Born in Florida, but raised in Arizona and Georgia, while currently living in San Pedro, independent artist Jforte is no stranger to travel, understanding community, and evolving personally. Similar to Jcole, his stage name is based on his initials, highlighting that he is authentic to his true self and his music, rather than playing a character.
J has been in the industry for about a decade, but it was in 2016, freely performing in the streets, when he knew for sure music was something he wanted to pursue. Although he experiments, he describes his sound as hip hop, rock, funk, indie alternative, and boom bap. Additionally, J writes all of his music but works with producers for the beats. In particular, he shouted out 2 points, MixedbyDG, Felix, GreenTea, and Dab.
His musical style has evolved over time, beginning from emphasis on raw beats and solid bars, to now factoring in more layers such as hooks and melodies. This shift in style led to an overall change in his songs, creating tracks that resonate on a deeper level and pushing a more emotional side of himself. Experimenting with genres such as lofi, pop, funk, hip hop, and more, J reflects his own feelings onto his music. He sums this up saying, “So, when you listen to my music, know that it’s not just about the sounds it’s about the feelings, the experiences, [and] the journey that brought them to life.”
Similar to his music, his style and image is dynamic, always changing, evolving, and experimenting. He did however, note that 90’s b-boy is something he has been into recently. His general inspiration is additionally dynamic, including artists such as 50 Cent, Nelly, Ludacris, Eminem, Anderson Paak, Wu Tang, Kid Cudi, Bruno Mars, and so many others. J details the impact on him from each artist, not being bound by genre, style sounds, and other musical aspects.
In regards to motivation, he listed himself, David Goggins, and Victor Glover, encapsulating his three main interests, music, space, and writing.
Moving into 2024, the “Tether Ball” singer has a variety of large goals. He would like to perform for at least 20 shows, five festivals, speak at conferences, release around 40 tracks, and make it to top playlists on all platforms.
While he does feel and see his success, he stands by his humble beginnings and is grateful for it all stating, “It’s surreal to think that I’ve gone from performing for tips to headlining festivals, concerts, and shows.” One aspect he would like to add to his roster however, is major collaborations. He listed some current popular names including Glorilla, Doja Cat, Peso Pluma, Bad Bunny, Tyler the Creator, and more.
Thus far, he has had a few memorable moments like performing for the analog astronaut conference, being immersed in the studio, but recently a major opportunity. About two weeks ago, he had the opportunity to open for GZA in Oakland; GZA is the iconic leader of Wu-Tang Clan. This of course, is a huge accomplishment for the rising artist.
While he has had many highlights in his career, the road to success has not been so smooth. Whether it be homelessness, relocation, working 9-5 while trying to maintain his music career, J has worked through many obstacles. He lives by the motto “make it happen,” something that has gotten him through his toughest times in the pursuit of his passion.
Outside of music, Jforte has an interest in becoming an analog astronaut and astronaut candidate in the private sector space industry. He hopes to potentially intertwine the two by creating music while in space. He stated, “Imagine laying down beats among the stars, crafting rhymes that transcend the bounds of gravity. It’s not just a dream it’s a mission that’s propelling me forward, one orbit at a time.”
The Florida-born singer emphasizes inspiring change, leading to his community involvement. He has done keynoting at the chess and community conference, visited schools, extended a helping hand to the homeless, donated turkeys for Thanksgiving, and provided essential resources globally.
One piece of advice he would give his younger self is, “…seize every opportunity to work, create music, and learn from those around you…you don’t need to wait for a perfect moment or a label to pursue your passion for music…whether you’re jamming in your bedroom or collaborating with fellow artists, every step of the journey is a chance to grow and evolve.” Overall, he has a lot of love for his artistry; Freedom, breaking boundaries, and being true to himself, are his favorite aspects about the industry.
The “Are You Down” singer says that people should listen to his music “…because, at the core, I’m just like you navigating this crazy journey called life…sharing in the human experience.” Also, he consistently drops new music almost every week, so be sure to tune in.
As a final message to the fans, J says, “Thank you for rocking with me. There’s still a lot to come! Share with a few friends and listen to more Jforte.”
SOCIAL SITES:
Instagram: @astrojforte
YouTube: Jesse Forte
WRITTEN BY BRIANNA RIZZI
