Meet Jaylin Vinson | Contemporary Music Composer

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

Hi Jaylin, why did you pursue a creative career?
At the age of six, I experienced my first love: gospel music. I was constantly immersed in the music of the Black church, my mother sang in our church’s choir, my brother was our drummer. We were a musical family. While, at the time, none of us were classically trained, we had a musicality that was informed by the music we experienced in a sacred context. That all changed on my tenth birthday when I started to learn the violin. While I was undeniably passionate about performing, I soon discovered an even stronger affinity for music composition. As I transitioned into my teens, the act of creating music became an integral part of my life. It was a creative process that I couldn’t do without.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
When asked, “what kind of music do you write?” I respond that my music is a conversation of aesthetics captured in sound. A conversation between the years of immersion in Black music and my training as a classical musician. Following a long, vibrant heritage of musical expression, I hope to uplift the narrative element that has always been apart of Black music-making. I am interested in Black stories, histories, experiences, and sensibilities. For example, In an upcoming project with the Washinton National Opera and Project Row houses titled the Cartogrpahy project, I am collaborating with Houston Poet Deborah D.E.E.P. Mouton on Opera that addresses these very ideas. In this work, we ask about Black futures in Houston, and what that looks like in our imaginations. Our opera is imagining the first Black woman mayor of Houston. What would it mean for her to exist? How would she question racial and gender equity in Houston politics? How would her story create space for a conversation about a not-so-distant future for Black people in this City? Writing the music for this opera inspires me to reflect on how I can create space for conversation, and how Black narratives can be the foci of my musical ventures.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
For a day exploring my beloved spots in Houston, I would start by visiting my favorite bookstore, Kindred Stories. It’s a Black-owned bookstore that has a wide collection of titles, books, and creative works by Black authors. I could spend hours there on every visit, and the staff are some of the most lovely folks you’ll ever meet. With a newly acquired book from Kindred, my next stop would be Hermann Park, where I would enjoy the beautiful Houston weather while wandering the park’s trails. I would head to Post for dinner. Nestled Downtown, this complex of restaurants and shops has such a good variety of dining options (Though, I must give a special shoutout to ChòpnBlok, a personal favorite among Houston’s dining scene.) And let’s not forget the Skylawn on the roof, with one of the most breathtaking views of the Houston skyline. To end the day I would head to a concert nearby. Whether it’s at NRG Stadium, 713 Music Hall, or Wortham Theater, Houston never disappoints when it comes to live entertainment.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
In my own musical endeavors, community and collaboration is extremely important to my success and is an important drivers for the scope of my future work. All in all, I am passionate about people, and I want my music to connect with listeners. With that being said, I would like to shoutout the community that has given me unconditional support. In particular, I would like to shout out my mentors and teacher at Rice University, as they have played a massive role in the development of my creative endeavors!

Instagram: Jaylin.vinson

Youtube: @jaylinvinsonmusic

Image Credits
Brandon Martin Zeisha Bennet