Pop/Rock music. His favorite artists were The Police, Queen, Eagles, Toto, Tom Petty, The Beatles, and Pink Floyd to list a few. Growing up, I would listen to his favorites every time we went out in the car. He laid the foundation for my musical taste and established my interest in getting into music. I started my musical education with orchestra and eventually got involved in advanced orchestra, marching band, percussion ensemble, and jazz ensemble in high school. Sophomore year was when everything changed.
One morning, I woke up with a sharp pain in my chest that worsened every time I took a breath. I received no answers from multiple doctors. I eventually got diagnosed with A.L.L. Leukemia a month later at the end of 2017. My life completely flipped. I was forced to get out of school while losing my hair, weight, and ability to keep food in my stomach. At one point, I hated my life and wished I could be dead. A year later, my dad was diagnosed with colon cancer and would fight on until he passed in 2019. It was a roller coaster of emotions and I had a lot to figure out. Eventually, I started to see the good that came from my suffering. My relationship with my dad was rekindled, I learned to have empathy and figured out my priorities, my family became more united, and I got to connect with Kenli Mattus from Play It Back (a program under Teen Cancer America that helps young survivors express themselves through recorded music). I missed music so much by the time I was able to go back to school and started meeting up with Kenli.
Play It Back opened the door to the modern contemporary recording world. I only performed music up until that point. Creating music from scratch through production and songwriting was refreshing, and I loved it. I was a bottle filled with complex feelings about all my recent traumas. I found a unique and creative way to express it all. At this point, I already knew I wanted to get into music professionally but I didn’t know how I would do it. I decided to apply to Usc’s Music Industry program and have now been studying there for three years. I personally thank God that I’ve been in remission since 2021. I’ve been producing/mixing for artists and have recently started releasing my music under the artist name “JCR”. I released my first single “Not Gonna Wear Black” last year and just released my second single “Betray” on October 21. My music is my expression of the beauties and hardships of my life. “Betray” is specifically meant to unite all those that have been stabbed in the front or in the back by someone they thought they could trust. I wrote this song in two days and produced it in two weeks, the fastest I have ever been in the music creation process. I was in a place of pure passion and expression when I was creating the song. What I had in mind when I wrote the lyrics were more than just one situation. I thought of a girl from my past, a friend who hurt me, and even life itself for pushing me down with obstacles that I had no control over. I hope every listener can resonate with “Betray” in their own way and can make their own connection to my other music that is or will be released.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been a smooth road at all. Now that I am in remission from my cancer, my life is currently at a place of healing, adaptation, and hard work. As a first-gen student, I have had to learn everything on my own for the most part. This included applying to college, navigating the music industry, and learning to release/market my music. There are many that have had connections but I’ve had to create and establish my music relationships from scratch. Aside from my creative work, I have been earning experience working in the A&R team at 840 West Records (Usc’s student-run record label), Usc’s A/V Tech team, and interning at Blue Dream Studios while being there for my family in the absence of my dad. I enjoy learning and working hard but it is not a walk in the park.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a producer, artist, and songwriter. I especially focus on production and mixing for artists’ projects while releasing my own music under the artist name “JCR”. I am most proud of getting to work with other young cancer survivors that love making music as well. I enjoy helping others express themselves through the art of music and production. When it comes to my music, I am set apart from others because of the mixed background my sound comes from. I’ve been told that my music has a familiar yet unique quality. I focus on Indie Alternative/Folk/Pop/Rock music. I’ve been compared to Morrissey from The Smiths, have been called the Latino Sufjan Stevens, and the Hispanic Hozier. It’s my hope that my passion translates through my work and that people may resonate with it.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
The best advice I can give is to not be shy and to be the one who initiates a conversation. It’s difficult, and I sometimes have difficulty following my advice. However, it works wonders when I pull through with it. In my life, being involved in school and organizations is what has helped me network the most. Involvement in Teen Cancer America is what brought me to my friend, mentor, and producer Kenli. Going to school has helped me meet so many talented peers. Getting into Usc’s student-run record label connected me to so many like-minded students. Interning at Blue Dream Studios has allowed me to meet so many talented and genuinely nice people. Going to concerts that my peers throw or perform at makes it all even better. I think that at the end of the day, it’s all about putting yourself out there and treating others in the best way possible. The music business is a people business after all.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/_JCR_
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/jcr15332
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCyIlCCFJ_CfT0rxmviFziDw
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5ORIrRMkWilsNWqnOCWtZj?si=c9WtbGY2TSSOYka-7_7BZA&dl_branch=1
Image Credits
Jaan Martinez and Miles Hane
