Check Out Jontay’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jontay.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started? 
I grew up in a small city in Ohio called Dayton. As a kid, I was always interested in the different art forms I was exposed to. I found it a creative way to express myself. In my formative years, I looked up to my older sister and wanted to do everything she did, so I began playing and testing out different instruments like the drums, alto-sax, guitar, and piano. I never really focused on singing until I got older, but the earliest I remember singing was at the age of 3 or 4. I loved the song “Rock the Boat” by Aaliyah. I would always sing karaoke songs in my privacy, keeping in mind that I could sing for others because I didn’t realize how good I was. 

One day, I sang for my mom when I was 13, and since then, she has always encouraged me to keep up with it. After that, I became an art student in high school. I immersed myself in a musical environment with many talented individuals—it informed my teenage years, allowing me to express myself, learn music theory, and learn my voice. I was in an a cappella group and an advanced competition choir; I did musicals and plays too. 

After graduation, I chose not to pursue music but rather to pursue a career that would allow me to still exist in creative places. I graduated college with a degree in PR and then attended graduate school and attained my Master of Science in Music Business. I’m now a public relations professional working with some of the world’s top brands, and I’m also an artist. It’s sometimes difficult to balance the two, but I’m so grateful that each day, I get to carry out the dreams I imagined as a child. I continue to write music, sing, and model, as it allows me to express myself creatively. 

I am dropping my very first project later this spring, and I’m so excited for everyone to hear what I’ve been working on. 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Some challenges I’ve faced along the way are finding my path with limited resources and being a first-generation college student. I’ve made so many wonderful achievements, but even to this day, I feel I lack resources and guidance career-wise. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a public relation professional and artist. Some of my biggest accomplishments are working with brands such as McDonald’s, Cadillac, Johnson & Johnson, Baskin-Robbins, Espolon tequila, SHEIN, and SKYY Vodka. I’ve helped move each of these brands forward, and I am so fortunate, as a young professional, to have this experience under my belt. 

Now that things have slowed down for me career-wise, I am finally able to get back to my creative era and share my talent with others. Music is such a beautiful thing that allows us to tell stories and relate to each other because, in essence, I feel like that’s how you build community, and this world needs more of that. 

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsjontaypr/

Image Credits
@d.vision_