Today we’d like to introduce you to Jolene Cruz.
Hi Jolene, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
From what I remember, I started getting into music at a young age. My mom would always play all kinds of music around the house. I remember she had two huge speakers on each side of her computer and would just bump all day. I grew up listening to Barrington Levy, Gregory Issacs, Usher, SWV, TLC, Mariah Carey, Donna Summers, Andy Gibbs, and so many other artists who heavily influenced my music journey today. I resonate mostly with soul music. I truly started my journey at the age of 8 when I saved up my allowance to buy my first guitar off Amazon for $30. From there on, that guitar and I were inseparable. I remember everyday after school, I’d watch YouTube covers and taught myself how to play and sing. I’ve always had a desire to perform and wanted to be on stage even at a young age. From elementary through middle school, I’d perform at my school’s talent shows which made me fall even more in love with singing and performing. My parents divorced in high school and remember having a tough time acclimating to all the change. I turned to writing. I really found comfort in journaling and realized how easy it was to express whatever I was feeling onto paper. However, during college, my goal was never to be a musician. I actually went to school for business and journalism to hopefully get into some type of high pay media job. That didn’t work out. After dropping out my second year, I fell back into music as a hobby while maintaining a 9-5. I got more involved into the music scene in San Diego and was introduced to busking. Once I started, I couldn’t stop. I’d busk everyday at Balboa Park during the Summer of 2022 and made a lot of money through tips. With the money I made and gigs I received through busking, I was able to quit my 9-5 and pursue music full time. It’s crazy to think about where I started in comparison to where I am today. Past me would have never expected to perform for CRSSD Spring of 2026 which is a huge milestone for me. Today I am still a full time musician, write/produce my own music and constantly gig around San Diego.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
This journey has definitely not been smooth. I remember before busking, I managed to bag a gig for a fancy restaurant. The booking manager found me on instagram. During this time, I was strictly an online musician and had never performed at a restaurant. I had no original music out and was still trying to figure out my style. Meaning to say, I was no where near as polished as I am today. So this was my first real paid out gig! I was so excited. Even though I had to sing over backing tracks because the restaurant wanted to have a “radio feel vibe” I was still stoked getting paid for it. I did a total of 3 gigs for this restaurant and thought things were finally moving forward for me. It wasn’t until I got a call from the booking manager saying they had to let me go because they felt I wasn’t polished enough for the restaurant. I was devastated and really thought about quitting music for good. I took a break for 6 months trying to regain my confidence to get back out there. I then started busking, which was my saving grace falling in love with music again. Working through this rejection was probably my biggest struggle in my journey so far. Really believing that I am good enough to achieve everything I’ve worked for is still something I struggle with today. However, I really work on appreciating the blessings in my life and I’m lucky enough to be surrounded by people who always show their love and support.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Around San Diego, I think I’m known for my looping. I love creating intricate sounds with my BOSS loop pedal while out gigging. I think there’s something special about creating a tune all from scratch on the spot. I also love bringing out my Ableton push to my gigs as well. My push gets me closest to sounding like a real band but it’s all me. However, when it comes to my original music, I’d like to think it differs from my live sets. I love the sound of vocal stacking and harmony in music. I listened to a lot of Destiny’s Child and Brandy going up and was always enamored by their ability to harmonize so many vocals in such a smooth manor. When you listen to my original music, you’ll notice I’m always vocal stacking and have at least 5 different harmonies throughout my songs. I’d like to think I’m most known for that as well. Something I’m most proud of is being able to produce my own music and having the ability to create my own instrumentals. I watched a video of Bruno Mars in the studio explaining how there’s a little piece of him in every song he’s written. Whether it was a little sparkle on the keys or a riff on the guitar, it was all Bruno. I resonate with that concept so much because I always add a little something to every song I’ve written/produced to make it personable to me. I think what most sets me apart from other artists is my work ethic. I am a huge believer in consistency and persistence. I know and have seen many amazing artists who hold incredible talent and desire to have their work made public but don’t put in the effort it takes to get them there. I am a strong believer that being successful in the music industry takes 10% talent and 90% practice and work ethic.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I think something surprising people may not know about me is that I love being alone. Don’t get me wrong, I love people and socializing but I’m definitely an introverted extrovert. I feel that my most powerful lyrics, flows, and beats come from when I’m just sitting alone and thinking in silence.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/@jolenecruz_
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jolenecruzvlogs/videos
