Meet Jastin Artis | Artist/A&R

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jastin Artis and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jastin, what habits do you feel play an important role in your life?
It’s important to point out first you must build habits. Good habits. I can think of several habits that helped me reach success but one that is a must-have is not doing things based on how you feel. If you based everything on how you feel you’d probably do nothing. Being great and reaching personal success is not dictated by how you feel it’s your actions. Another habit is pace. You don’t have to do it all in one day or even a week. Certain things cause you to slow down (kids, partner, money, health, layoffs, etc.) but you cannot stop, just find a new pace. Another habit is balance. There are times you have to spend more time than others. And there are times you have to spend with the ones you love. Or take time off. Communicate to the ones you love and in your circle to help create that balance and accountability. And a bonus habit, remember you’re why. Regardless of the success, you have to constantly ask yourself often, “why am I doing this?” It’s key to progress in the right way and not someone else’s.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
I am a true artist and love to perform. Fun fact, my first and middle name is “Jastin Artis.” I’ve spent years cultivating a sound I call Hip-Hop Renaissance which fuses Hip-Hop, Gospel, Acoustic/Electric Guitars, and Spoken word. But I enjoy creating in any genre like R&B, Lofi, Pop, and Singer-songwriter. There’s a rawness, vulnerability, and support I provide in my music that is rare. I’m not about pointing out the emotions and problems we face with no solutions.

Additionally, I’m a songwriter, hip-hop writer, producer, engineer, guitarist, and A&R. So, my music is original and typically done by me but in recent years I’ve finally found some awesome creatives to collaborate with.

In addition, I love artist development. That’s something my company ARS Publishing LLC does. I’ve just taken a pivot in my business to find artists that are looking for their personal A&R/A&R coach with what I call A&R IN YOUR POCKET. Its subscription-based service provides three tiers, Up & Coming, Indie Artist, and Diamond in Rough. Services range from one-on-one monthly calls to discuss your music and providing feedback, strategizing about the music, marketing, and release plan; web content, music production, engineering, song splits, song registrations, and performance coaching. Also, I’m senior A&R for Estabrook Road Records where I find, assess, and sign talent.

I’m proud to do what I love for so long. And within the last 3 years to do it full-time. Meeting and creating with some stellar people never get old especially when it’s all over the world. I’m grateful for the hard path I had. I had to create my own opportunities, content, and work it the best way I could before social media and YouTube. My why and purpose have always kept me focused. I’m glad I didn’t quit. Now with one gold project under my belt and 2 million+ streams on the content I’ve worked on lets me know I can do it and people want to hear it.

It’s cliche but staying the course and believing in yourself, your why, and your purpose is huge to why I can hold my own especially when no one else is around to help you. Being a student is imperative. And sticking to your plan as best you can is important. Many people including family will try to derail you and if you want it bad enough you can’t let it happen. As I mentioned so many things can take you off the path, including yourself, but find your pace and keep going.

I want people to know a person like me exists. No, I didn’t have it easy. No, I didn’t have some big break or a huge industry co-sign to get me where I am. I had a passion, I self-taught myself, I went to school, and I created. And ultimately, I care, I’m genuine, and I want to build authentic relationships. Also, to teach us all being vulnerable isn’t a weakness, it’s a strength.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My friends may dislike me because I’m horrible at this. I don’t have specific places in the DMV that are my go-to spots. However, I do know how to research. Thus, I would start in Alexandria, Old Town. Then work our way into DC for the historical places. And then on our last night maybe the MGM Grand on the harbor.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I wish I had such a long list of shoutouts because often times I feel I didn’t have the support I wished I had or the way people’s “talk game” pretends to be. Some key person from the early days is Diane. She was my mom’s friend at the time, and she heard me and encouraged me to follow what was in my heart when I decided and realized computer science was no longer a passion and I followed English. Another is my college friend David McGowan. We were roommates and had common ground in poetry and music. He was always pushing me and supporting me. One time he bought tickets to a show (several) but couldn’t attend. That was huge. I also want to shout out to my professor from HBCU North Carolina A&R State University Dr. Myra Shird. She really changed my life. Of course, it was her natural teachings in her public speaking course but it registered with me. And she was my very first paid gig. I got the chance to have my music on her book-CD set. Let’s fast track to more recent to my friend Brian Maurice, who helped me greatly in the early years of my pursuit in my first few albums and over the last 10 years or so. I want to shout out my boys, Jace and Jamis, plus Sharli and Davin. I never needed the motivation to do what I love but surely, they added to it and made me want to be more accountable and be an example. Of course, my parents though I know they had major trouble understanding my pursuits. Big shoutouts to Curtis Waller, JD of Duality, JS Dunk, Jordan Alston, Dylan Berry, Jason Payne, Biggrez (Ruhan), and many others. And finally, my wife. I don’t feel I’ve gotten this type of support from a partner who wants to know what I’m doing and how the music industry works or writing a song, etc. When there’s doubt in me due to my health or I’m waiting for a gig to finalize she is right there cheering me on.

Website: https://jastinartis.com/flow

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jastinartis

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jabatts

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/jastinartis

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jastinartis

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/jartisproject

Other: Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@jastinartis?lang=en New single, “God Mode” (streaming platforms) https://bentleyrecords.lnk.to/JastinArtis-GodMode

Image Credits
Shot 1: Cameron Simmons Shot 2: Face by Fotomotivation Shot 3: Tina Kent Shot 4: Merch Design by Demione Louis for Art of Gold Shot 5: CDS VISIONS Shot 6: CDS VISIONS Shot 7: QT Photography Shot 8: QT Photography