Today we’d like to introduce you to Jamin Reyes.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
There are many things to attribute for fostering the structural framework of my artistic perceptions. I am grateful for the family of thoughtful artists and musicians that raised me, the academic institutions and jobs that granted my development of a formal practice, the churches and temples (while personally non-religious) that taught me the power and spirituality of art and music, and the warm language of my personal relationships that shared with me their musings. I look to my experiences as a writer, producer, engineer, publisher, visual artist, touring musician and studying musicologist alongside my experiences as a barista, server, line cook, delivery driver, shipping clerk and office administrator. Within all structures I believe there can always be a creative dynamic and it is from these foundations that I’ve been inclined to pursue the application of musicology into all it’s disciplines – the synthesis of music in art, education, business, culture, history and philosophy.
I also express much love and care for the brother, Sam Fischer, in the development and understanding of my artistry and self throughout the camaraderie of our youth and adulthood.
Please tell us about your art.
My art is voiced through the particular expression of a Filipino-American millennial identity within the fast-paced, high saturated noise culture New World End Game 2020. When considering the complexity of Asian-American diasporic identities, I think it’s important to listen and develop your own practice for artistic expression so that you may pave the most unique and comprehensive understanding of yourself. Art, as a luxury, can be a method of mediating our realities so that we may orchestrate our experiences into a language of figures and shapes that help structure the narrative of our identity.
For my music and artistic works, I believe it’s important to understand their existence as an alternative language for my own perceptions. There are lyrical, graphic and context-based understandings that are to be read like a text where the pantheons of people and influences, functional objects and significant symbols hold importance to some personal narrative. These are all essentially just practical affectations to support some grandiose compartmentalization and manifestations for the experiences of an anxious dog. I’m a bit of a fantastic romantic – ask my darling who knows well and keeps me grounded.
On other expressions of the self, I’ve internalized the restrained communicative functions and emotional sensitivity of a stoic Asian man and thus find it most efficacious to dismantle such blockiness with the grace of art and music. I’ve still yet to seek some exact liberating Nirvana or some transcendent cyber self, but the progress is still moving forward to uphold and uplift those around me.
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?
I think the room, climate and vehicle for art is unfortunately thick and feral at the moment. We’re at a great apex of globalization, accessibility and exposure, of course – but at an oversaturated expense of mind numbing information overload. All the art is fine, I just find the excessive commodification, obsessive branding and toxic virality to be extremely deadening to the concerns of an artist.
It has always been hard for artists – ever since the inception of systems that capitalize artwork to promote culture. It is just exceptionally more strange and difficult to navigate now with our heightened technological prosthetics for production and consumption. (There is no music business, only an entertainment industry – all 20th century American music history is founded on the manipulation and exploitation of African American music history.)
Los Angeles can promote the careers and wellness of artists by being conscious of the space it takes up. Los Angeles can also defund the police and provide improved funding towards the necessary institutions and amenities to protect and uplift black and brown lives.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
Most of my designs, video works and other graphics are simply housed on Instagram and my music collections are available on various streaming platforms like Spotify, Youtube, Apple Music and Bandcamp. The dearest support I can receive is your thoughts ~ having a conversation about the art is one of its most fulfilling prospects!
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/jaminreyes
Image Credit:
Calli Webb
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