Entertainment

John Jay, the Hype Stirrer in the R&B and Pop Music Sphere Making his Childhood Dream Come to Life

Published

6 years ago

July 11, 2020

Every person is born with some sort of dream to make a difference in the world using their skills or interests. For some people, the dream is to teach, some people dream of becoming a top-class sports player. Some people dream of becoming a doctor, while for some people the dream is to become musicians or singers.

Dreaming is one thing, but having the courage and motivation to take that dream to greater extents is another, and not everyone is brave enough to do so. Outshining everyone else, John Jay was a dreamer who worked hard and paved his way to the top. This rising Pop and R&B sensation is stirring hype in the musical sphere.

THE DREAM TO BE PART OF THE MUSIC INDUSTRY

John Jay was born in New York on 24^th February 1987, but shortly after opening eyes in the world, his family moved to Miami, where he grew up. Living in a state that is known for its talented music artists, and growing up in a family where every person was interested in making new sounds and music that caught everyone’s attention no matter the age difference, John found himself very interested in music. When he turned nine years old, he began producing and playing classical music. He also learned how to play the piano!

With his interest in music in full bloom, his dream to become a musical artist also started to ignite. Being influenced by his friends and family, John was sure that this was what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. John had had heavy influences in the electronic and dance music genre along with Hip-Hop and R&B scene, which is a huge part of Miami. Listening to two opposite genres, John decided to merge the two and create unique music that ould attract a large crowd of audience. His aim was to make music that people would be able to relate to.

TAKING HIS DREAM TO REACH THE TOP

After struggling and working hard to collect sources and skills to make a mark in the music industry, John founded a record label, Independent Hits. Since the record was new to the industry, nobody wanted to work under it, so John built his own platform and let all of the artists who were in need of help come to him.

For quite a long while, there were no submissions, and the years were slow and tough. Eventually, submissions started coming in, and John realized that there were so many underrated and talented artists. They had no help in promotions or gaining visibility. That is when John decided he wanted to help the underrated artists, and his label came to life. He decided to help promote music that was new and undiscovered to audiences, that those artists would have never seen or be able to get in front of. From then on, the label became one of the largest playlist networks, and he started working and getting request for more established and bigger artists.

As of today, Independent Hits is one of the largest playlist networks and labels with a growing music catalogue and has over 200+ playlists, 10+ million Spotify followers, and 6 million monthly listeners. The genres include POP, R&B, Hip hop, Electronic, Lofi and Chill.

At the same time, John also began recording songs. On October 3^rd 2019, John Jay released his first single, Best Life. The same year, he released four other singles, Lowkey, Bring That Close, Run, and So Numb. John’s songs are Sounds are recognized and influenced by The Weeknd, Benny Blanco, Hasley, H.E.R., SG Lewis, Post Malone, Drake, Zayn, Bazzi, and Khalid.

On 24^th January of the current year, John’s first album, Jaded, was released, with a total of 9 Songs. His songs reached over 10 Million streams on Spotify. The album was followed by a beautiful single, Don’t Fade Away, released on 31^st January 2020. John also released two other songs, which are a collaboration with Courtney Bennett, Lifetime, released on 24^th April 2020, and Back To You, released on 8^th May 2020.

As of today, the artist has recently worked and released music with Jean Deaux, Jahkoy, and NEVRMIND. His track, Eastside (feat. Kyan Palmer), is scheduled for release on 19^th June 2020!

John Jay’s story is a motivational narration for anyone who requires self-confidence and belief that with a little patience and a whole lot of passion, anything is possible!

Entertainment

Take the Gig, Meet the People, Build the Life: Sarah Angel’s Real Talk for Musicians

Published

2 weeks ago

January 16, 2026

Jonathan Grilli

Too many talented musicians spend the early years of their careers standing still, waiting. Waiting for the “right” gig. Waiting to be discovered. Waiting until they feel completely ready. But while they hesitate, others with less experience but more urgency are out there taking the jobs, building connections, and gaining ground.

Sarah Angel has seen this happen again and again. A successful live entertainer and founder of Posh Piano, she didn’t wait for a perfect opportunity to appear; she built her career by saying yes to what was already in front of her.

Sarah’s journey didn’t begin with a business plan. It began on stage, performing at corporate gigs and high-end events. For a while, she did what many musicians do: she showed up, played the set, and collected the paycheck. But the turning point came when she realized how much more others were earning off her talent. While she was being paid a small cut, the booker was making thousands. That gap shifted everything. She didn’t get angry, she got to work.

Sarah learned to run sound, bought her own equipment, built piano shells to give her setup a polished look, and began booking directly. Before each event, she would spend hours hauling gear and setting up the space herself. She didn’t wait for anyone to hand her a better gig; she created it. That same mindset carries into how she mentors and advises young musicians today.

For Sarah, one of the biggest traps new performers fall into is comparison. Instead of focusing on their own style and voice, they mimic what’s already out there. But copying someone else won’t lead to a sustainable career. What matters most is figuring out what makes you different and building on that. Your individuality is not a risk; it’s the foundation of your career.

Equally important, she says, is learning to say yes more often. Not every opportunity will be glamorous or well-paid. But every job is a chance to meet someone new, gain experience, or get your name in front of people who can open doors down the road.

This is where so many early careers stall, not because of a lack of talent, but because of hesitation. When performers constantly hold out for something better, they miss what’s right in front of them. Taking one job often leads to five more. And even if a gig doesn’t seem ideal at first, it often brings value in ways that are not obvious right away.

Sarah compares it to building momentum. Each job adds to your experience, your network, and your visibility. It’s not just about stacking performances, it’s about putting yourself in motion. The more active you are, the more people think of you when opportunities come up. That kind of consistency can’t be faked, and it can’t be replaced with a few viral moments online.

Another common challenge she sees is indecision. Musicians who spend too much time analyzing every offer often lose out on real growth. Taking action, even imperfectly, leads to more progress than standing still. Not every gig will be a perfect fit, but most will teach you something valuable.

Over the years, Sarah has also learned to be intentional about who she surrounds herself with. She chooses to work with musicians who are not just talented, but reliable, respectful, and open to learning. Attitude often matters more than technical skill. It’s easier to grow as a musician than to fix a lack of work ethic.

Sarah Angel’s career didn’t come from waiting or wishing. It came from working. She showed up, learning as she went, and made smart choices when it counted. The music industry doesn’t reward perfection, it rewards presence, action, and growth over time.

If you are serious about building a career in music, start with what’s in front of you. Take the gig. Meet the people. Build a life. One step at a time.