Today we’d like to introduce you to Maya Jupiter.
Maya, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I knew I wanted to be a part of the music industry since I was in high school in Sydney, Australia. I would comb through the big book of University courses waiting for something to jump out at me saying “this course will guarantee you a job in music” but it was a technical trade college where I would learn all about the music business.
I was always in love with Hip Hop the culture and the power it had to transform lives. I went from recording demos to albums, to hosting my own Radio and TV shows. I also worked with underserved Youth facilitating songwriting workshops.
I moved to LA ten years ago and recently co-founded a company called Artivist Entertainment along with Quetzal Flores, Alberto Lopez, Veronica Gonzalez, and Aloe Blacc with the goal of supporting artists who make art for positive social change.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
On a personal note, picking up and moving to a new country is difficult. I didn’t think it would be so challenging, but having a blank slate can be as daunting as it is liberating.
You have to redefine yourself, re-introduce yourself to people and start building your friendships and networks again. Sharing history with someone was something I didn’t realize I would miss.
As far as Artivist Entertainment, I think some of the challenges we face is that there is so much to be done and we all have a lot on our plates. I have found that setting realistic goals and small deadlines makes progress more achievable and that you can do it all, just not at the same time.
Artivist Entertainment – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Artivist Entertainment brings people together through community events, performances and concerts. We promote artists who are dedicated to making their communities better and use their talents to create positive social change.
We sponsor activities that celebrate the intersection of culture offering members of disparate communities a chance to fellowship through a common activity. Artivist is proud of the work we have done in creating spaces for dialogue through our Charla series of discussions.
We are also very honored to support non-profit organizations that aid the transition of refugees, work to end domestic violence and provide underserved communities with locally and sustainably grown fresh organic produce.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success for me is defined by how well the community is doing. If one person is struggling, then we’re all struggling. We use art to change the culture, seeing a change would be success.
If my song about affirmative consent helps to change our culture of violence, then I would consider that success. Making a difference in a person’s life is success.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.artivistentertainment.com
- Instagram: @mayajupiter
- Facebook: @ArtivistEnt
- Twitter: @mayajpiter
Image Credit:
Peace Over Violence, Molly Donna-Ware, Grace Oh, Osher Günsberg
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
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