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

Hi Jaiel, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?

I am from -well I tell people all the time that I’m mostly from Aurora Colorado and I say mostly because my dad was military and so I grew up kind of moving around a little bit, but we settled here in Aurora when I was in the third grade. Prior to that, I was born in Colorado Springs, and then I lived in Germany for 6 years  and then we moved to Virginia for a year and half and then moved to Denver and then moved to Aurora.

And I think that I learned so much from all of those different places.  They really shaped me and formed me in different ways. Living in Germany taught me a sense of wonder, play, and exploration. I have so many memories of living in the German Village, from running up and down the cobblestone streets, playing in the stream, & going to the farm, to getting bread from the breadman and having pony rides in the driveway.

I also think Germany taught me so much about history and acknowledging history and you know living in a place like that where there is so much -there’s history everywhere- but Germany in particular where there is so much painful history I think gave me a sense of curiosity about what took place in a place and how does that shape the people and how does that shape how I interact with the space which I think is super relevant to the work that I do today.

I also think Germany taught me a sense of community and being in a military and church family in general taught me a sense of community because they are both very strong places of community and support and uplifting one another. Growing up in that environment the military community and the church community really becomes your family and they become the people that help you and take care of you and I got to experience that first hand.

Lastly, living overseas I gained such an awareness of the world and different people and cultures so that by the time we were moving back to the States I really was cemented in that. Then by the time we moved to Aurora which is also one of the most diverse cities in the country I got to again experience being surrounded by so many different types of people and worldviews and explore those same questions. All of which I think is super relevant to me as an artist and as somebody who creates from this space where I’m just super interested in people and history and how it impacts us and how it impacts how we interact with one another.

Please tell us more about your art. 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?

About my art – I am a singer songwriter, dancer, model, actress and producer and I make music and art and experiences that center women and girls who are evolving. I also make music and art and experiences from my point of view and what it is that I see and what it is that I interact with and I just so happen to be a woman who is evolving and so my art comes from that place. Right now I’m really interested in exploring this space between girlhood and womanhood and what it means to be coming of age in 2024 in the state of the world as it is.

I’m most proud of the community that I’m building around the art that I create. I think that art should always be a reflection of the world and whatever world you are a part of. I think that’s when it’s most powerful. So I’m most proud of the community that is impacted by what it is that I do because that to me is everything, that to me is what success looks like.

How did I get to where I am professionally? Haha I am for sure still climbing, but where I am now it’s just been a lot of faith and taking one step at a time and being willing to take a risk and put myself out there, especially when it made me uncomfortable or even if it put me in a little bit of a bind. All that I continue to do is just to listen to the still small voice inside and follow it every step of the way.

Was it easy? No, but I have this quote that I love that says “easy is never the promise Victory is” and whenever things get really hard- and they do get hard because I’m navigating a world and an industry that constantly wants to put me in a box and I’m just getting started – I remember that.  I also think that in general it is very difficult to be an artist in 2024 and to want to create for the sake of creating while also being mindful about the business and what type of business you’re building and why you’re building it. I think I’m very blessed that I love business just as much as I love the art, but sometimes the two of those things clash and it can create challenges that I am overcoming and navigating every single day. But yeah, I think that’s the challenge, but easy is not the promise and I don’t expect things to be easy -I think the path that I’ve chosen is hard but I also trust it and I trust that I’m where I’m supposed to be.

What do I want the world to know about me and my story? That this whole thing is a faith shoot- that I’m out here by faith and just trusting the process which is a very scary place to be because there’s a lot of uncertainty and it is a lot of gambling on myself and the call of my life, but I’m built for it and yeah I’m just out here- trusting the process.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc. In your view what are some of the most fun, interesting, exciting people, places or things to check out?

Hmmm I think I answered this one last time, but my favorite place to take people when they’re visiting is Quince Coffee House so we’d start the morning there for some morning smoothies and pastries! Then we’d go get some nature time at the Denver Botanic Gardens or head to Golden for a quick hike.

Then we’d come back and go vintage shopping up at The Common Collective and then hit up The Museum for Black Girls!

Then for dinner, I’d take them to Le French because it is the finest fine dining and its owned by Black women or Kiki’s Japanese Casual Dining on Colorado Blvd!

And last we’d cap the night we tea or coffee at Bardo’s coffee house or we’d head to Bonnie Brae Ice cream for some ice creaaaam. <3

So is there a person, group, organization, book, etc that you want to dedicate your shoutout to? Who else deserves a little credit and recognition in your story?

Yeah I think that this time around I really want to shout out and dedicate this to all of the people who are getting up everyday and betting on themselves and daring to believe for the impossible. Who are fighting to make the world better and who are shining their lights in all the different ways that they can to uproot unjust systems and create better opportunities for themselves, for their communities, and for the generations to come.  I think that’s where we are in history right now and that’s what I’m thinking about and that’s what I’m making art about right now so yes my shout out is dedicated to all the people who are betting on themselves and on the call of their life.

Website: www.jaielmusic.com

Instagram: @asweethippie

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

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

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jaielmusic

Image Credits
KT Langley Photography (@ktlangleyphotography)

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