Meet Quamaine Jones

Today we’d like to introduce you to Quamaine Jones.

Hi Quamaine, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My fascination with music all started with my mom who had the voice which she passed down to myself and & my older brothers and sisters. She relocated to California with them from St. Louis in the 80s, as my brother Tre & I who are the youngest, were not born yet. When my siblings were old enough, they formed a group called “The Maine Connection”, as all of our names end in “maine”. After I was born and old enough, I attended their rehearsals, their performances that were just about everywhere, and any events in between which grew the fascination into love.

When I truly became old enough to realize what I wanted for myself, I knew it would be rooted in music. My brother Tre & I are the youngest out of 6 and my mom had our duo singing everywhere. My oldest brother Jermaine was also always finding auditions and events he could enter us into. He is responsible for introducing me to production. Before I knew or understood the inner workings of music composition being an artist was my thing, whether it was singing or rapping. Let me also add that church had a great deal of influence on this journey of mine as well, as we attended every Sunday.

Jermaine and my cousin Kenny were two of the first people I’d ever seen with a home studio. This was before you could buy a relatively inexpensive home computer, mic, or any other readily available equipment from places like Guitar Center. They had all analog equipment, which meant you didn’t touch anything unless you knew what you were doing. He trusted me enough to show me how to use his equipment and I never looked back. There would be times when I would wake him up or beg to be dropped off at his house just so that I could create. Eventually, he showed me how to use everything in his studio where he didn’t even need to be there watching over me anymore. I’m forever grateful for that time he spent with me then and I love him for that. He is of the smartest guys I know!

In the midst of my brother Tre and I performing as a duo and doing our small events, my second oldest brother, Romaine, began writing and producing with Universal for Kel Mitchell. You all may be familiar with Nickelodeon’s hit show from the 90s “Keenan & Kel”. At the time, Kel was looking for some talented kids to work on soundtracks for a couple of shows on Nickelodeon and we just happened to be at the right place at the right time. Of course, my brother mentioned us and we got to meet Kel and the Nickelodeon team and pretty soon thereafter, we were in a real studio writing and creating songs for a major television network. This was another defining moment that solidified the fact that music was the end goal and a forever thing for me.

Fast forward, after high school, I attended college for music theory and teaching. My focal point for my entire professional career as an instructor was at-risk youth. I grew up in Pasadena and as in most communities, there were many groups of kids who didn’t have immediate access to the things I had access to, as far as creative resources. Music provided me an outlet to express myself and keep me from doing things that I had no business doing. Music definitely helped shape my identity where I didn’t have to search for belonging or acceptance in other areas of life.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The music business is not for the weak-minded weak-hearted the uncertain. If you are any of those things, this industry will eat you up.

You have to constantly remind yourself that your the only one you’re competing with. With social media going on, every moment of our lives is easy to look at what’s going good for someone else and compare ourselves. Sometimes that can bring doubt, can make you stagnant & even bitter if you keep focusing on THEM instead of the beauty in your gift. Could even alter your style next thing you know you’re sounding like someone else and you’ve lost your authenticity consuming too much of what you think you should be to get attention.

One of my struggles is that I do everything myself.

If I could have 23 of me omg lol if I could have a couple of superpowers, one would be to duplicate myself lol.

The saying “you want shit done right, you gotta do it yourself” don’t get me wrong you can pay someone and it’s still not the way you want it.

So I take it upon myself to be a part of every facet of my projects. Some things take a little more time because I’m handcrafting everything with love.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a singer, songwriter, musician-producer, I do it all. When people work with me, I’m going to do the whole session from tracking vocals arranging writing to the production.

I’m known for my funk sound I take pride in anything gorge Clinton, Bootsy Collins, Roger & Zapp. Gap band, Shalamar, Stevie Wonder, Anita Baker, Bernie Worrell, prince, the Isley Brothers, Teddy Riley, Dj Battlecat, Quik, J1sMaine, etc.

What sets me apart, I would say is my style of approach to songwriting and creating it’s definitely like a time chamber to me. We just hop in it and it can take you anywhere you want it to. Think of the back to the future DeLorean but funked out with a few keyboards, lol.

Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
Check out my first EP debut as an artist, “Nights Like This” produced & arranged by myself along with some really cool musicians and artists that I’m excited for you all to hear. You can purchase a digital download of my project directly on www.bandcamp.com; follow me @QuamieYae on all social media platforms.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: QuamieYae
• Facebook: QuamieYae
• Twitter: QuamieYae
• Youtube: QuamieYae
• SoundCloud: QuamieYae

Image Credits:
Images captured by photographers IG: @Jo_lenz and IG: @shotbychuck