Meet JeRonelle, a soulful singer from Omaha, Nebraska, and our 2023 LGBTQ+ Emerging Artist Award recipient. He first gained fame on Season 2 of The Four and has since collaborated with Drake and opened for big-name artists. A proud member of the Music Forward family, JeRonelle was our headliner for our Live @ The Echo showcase. We are thrilled to celebrate him as our Artist of the Month for July! Learn more about him below.
Can you introduce yourself and share some insights into your background? Describe your journey into music and the experiences that have shaped you as an artist today.
My journey with music can be traced back to growing up in my hometown of Omaha, NE. As a kid, I was always fascinated by music and I knew early on that it would always be a part of my life somehow. Whether singing in choirs at church and in school, trying to steal attention at family functions, or riding around the city with my Mom and asking her to press replay on all of my favorite songs, music has always been a source of joy and an important way for me to connect to other people. My longing to connect with others through music first led me across the country to the city of Atlanta in 2012 where I furthered my education and earned a college degree in music at Clark Atlanta University. Upon graduation in 2016 I moved to Los Angeles and began pursuing full-time solo artistry. Since moving to LA I’ve been blessed to share space and stages with a whos who of artists including Drake, Kanye West, Khalid, Will Smith & many others – while also continuing to carve out my own lane as an up-and-coming artist.
Let’s talk about your musical inspirations. What drives you to create music, and how would you describe the unique sound and style that define your creations?
My musical inspirations are wide-ranging and encompass multiple genres – mainly R&B, Pop, & Gospel music. I say the combination of those 3 genres together would describe the type of music I create.
What’s your biggest “flex”? Don’t be afraid to brag on yourself a bit!
I’d say my biggest flex(es) to date are opening up for both Durand Bernarr and Daley on tour, as well as appearing on Drake’s latest album “For All The Dogs” within a matter of about 6 months. Crazy enough, I got the call that I was being extended an official tour offer to open Durand as I was on the way to Drake’s house to record some vocals for the album. He was the first person I got to share the news with I was going on the road for the very first time. Going on to open for both Durand & Daley as a completely independent artist was a crash course in learning how to navigate life as a touring artist and I’m so grateful for all of the amazing experiences and the wonderful fans I met (and made) in every city. I should also mention I first found out that I was selected as one of Music Forward’s 2023 LGBTQ Grant winners while in Detroit with Durand during a soundcheck.
Check out one track from Drake’s latest album featuring vocals from JeRonelle!
How do you maintain creativity in the busyness of life? What keeps you inspired?
I’d say I maintain creativity by doing the best I can to take moments where I unplug from the stress of everyday life. Whether playing video games, watching movies, or listening to older songs, I find ways to tune out the stress and reconnect with what makes me happy and helps me feel rejuvenated. I also have come to realize the importance of taking a break when needed for the sake of recharging. I think our generation has been pushed to be on the go all the time thinking thats what will get us further, when sometimes it just leads us to a quicker burnout. It’s ok to take an extended break and clear your mind so that you can truly focus and tap into new inspiration when it comes.
Share some wisdom with us. What’s the most valuable advice you’ve received while pursuing your musical dreams, and how has it influenced your journey?
The best piece of advice I can give right now is something I’m having to be reminded of myself – and that’s to have patience & enjoy the ride. Anyone who knows me knows that I am not the most patient person in the world, but longevity in the music industry requires mastering the art of patience and realizing that great careers take time to build. Even in the social media age where it seems like artists go viral overnight, the journey that it takes to get to the top (and STAY at the top) is not one that should be rushed through hastily.
Looking ahead, what are your future aspirations in your music career? Can you share specific goals you have for the future, both artistically and professionally? Do you have projects coming up that will help you meet these goals?
My mix engineer and I are in the process of finishing the mixing of my 5th EP/project so my focus has largely been on getting new music ready to release hopefully just before the start of Fall. I hope to gain even more fan support with this next project as I believe it’s one of my best to date. I want to become one of the new go-to artists that people mention whenever the conversation about the new generation R&B is brought up online/in-person. I would love to go back on the road again as an opener but this time playing to even bigger crowds/venues and eventually seeing enough fan support build to where I can headline my own shows and tours.
Lastly, let’s delve into the essence of music. How does music personally move you, and what emotions or experiences fuel your creative process?
No matter what emotion I feel I can somehow find a way to channel it into my music and my creativity. The ability to convey my thoughts and my feelings through song is something I do not take for granted and am forever grateful for. Simply put – a world without music is not a world I want to be a part of.
Be sure to check out JeRonelle’s latest project, Regret & Reflect now streaming on all platforms, and keep an eye out for his 5th EP coming soon! Keep up with all the news and updates through his Instagram @imjeronelle.