Interview takes place on July 3, 2024 at Dan Electro’s in Houston, TX
“I’m not somebody that is like, ‘Oh, I need to have five Grammys and sell out arenas,” says Jana J, Houston R&B singer, although there’s no doubt that kind of win would be nice.
“I am so big on just creating a community around my music, where everybody feels safe and welcome and seen and validated,” she explains. “I want people–if they listen to me–to see my journey and all that I’ve been through, and how I’m learning to get through stuff, and know that they can do the same things as well.”
Jana J’s passion for music started from a young age, as she comes from a musical family. “My mom was a singer. She passed away when I was little. So whenever I sing or family members hear that knew her, they’re like, ‘You sound like your mom!’ and that means a lot to me,” she says. “I don’t really remember her voice, but I feel like by sharing my gift, I’m also continuing her legacy.”
Aside from singing around her family as a kid, though, Jana didn’t really start sharing her gift publicly until high school. And what finally pushed her to make that jump? “My best friend!” she says. “She encouraged me not only to do the talent show, but also to start a YouTube channel, where I would do covers.”
Jana had no idea that her channel would eventually amass over 350,000 views, though, leading her to get private auditions for American Idol, America’s Got Talent, and more. “I remember my freshman year of college, I had one cover that hit like 50,000 views, and I got reached out to by The Voice,” she says in awe.
“Anyways, I did not get picked,” she laughs.
As it turns out, her big break wasn’t American Idol or The Voice– it was the local Motown & More Revue at Miller Outdoor Theatre. “Motown was definitely a turning point,” she says. “It was the first ‘yes’ after a long string of ‘no’s, and it was just me doing something I didn’t think I could do.”
Not only was the Motown show her first time singing in front of that many people, but it was also her first time being surrounded by peers who were making their own music. “A lot of people in the show were people making their own music [and] doing their own shows. I started going to them, and I was like… ‘Oh! This is a possibility for me.’”
So, newly inspired, Jana took a big step. In 2021, she released her first EP, an eight-track reflection on her life called “In Retrospect.”
“People have really resonated with some of the lyrics I sang,” she says, “and I think that really just motivates me to keep sharing my truth and how I feel, knowing that it could positively impact somebody.”
Since then, she has begun releasing a batch of new singles, starting with her dreamy 2023 single, “What If.” This song serves as an admission of how she has allowed self-doubt to hold her back in the past, featuring lyrics like, “What if I touched the stars? If I got up there, would I fall?”
“I think fear has kind of held me back,” she says. “So when 2023 came, I was like, ‘I’m gonna change my life this year.’” And that’s exactly what she did. “I deleted social media, I prioritized wellness, I was meditating every day, I was journaling every day,” and the list goes on.
By removing distractions and focusing on self-growth, Jana was able to see what was most important to her. “[Although] I’m still battling that insecurity or lack of confidence when it comes to believing in what I produce,” she says, “what I’ve been coming to terms with more recently is that [music] is my livelihood, and I owe it to myself to take that leap and pursue it fully.”
As she continues to pour herself into her music, Jana remarks that she couldn’t be happier with where she is at right now. “I feel like I’m on a journey to really love myself,” she says. “In five years, I am going to think about ‘me right now’ and just go, ‘Awwww, she was so sweet! She was trying!’”
By the end of the year, we should be able to take a closer look at her journey to self-love through the lyrics in her upcoming singles, “I’ll Show You” and “My Mind.” However, in the meantime, you can catch Jana live through her performances with Latin American event band, Mango Punch.
For more information on Jana J, follow her on Instagram and YouTube @janajmusic. For booking information, please contact janaj.music@gmail.com.
Photos and Story by Shelby Mathews
Jana you are so awesome and beautiful! You do sound so much like your mother. I’m so proud of you and everything you’ve accomplished. Continue to soar and reach for the moon. I love you!!
~Monica B.