Jean-Dominique is no stranger to the industry. He’s seen it all, and been in the company of the biggest names in a major setting. He’s worked, not only as a singer, but also an actor, and choreographer. Yep, he’s orchestrated the moves for some of your favorite artists along the way. His experience in this industry is unmatched. After taking a little time away, he’s back to rock the game a second time from the independent side of things.
Check out our exclusive with Jean-Dominique!
U.G. Digital Mag: Thanks so much for your time. This issue is really behind the independent artist. It’s good to include you in this issue. We’ll hit on a lot of things, but first and foremost, you’re doing really amazing. I want to start pretty much at the beginning. Talk about how you came into this?
Jean-Dominique: I grew up in a musical family. That really instilled it in me. In high school, i started to perfect it. Taking voice, piano, and music lessons. I wanted to understand it as more than a hobby. I signed to my first label, which was Trans Con International. They are known for Backstreet Boys, N’Sync, and he whole boy band explosion. As a young person, I didn’t understand the business. I was just excited. We toured with N’Sync and opened for Britney. They put a group together named Chivalry. We opened for them, but then they fell apart. I was then taken on by a lady named Donna Wright. She was married to Johnny Wright, and he was the manager of N’Sync and Justin Timberlake. She took me and a woman named Alicia Moore, who everyone knows is P!nk. I stayed with her, learning songwriting, and she signed me as an individual. I spent some time learning writing, and producing. When you’re young, you just want to go and make money. I hated it at the time, but in hindsight, it was the best thing I could do. I was signed about a year and a half and then another opportunity came with a group named TGK. It was supposed to be a movie deal, board game, and a group as well. She put me in the audition and I got it. She then was the manager of that group. We did well, released an album, and did some touring. When it was time to renegotiate, I had kinda outgrown it. The good advice I got from P!nk was that I should step out on my own. She was moving over to LA Reid. We both kinda left at the same time. I ended up taking my mother on as my personal manager. I ran into Durell some time later, and here we are. I’m ready to come out and release again.
U.G. Digital Mag: I’m glad you speak on the digital age, social media, and whatnot. How do you feel like these platforms have helped you? You go back a ways and you’ve been doing it some time. You know yourself how much things have changed. Will this be helpful for you?
Jean-Dominique: I think it helps you promote your material. We spoke about the P!nk area, N’Sync, and we can even say Whitney Houston. You could only perform for a certain demographic unless you had the money to get on the bigger tours. Now, you can shoot a video, upload it to YouTube, and the whole world can see it. It makes a difference because it takes the power away from everyone else and puts it in your hands. If your product is good, and you put it out there, it can’t be denied. Before, you could be an amazing artist and never be heard unless you had the money. Now, as long as you have the talent, with the tools given to us, the sky is the limit. You could build a fanbase in a few months off one song if you promote it and use the tools given to you.
U.G. Digital Mag: You’re right. And I believe the same thing. Talent is really at the forefront. Looking at your career overall, how difficult was it to step out on your own?
Jean-Dominique: In the beginning, it was very difficult. I was doing something that had not been done. I’m not an R&B guy. I love it, but it’s not in me to sing that. Do I have R&B tones in my music? Yes! How do you deal with this African American doing pop music? This is before Jason Derulo. They didn’t know what to do with me. Nowadays, I could build my own fanbase and show them there is a market.