We recently had the chance to connect with Ja Harlin and have shared our conversation below.
Ja , really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
Myself, I struggled with mental health for a long time and never was that open with what I was going through. It definitely was hard but I just dealt with it best I could and dove deep into figuring out what I need to do to overcome it and get back to what I needed to be and now I feel I made it there and pushed the boundaries of myself so that’s what I’m really proud of for myself
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Im Ja Harlin a artist from Minneapolis Minnesota who creates, writes and performs music of all different varieties. My music is a interpretation of me and what I been through and seen. It’s melodic and soulful with some r&b vibes. My brands name is SOW meaning Soul On Wax which represents creating from your heart and from a genuine perspective.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My mother put that spark in me that I was special before I knew it. I started making music when I was 20 but I wrote poetry and drew as a kid and my mom always reminded me how creative I was even when I stopped she was the one who always told me I should get back into it and take it serious.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
When my mother passed away I had no other choice, I had so many emotions I didn’t know how to deal with so I just sat and started writing and it turned into music and creating. It made me talk about what I was going through and helped me build of community of people who feel like me
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes it’s just me turned up a little bit. I can be so many things naturally just because what I been through in life and what those situations turned out to be It made me tap into a lot more within myself
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
Playing and wasting time. I do procrastinate a lot but that’s more of me overthinking and trying to make it perfect so I’ll get a battery in my back to focus
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ja_harlin?igsh=cnhjMWM2OGg3ZGdz&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19YPLveyL9/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@jaharlin?si=Kx38kp3baS2JmeOH
Image Credits
Anthony Harlin photography
