Check Out Jasmine Wesley’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jasmine Wesley.

Hi Jasmine, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers. 
I am a Dominican-American singer/songwriter raised in Grand Rapids, MI, and now living in Los Angeles. My journey truly began when my brother encouraged me to move to LA to sing. Despite my crippling fear of singing in front of people, I signed myself up to perform at local cafes in LA in hopes of overcoming my fears and insecurities. I did this for many years while working full-time jobs but as time passed by, I realized I had a decision to make. I was already making music so it seemed as if I was going after my dreams, but truthfully, I was doubtful if I could actually make it in the industry and questioned if I should continue. I decided I would rather spend my life trying and giving it my all than wonder ‘what if,’ even if that meant failing. I saved up as much money as I could for a year, and then I quit my management job at Jersey Mike’s. The only plan I had was that there would be no plan B. Taking daily steps forward got me to where I am today, with over a hundred thousand people who love my music and dedicated fans who support me and believe in me. I took the very next step I knew to take at the time, over and over again. Writing daily. Posting daily. Improving my Spanish daily. Doing things that made me feel uncomfortable daily. I still don’t have all the answers, and I don’t always know “how,” but this beautiful journey keeps unfolding before me as I take steps forward. 

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My greatest struggle was and is my own belief in myself, my fear of failure. My friends and family have always believed in me, people at my shows believe in me, and now I have a beautiful community on social media who believe in me, and yet, I have always struggled to see what they see. In my upcoming single release, ‘Lentes Rosados,’ I write about these struggles and the path to overcoming them. As my grandpa used to say, ‘Dale miedo al miedo’ or ‘Give fear to fear’; I hold on to these words as I learn and choose to believe in myself every day in hopes to inspire others to do the same. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a singer/songwriter who expresses myself in both Spanish and English. I am most known for my Spanglish covers on social media, as they have brought together a community of people who understand the struggle of not feeling that they belong here nor there. I myself have always felt like a misfit in many ways; translating songs was one way to create a place of belonging for myself in music and reconnect with my Dominican roots. Through these covers, I aim to bridge the gap between generations and cultures, creating a space where everyone feels they belong and where we can learn to love and accept not only each other but our own selves as well. 

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Sometimes, fear can serve as a compass. The thing you’re most afraid to do might just be your greatest calling. I used to be paralyzingly afraid to sing in front of people because I didn’t like my voice, afraid to let my hair out because I looked different, afraid of shining my light because it made people uncomfortable, but I knew I did not want to live my life hiding and wondering what could have been. I could have never imagined being the artist that I am today, but the path is always revealed; you just need to take that first step, even if you have to do it afraid. 

Contact Info:

• Website: jasminewesley.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsjasminewesley/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itsjasminewesley
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/ijasminewesley
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@itsjasminewesley
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@itsjasminewesley

Image Credits
Eric Pumphrey
Angelo Pullen