Biography:

If you ask J, music was always the love of his life; a soundtrack to every moment, an escape from the roughest days, the last thing he would hear every night before dreams took residence in his head. It was everything, especially when life felt like nothing. J grew up humbly in Malvern, a Scarborough community the media simply characterized as violent, crime-ridden, and filled with negative outputs and outcomes. The son of a strong Barbadian father and a compassionate Portuguese mother, he dreamed of changing his neighbourhood’s outlook and resolving the fear gripping its reputation. He hoped that future parents wouldn’t face the same fears for their children, that his parents did for him; that more people could finally see the robust creativity, talent, intelligence, and sensitivity flowing out of every surrounding block. He had no idea where to start, but through fierce determination, undying love for artistry, and unwavering compassion for others, he would find his way.

J’s mother passionately sang every song that came through the speakers, start to finish. She knew she was a terrible singer and barely knew the words, but she didn’t care, because she was happy. That awareness and confidence is central to the way J approaches life, whether discussing the weather, writing a song, or engaging in business. His father would shake his head saying, “Mekin’ pure noise in here”, cutting his eye with a smile as the woman he loved dearly sang even louder. That honesty through acceptance helped J recognize the positive power of critique when it came attached to appreciation; enhancing his ability to be honest and constructive, while open and empathetic in both life and music.