Jayden Hills, an emerging artist navigating the onchain music landscape, shares her insights on pursuing authenticity in a saturated digital world. She discusses the challenges of self-presentation and the importance of storytelling to connect with audiences. The conversation delves into the evolving relationship between artists and cryptocurrency, highlighting the shift toward sustainable practices. Jayden emphasizes the value of community support in achieving artistic success and the revolutionary potential of blockchain technology to reshape music ownership.
Jayden Hills emphasizes the importance of daily rituals in navigating her unstructured life and fostering creativity as an artist.
She highlights the challenges of emerging artists in Los Angeles, focusing on the overwhelming competition and the pressure to succeed in the industry.
Hills discusses the potential of the on-chain music ecosystem, noting it offers unique opportunities for authentic connections and ownership with fans.
Deep dives
Starting an Artist Career in LA
Jaden Hills shares her journey of beginning her artist career in Los Angeles, highlighting the importance of routine in her unstructured life. She engages in daily rituals like meditation and cleansing that help her energetically prepare for her day, which often includes making music or content creation. Living in LA has fostered an unpredictable yet creatively stimulating environment. Her past experience as a songwriter for various artists has paved the way for her transition into her own artist project.
Overcoming Challenges in the Music Industry
Hills discusses the formidable challenges emerging artists face in the music industry, particularly in Los Angeles, where the competitive landscape can be overwhelming. She reflects on her experiences pitching songs to labels and navigating relationships with various industry professionals. The pressure to succeed is immense, as opportunities are often skewed in favor of established artists and labels rather than newcomers. Despite these hurdles, she expresses her resolve to build her career and succeed as a musician.
The Transition to Being an Artist
The transition from being a songwriter to an artist was not straightforward for Hills, as she initially struggled to garner major cuts that would validate her decision to step into the spotlight. She ultimately realized that personal experiences, particularly heartbreak, became the catalyst for her desire to express her own music. By focusing on her authentic identity as an artist, she found the courage to collaborate with others and create music that resonates with her life experiences. This shift allowed her to embrace her journey and share her narrative through her own songs.
Going Viral and Its Impacts
Hills' debut was propelled by her win at an online competition, which led her to publicly release her music unexpectedly yet successfully. This experience highlighted how moments of recognition can rapidly shift an artist’s trajectory, although the support she received afterward fell short of expectations. The act of winning motivated her to rebrand and push forward with her music career, even amidst uncertainty. Such moments can serve as vital stepping stones, motivating her to continue creating and sharing her story.
Navigating Social Media as an Artist
Hills has had to adapt her approach to social media, moving from a desire for enigma to embracing vulnerability and authenticity in her online presence. She identifies the importance of sharing her life openly, which fosters genuine connections with fans. Her unique background, including her experiences with her family's dynamics and personal loss, has influenced her content and resonated with her audience. She acknowledges that being relatable and authentic serves as a powerful tool for building a loyal fanbase.
Exploring the On-Chain Music Landscape
By venturing into the on-chain music ecosystem, Hills reflects on the unique opportunities that the crypto space offers emerging artists. She discusses her initial confusion about NFTs but emphasizes the importance of ownership and direct support from fans in this space. This experience has fostered a sense of community and connection with her audience that feels more organic compared to traditional music monetization paths. As she navigates this evolving landscape, she expresses excitement about where this journey might lead her career.
We sat down with Jayden Hills to chat about her new artist project, going viral and navigating the onchain landscape with Coop Records and Blueprint.
We explore what it would take to bring the world onchain and what success looks like for onchain music.
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