Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Josueños of Los Angeles

We recently had the chance to connect with Josueños and have shared our conversation below.

Josueños, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
Now more than ever I can say this year has pushed me to put myself out there.
Like we all go about life wanting the best we can reach for, but we often overlook how much that requires you not just step out of your comfort zone but also bet on yourself.
Be it Music, acting, dating, competing, whatever the field may be, we’re only able to make our most intentional impact by moving forward in confidence and ownership of what we intend to accomplish.
So while I’ve always loved music, I’ve had battles with sharing it, how i share it, how i show up when sharing it. Everyone wants to share whats important to them. The best bet we have at open minded reception comes with being humble, but also knowing what you possess and not being afraid to shine when the time comes for it. End of the day, we as individuals are the only ones capable of our personal impact on the world around us. thats worth carrying with grace and confidence.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Josueños. Im a singer, songwriter, and producer/ vocal producer.
Im originally from Georgia but I now Live in LA creating music and art, both on my own time and with other talented artist in the area. My whole journey is powered by God. the safety and security Ive had to keep going has always been the love of God. This doesnt mean every song is happy or sounds like a praise song. My music explores and expresses real life experience and emotions through what feels like a dream with the combo of instrumentals that mix elements of jazz, hiphop, house, and video game soundtracks paired with vocals expressing every emotion felt while writing and recording. Every song probably isnt for everybody, but there is a song for everybody.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
The part that played small. The part that felt shy. The part that second guessed self.
There were seasons and times where playing small and conservative felt safe. And to a degree, those things can be more safe, however they shortchange our best efforts and attempts for us to not fully commit or invest over self doubt or uncertainty. So genuinely to anyone who knows they have or has an itch about a talent, a goal, a dream, something you know you have the capacity for but maybe have yet to explore and actually bet on yourself, Go Do that! You’ve Got it!

What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
We could be here ALL day over the topic of wounds and im sure im not alone there.
Ill cover what i consider one of the most significant. in 2020 i found out my dad wasnt the faithful man we always thought him to be. Obviously when youve only known 1 version of your parents your whole life something like this sets you back. And it did in ways i never fully explained or shared. My social media presence dissolved at the time. looking back id say it looked like functioning depression even tho I never felt “depressed”
There were a few critical things that helped me process, heal, and release the entire ordeal.

1. Journaling. when we go through anything that can spike our emotions, be they positive or negative, getting our thoughts down on paper can be so eye opening. It can also be challenging as a journal puts things in front of you that otherwise may not come out but thats the beauty in it. You access words tied to emotions that may otherwise not ever see the light of day. if nothing else, it helps keep your mind sound. this was vital in me processing.

2. Prayer and Community.
Ill say it until im blue in the face but I wouldnt be here without the God/Love sustaining me. Whenever i was in doubt or concerned, id pray until i felt better. God’s peace has never failed. Beyond that, its the people God had in my life checking in on me during that time. Most of which had no idea at the time, but having people who care and check up on you is vital in getting through tough times. Community helps you access healing so much quicker than doing anything alone.

3. Put it in a song. For me making music pulls so much emotion. When it came to this, it was like an all time high of emotions but alot of it was things i knew id never get to tell my direct source of pain. things that would never get to be said but still needed to be heard. all of this became a song called “LIME”
when i first wrote the song i wasnt sure id ever release it. it was moreso a personal project, like a sonic journal entry to help me release what i was feeling. what i found as i held the song was that it had to be released. It had to be heard. For years i questioned my ability to speak on the split of my parents, no way id share a song highlighting their situation, but thats exactly what i needed to do to heal. When we actually heal, we can reference and share without returning to the negative emotions tied to. Sharing the song helped me do just that. It honored my side of the story and what i went through which was the final piece of the healing equation for me. Releasing the song is when i fully released the pain i held in silence.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
The public version of me is the exact same version of me you get in private. This has felt limiting in alot of ways as the music industry is built on personas and alter egos. Im just me and thats all i got. Im fine with that tho.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. When do you feel most at peace?
Location wise, the beach. Nothing like laying in the sun journaling, reading, and stretching with a perfect playlist. Prayer / Journaling are the activities that bring me the most peace in any given setting, but at the Beach the experience hits another level.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1jBRVLSDyVGj2326AM6K4S?si=wpWYKEW7RhCBtDiSUmxaig
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQFsRQNEsKX/
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/j-rican
• Other: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/josue%C3%B1os/1794597450

Image Credits
Nicole Lemberg
Tails
Shirley Mendez