Today we’d like to introduce you to Justine Ok aka “TINAMINA”.
So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Having lived in different cities, I was fortunate enough to have experienced so many rich and diverse cultures growing up. I am a mosaic of the soulfulness of Chicago, my family roots and cultural heritage from Seoul, the traditional Christian values of South Carolina, the politically savvy landscape of Washington DC, the spirit of freedom and grit in Boston, and the never ending hustle of New York. All of these places have a special place in my heart, but since moving to LA, I have to say that I truly love living here and am absolutely inspired daily just by being a part of this thriving creative community and the commerce that takes place around it.
I am a songwriter at heart, but I am also an artist, music publisher and businesswoman. I got my start in the music industry when I took over singing demos for a close friend after she got signed to a record deal. I was soon pitching my songs to everyone I knew and eventually landed a deal as a songwriter with Sony/ATV. I was blessed with the opportunity to work with some of the most amazing artists, writers, and producers and charted on Billboard with “Good Boy” as my very first placement. Since then, I am thankful to have been able to continue working as a songwriter with talented artists around the world.
Around the same time I got signed with Sony, I began working as the Chief Operations Officer for a brand new startup K-pop production company. I am proud to say that due to our collective efforts, the production company became successful and produced hits for some of the hottest idol stars in K-pop, which led to the company expansion into a record label and publishing company. Over the seven years I was there, I had a hand in overseeing various operations including the development of the company structure and branding, artist development, A&R, communications, tour support, but later settled into my most active role which was handling music publishing.
Currently, I am working full time as a songwriter and have created my own publishing business. I still write and collaborate internationally for major label artists as well as independent artists, however, these days, I am especially focused on developing independent artists and creating music suitable for sync licensing opportunities in commercials, film and television.
I am also concentrating on making new music for my own artist project, which releases under the moniker, TINAMINA. I have several great collaborations in place that I can’t wait to share, and I love how it is shaping up as a unique blend of styles and genres. I am still in the creative process, but the new TINAMINA music will consist of ratchet pop, rhythmically driven uptempos, and emotional R&B sprinkled heavily with 90s throwback flavors.
Has it been a smooth road?
Has it been a smooth road? I don’t know if anyone in the music industry has really experienced a completely “smooth road.” There are struggles in life and love, so of course, there would be struggles in building a career in music. 🙂
I’d say that I consider myself an ambitious and driven woman and one of the struggles I’ve experienced is managing the classic work/life balance. Spending time in the studio writing songs for others, trying to help create a successful K-pop company from the ground up, doing a personal artist project, and even teaching music within the community; one of my biggest struggles has been maintaining a healthy work/life balance and practicing proper self-care. There are so many things I want to do and so many dreams I want to accomplish, sometimes I pursue them at the detriment of my health and well being. I will frequently pull all-nighters to get things done; I will stress myself to the point of triggering an anxiety attack, I place a lot of pressure on myself to achieve, and will often have irregular eating and sleeping patterns that have damaged my health. I am trying to be better at taking better care of myself, but honestly, this is still an ongoing struggle, even to this day.
Can you give our readers some background on your music?
My company, Fiera Music, is my business home base as a songwriter, artist, and music publisher. Fiera Music has recently partnered with sync agency, Global Sophisticate Music, collaborating both as a creative entity and as a business affiliate to represent talented independent artists for sync licensing opportunities. I encourage any independent artists, writers and producers (without an existing publishing deal) to contact me for possible opportunities.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
What I love most about Los Angeles is all of the creative and artistic people that live in this city. I love being a part of this community and the industry here; it feels like home.
I also love the weather! It is amazing to have such beautiful sunny weather all year round. That being said, sometimes I wish there was just a tiny bit more of the overcast, gloomy days! It’s easier to be cozy and drink hot chocolate and be moodier and dramatic about life on an overcast day ☺ That can be good for creating compelling music 😉
I also wish people that I love working with were a bit closer (distance-wise) and not so sprawled across the city, but then again, these things don’t stop me from getting together with them and getting creative. Even with the pandemic, there is always a way to work together online i.e., Skype, Discord, or Zoom!
Overall, I love living in LA and I believe I am right where I am supposed to be ☺
Contact Info:
- Website: www.fieramusic.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/akatinamina
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/akatinamina
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/akatinamina
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akatinamina
Image Credit: Aaron Hong
Suggest a story: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
