Today we’d like to introduce you to Jax Tinnin
Hi Jax, 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?
My story starts in North Carolina, where I spent the first 20 years of my life. In high school, I knew I wanted to be a Producer/DJ making EDM after hearing Skrillex and Deadmau5 for the first time. Towards my last days of high school, I told my mom I wasn’t going to college. She said that was fine as long as I was working or doing something. So immediately after I graduated, I worked anywhere from one to three jobs for two years. When those two years were up, I drove to New Mexico to live with some friends I made on Facebook.
I lived in New Mexico for two years, working at a call center, moving into my own place with coworkers, and perfecting my craft. Long story segment short, at the end of those years, I was couch hopping, my transmission went out in my car, and my job was being outsourced. So I had nowhere to go, no transportation, and no income. There was no reason for me to stay in NM. I called my friends I initially moved in with for help (who were at this time living in Monterey, CA). They invited me to live with them there prior, but I wanted to try and make it on my own first.
One day at work, I ordered a rental car, left my desk, and headed home to pack all my things. I drove to Monterey. I lived there for about five months before my friends decided to move elsewhere. Given the situation, I wasn’t going with them.
I headed back to NM. I’m there living with another friend and someone he knows, because I wasn’t about to go all the way back to North Carolina. From there, life was….interesting… to say the least. With that being said, we were only there for a few months before things went left. Next thing you know, we’re living in some guys trailer in the middle of nowhere in a town about an hour and a half from the Colorado Border. I’m talking, hanging up your clothes outside to dry, it snowed indoors because the windows were broken, had to walk several minutes down the driveway to have one bar of cell service, nearest McDonald’s is thirty minutes one way, middle of nowhere.
My friend was there to record his album, and I helped (mind you I’m still unemployed this whole time). After the album was done. He had an interview in Redlands, CA. Which brought me to California. While waiting for the interview date, we begin living in cars that we were renting from people (I got a job delivering for InstaCart and Postmates which led me to buying my own car).
After the interview, and living in my car for about six months with a whole person, we part ways. I continued delivering, while networking at EDM events to get my foot in the door. I eventually meet FIGHT CLVB, JSTJR and Don Dirty, and that started some of the most life changing events for the better!
After not having seen my family for some years I drive back to NC and my car gets damaged pretty bad (little did I know this was a great thing). I make the trip anyway, and then head back to California after being with my family for a week. I stop in Arizona to stay with my best friend while my car gets fixed and you’ll never believe what happened next. You guessed it, COVID started.
I heard LA was on lockdown so I end up living in AZ for a year. At the end of that year, I walk out of my job to come live in my car in Cali again. Luckily, when I came back, a friend I met in Vegas offered to let me stay at his place where we eventually became roommates (funny cause he already had four other roommates, but they were all cool with it).
From then til now I have been living in California, while actively pursuing a career as a full time producer and DJ. I’m beyond grateful for all the people who helped and believed in me, and the artists/creatives I’ve met along the way. JSTJR for letting me be apart of his label (GROUP CHAT), which led to my first major shows. And Famous DJ Agency for booking me, which was enough for me to stop delivering food.
Believe me when I say I’m leaving out A LOT, but this sums up the journey of Vagabond. This story also keys you in on how I got my name. A “vagabond” is a wanderer or some who doesn’t have a home. After moving out of my parents’ place, I haven’t lived anywhere for more than two years. Until now.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Smooth? Not at all. Technically I was homeless, “vehicular homelessness” I think it’s called. So wearing the same clothes most days, showering at the gym or at a friend’s place if they were feeling generous, being at the mercy of other people were all big adjustments.
Don’t take pity on me though, it was definitely a choice. I had rather live in my car with the freedom to make music whenever I pleased and work my own hours than have to go to a job doing almost the same thing every day. Respect to anyone who does that.
Choosing which relationships to participate in was also difficult. I’m sure most people can relate to wanting to pursue something and their friends and family always chime in with “that’s not safe”, and “you should do XYZ”. So I just wouldn’t talk to anyone except my closest friends and my family that respected my decisions. There’s people who knew me during those times and had no idea I lived in my car until after the fact.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a EDM Producer/DJ. I specialize in Moombahton. For those who don’t know, it’s like the electronic/EDM/Club version of Reggaeton. I produce other genres as well BUT Moombahton is literally what made me want to move across the country. It’s great!
I see a lot of artists who will change genres just because what they love isn’t popular. But that’s one thing about me I’ve always made Moombahton, I’ll dabble in other genres too, but I usually pay homage in those tracks to my favorite genre.
When I’m not making music, I can be found working on Graphics, VFX, and 3D works as well. I just love media in general but music takes the cake.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
I’d like to leave everyone with this. Believe you can, or believe you can’t, either way you’re right. It may be uncomfortable going against everything you were taught, but it WILL work out. I’m living proof. Also, be careful who you take advice from. If someone hasn’t done what you want to do, then how can their advice help you get there? But also, what worked in the past isn’t guaranteed to work in the future. You know what, just make mistakes, and don’t give up. I believe a life of doing what you love is the only life worth living. Even if it comes with less than desirable conditions in the moment. It won’t always be that way.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.vagabondbeatz.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vagabondbeatz/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@vagabondbeatz888?si=j7OVI3xKSeeR_W9y
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/vagabondbeatz
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6BF2zWvg9KF1LWTPzfclCf?si=q_AepLHyRfCUVc85bP5f2A
Image Credits
Erik Rodriguez
