Today we’d like to introduce you to Journee Walker.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Journee. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I grew up in San Jose, California with my dad, stepmom, and four siblings. I never really knew my mother, as she was mainly absent from my life, so I had a rough childhood. Music was and still is my outlet for creativity and comfort. We moved around a lot when I was younger, so I always felt like I was constantly fighting to fit in, however my love for singing allowed me to make new friends who shared similar interests (singing clubs, choir, etc.). I always found comfort and serenity in my own voice and in music, in general. I remember the first CD I had ever received was in elementary school. It was Beyonce’s “I am… Sasha Fierce” and I literally listened to every song on repeat for months. Beyonce is probably my biggest influence musically. She has really inspired certain elements in my sound.
My love for music developed through my dad. He used to rap very heavily in my childhood. We had a recording studio in the garage, and I would always find myself out there just vibing out with him. I started writing lyrics when I was about 10-11 years old but had been singing since I was about five years old. I remember my dad waking me up in the middle of the night to write a hook for one of his songs, and I used to write so fast and would be so confident with my amateur and grammatically incorrect lyrics, but my dad helped me develop them further. To this day, I have been writing songs and singing nonstop.
My love for music developed through my dad, but my love for writing developed through my solitude. I have always been a reserved and introverted person and always felt comfortable in writing. I used to write poetry really heavily, but now I mainly focus on songwriting. I remember the first song I ever wrote when I was about 10. It was called “Don’t do it”, and looking back on that song and some of my songs now, I have developed so much as a writer and a singer. I can’t wait to see what my future holds.
Has it been a smooth road?
It has been a bumpy road, with many detours. I moved to LA three years ago for college and at first, I really struggled with social anxiety and my introvertedness, which held me back from performing or even making friends in general. I have met so many other creatives out here that have helped me step out of my comfort zone and explore my talent for what it really is, so I have gained a lot more confidence since then. I have also struggled with stepping my foot into the industry. It has been hard being a female in this industry. One thing females have to deal with is other catty females, and I’ve noticed in LA it is always a competition to the top. It is really hard for women out here to empower one another, and I don’t really understand why. Another struggle has been just being a female and dealing with very uncomfortable and unfortunate situations with men of authority in the industry. I’ve noticed many men try to take advantage of women in this industry, and it has been one hell of a journey to not get involved in that. It’s difficult when you have a dream, and someone is dangling it over your head and using it as leverage over you. My advice to young women who are just starting out is to never lose sight of your dream, but always stay true to yourself. Don’t lose yourself trying to chase this dream. It’s easier said than done, especially when you have so many failed attempts, but I’m letting you know, the longer you stay true to yourself, the sooner a new and better opportunity will come along. It’s all about patience and self-respect.
Please tell us more about what you do, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I am a singer/songwriter. I specialize in both and liked to be labeled as both because I put the same amount of effort into both, and it’s rare to find a decent singer who can actually write her own songs. This is ultimately what sets me apart from others and is something I am very proud of.
So much of the media coverage is focused on the challenges facing women today, but what about the opportunities? Do you feel there are any opportunities that women are particularly well-positioned for?
I believe there are very many opportunities women are well-positioned for in this industry, and I truly feel like if there were more women in higher positions, such as A&R for labels, or production, there would be more women dominating the industry. It is sad that so many men in power take advantage of young women in the industry because they know they have that power. If more women were given these positions of power, I believe there would be less of these unfortunate cases. Since women know and understand the struggles of other women, they could help with prevention and awareness.
Contact Info:
- Email: journeemusicofficial@gmail.com
- Instagram: @journeeofficial
Image Credit:
AJ Wilson, Brianna Alysse
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