Meet Jackii Kennedy

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jackii Kennedy.

Jackii, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started learning music when I was around five. It’s the classic “my mom forced me into piano lessons” type intro to music. I hated it. She told me to give it a year so I did and after the recital, I quit. Then sometime around my 10th birthday, I was grounded and had everything taken away except for the left over keyboard in my room and a harmonica. For two weeks, I had nothing to do but mess around with them. Thats when my love for performing really started. After that I taught myself guitar and drums from YouTube tutorials and started singing (more seriously than just little kid karaoke). After high school, I went to college for a year and thats when my friends and I started to actually record and release some original music. That time in my life helped my brain shift from music being a hobby to being something I could actually pursue as a career.

The next year I dropped out and drove out to LA. I started street performing and singing on other peoples records to try and network and get to know people (anyone). I worked in a studio for two years writing songs for other artists and never got paid for anything so that really pushed me to focus on myself and my music. Almost two years ago, my hometown friend, Ryan Raines moved out and we started making music together. Since then I’ve released seven original songs, one music video, and played shows all over California. I’m also currently working on a new single and music video.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It hasn’t been easy at all. There was a brief moment of homelessness (so original, I know), a lot of self-doubts, a lot of being taken advantage of, and just overall overwhelmed-ness. I definitely was a little bit naive and overly trusting when I decided to navigate this city but if anything I’ve become so much more knowledgable. I think that when you move across the country by yourself to try out a career thats so touch and go, you can really lose yourself in all of the new information you’re absorbing but somehow you find yourself eventually and the outcome is really inspiring.

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I focus mainly on singing and writing original music, and creating visual content to go with it. I think my strongest skill would be songwriting, specifically lyrics. I love transforming everyday things and feelings into things that make others feel something differently or see something in a different light. I also love working with other people on their projects because it’s really fun having deep, lengthy conversations about something in their life and then turning it into a song. It makes me feel connected to people in a unique way.

I’m most proud of the progress I’ve made since moving here four years ago. When I got here I was a shy, yet cocky little street performer that didn’t know anything about anything and now I can say I’ve learned to stand up for myself and my music and recognize that its something thats more important to me than a paycheck or a degree. What sets me apart is (I hate this question but if I had to say something it’d be:) my ability to eat all of the snacks in the green room before anyone else can get any.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
My personal definition for success is being fulfilled. For me, that means having a creative career that helps/inspires other people. Making enough money to comfortably live in this world would be a nice bonus. My mom always says that I owe her a yacht for raising me so maybe that should be the goal.

Contact Info:

• Website: jackiikennedy.com
• Instagram: jackiikennedy
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/jackiikennedy
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/jackiikennedy
• Other: https://youtu.be/KsUumbEEbBU

Image Credit:
Drea Delacruz, Sophia Marin, Ben Shani, Michael Arellano

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