Meet Josh “OPTX” Levine

Today we’d like to introduce you to Josh “OPTX” Levine.

Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I am an award-winning commercial director, filmmaker, artist, producer, actor, and technology geek! I was born in the central valley of California into a very musical family. By age six, I was singing as “Lil Elvis” statewide, and by age 11, I was hosting and creating segments for the local cable channel. I was raised by my two amazing parents, who both came from very humble beginnings. My Mom worked as the church secretary while my dad was a teacher in elementary school, and still is to this day. He was even my teacher in the 3rd grade. Together with them and my three siblings, we not only performed together as the Levine Family Singers, but we were part of the church choir and sang every week. I remember my dad having an enormous record collection. I would sometimes find myself sneaking his records and studying not just the music, but the packaging and covers that made some iconic bands who they were. Sometimes I would introduce myself to a new band just by the artwork cover, which is where I first discovered the effect good marketing can have! After playing junior college football as a placekicker and punter, I found myself working for a production company making low- budget horror films.

After helping produce a few movies, I made the move to the “City of Dreams”, Los Angeles, to pursue music and film more seriously. As with most artists starting out, I took the first job I got in LA, as a private investigator. Like the saying goes, “everything happens for a reason” and because of that job, I landed a career as a Director for Time Warner Cable’s Media Commercial Department. I spent six years there, where I worked on hundreds of commercials with clients all over the Los Angeles area. I would meet with clients, learn about their company, and create campaigns based on our brainstorming and research. Though I had my day job, all the while, I was still making music and performing with my band, The Faculty.

More recently, I have put out three solo music projects under “OPTX” with producers such as Eric Zayne, Philip Lassiter (PHILTHY), Aaron Wall (40 WATT HYPE), Cesar Alan and have dozens of regional music placements in commercials I’ve directed. My main goal is to create with others that have the same passion to tell stories that matter. I’m lucky enough to be able to create full-time, whether it be making music, videos, or collaborating with other brands. Video production has been the key to being able to make music and meet so many amazing artists from all over the world.

Please tell us about your art.
Every time I produce a new video or a new song, it gives me the opportunity to dive into new possibilities. Whether it is understanding someone else’s story than being trusted to bring the vision to life, or even telling my own story, I take it very seriously. I strive to create music with a positive vibe and uplifting messages. I want my art to inspire change and hope while remaining raw and non-conforming. I am constantly in pursuit of something I have never seen before. I am most inspired when I get to collaborate with like-minded individuals to create something unique. Doing what I do isn’t just about my passion; it’s about the passion it brings out in others and doing it with a team of creatives truly is a gift.

What do you think about conditions for artists today? Has life become easier or harder for artists in recent years? What can cities like ours do to encourage and help art and artists thrive?
It is exciting how content has become a part of every business, regardless of size of the company or the budget of an artist. All it takes is for the creative content to get some notice and it can instantly become viral skyrocketing that artist or brand to an “influencer” status. As an artist, the battle will always be between making your art the way you want to make it and making money to keep the roof over your head. If you are developing multiple streams of revenue, whether it is streaming music, downloading videos, or product, anyone can create a revenue stream by using social media. Although it has become easier for artists to show off their work, it also means that the market has become very saturated. The main thing you can remember is to always be true to your heart, and don’t let your art conform to what the world thinks it should be because what makes us unique, are the things that set us apart. Our city has a very strong art scene and by highlighting and promoting its artists, like Voyage is doing, sharing each other’s posts, and creating a stronger community, together, we can all shine as artists.

How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
My production company’s website is www.jmatthewscreative.com, where I work with various clients from all kinds of brands, creating content and building brand awareness. You can also watch all my videos, purchase my merchandise, music, and even hire me to tell your story or shoot your music video.

Limitless: 300 Mile Journey – Documentary:
https://www.amazon.com/Limitless-Mans-Prove-Anything-Possible/dp/B073SDX8T6/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?keywords=limitless+300+mile+journey&qid=1557967739&s=gateway&sr=8-1-fkmrnull

OPTX YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTpWwALfJfUP5D27PYy4M6w

OPTX Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/43ysLmBmM001PUDf04rNAU

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jmatthewscreative.com
• Phone: 559-300-2170
• Email: josh@jmatthewscreative.com
• Instagram: @optx
• Twitter: @iamoptx

Image Credit:
Javan Joslin, Colin Duffy, Chris Enloe, Lorenzo Diego

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.