Today we’d like to introduce you to Jameson Loyd.
Jameson, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
It all started with a broken VCR….My 12th birthday was getting close and as it would have it, my only form of entertainment quit working on me. I had recently expressed my interest in the guitar to my parents, both of them being avid music fans. Growing up in Texas, I was exposed to a lot of great blues and Rock and Roll artists and it sparked a fire inside me that was nearly all consuming. I didn’t know much about the instrument except for the little bit of hands on experience I had with a cheap acoustic guitar that I found under my uncle’s bed at my Grandparents house, but I knew I needed to know more. They gave me a choice, a new VCR or an electric guitar. I made my choice and subsequently would lead me on a life path that I could have never imagined. My experience as a young musician was a solitary one.
Being an only child, I had the time and space to really soak up the information that I was getting from my guitar teacher, music magazines and eventually instructional tapes played from my new VCR. After countless hours of practicing over the course of a few years, I was ready to start jamming with other kids my age. The years passed and the practicing became more regimented. Around 2002, I met a local singer named Bishop Booker and a few other talented musicians from the area and we would eventually go on to form a hard rock band called Early Pearl. We would spend the next 7 years together, wrote nearly 3 albums worth of material, toured across the country and met some amazing people along the way. The band disbanded in 2009 and I was put in a time of reflection and contemplation. A friend of mine came to me with opportunity to still play music and get paid decently in the process by performing at weddings and special events. This type of work has been my main source of income for the past 8 years. I’ve been lucky enough to share the stage with so many different wonderful musicians.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I am a guitar player but I enjoy the performance aspect just as much. The stage is a great place to be and my comfort level on most nights is high. I have fun in creating an engaging and entertaining experience with my music and showmanship. I owe all my “success”, if I can use that term, to my network and the people in it. I am passionate about being prideful in my work while building and maintaining strong, productive relationships with other like-minded individuals. That is what really truly inspires me! I don’t have any greater motivation than seeing my musical community working hard and succeeding.
Any advice for aspiring or new artists?
Young artists should stay determined on success. Personal goals should be established and focused on, whether that is being proficient at an instrument or singing with a live band or being a professional musician. Make the most of every opportunity, never burn a bridge and don’t be afraid to learn something new.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
You can find me in the Dallas area playing guitar for Empire 6, Hot Soup and 1564 Entertainment. I’m working on new music to debut later this year.
Image Credit:
Ari Raphiel
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