Jake Zimma is a versatile 27 year old artist from the Bay Area who has been gaining momentum with his unique sound. Zimma notes a handful of artists who’ve inspired him, including the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Dennis Lloyd, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Anderson Paak, Citizen Cope, Slightly Stoopid and Sublime. He’s a student of all of their music and strives to incorporate a unique blend that fits his style, which has now cultivated him a highly engaged fan base that spans across 92 countries worldwide. While Zimma has had a deep affinity to music for as long as he can remember, he’d officially launched his career at age 25. Many around him warned that he was getting started too late, but Zimma was unconcerned. He explains that he makes music because it makes him happy. Money and fame is great, but it’s more important to Zimma to be able to make a living doing what he loves. Here are some valuable lessons aspiring artists can learn from Zimma:
Success is the realization toward a worthy ideal.
Success is a subjective measure. Some artists are elated to reach 10K monthly listeners, while others consider it a flop if they only hit 10 million. Zimma understands the importance of consistency, and his raw passion for music is what allows him to improve each and every day. He notes the importance of focusing on what you can control, which includes attitude and work ethic. If you are making progress towards your destination, then you are successful.
Find the Right Team
Zimma recently started working with the Whoadees, a group of artists, engineers, and producers in Oakland, CA. He describes them as a” mish mash combination of people from all different backgrounds and musical tastes.” These unique perspectives help fuel each other’s growth and break into new sounds. They’re currently building their own state of the art studio in West Oakland called The Whoa Studio. Teaming up with the right people catalyzes exponential growth.
Don’t Be Afraid to Fail
It’s not common for people to launch their careers at age 25. And it’s less common for people to launch a successful career at 25. Ultimately, people don’t really care about an artist’s age, but rather the ability to connect with the artist’s sound or message. There’s always a market for authenticity and sonic satisfaction.
Zimma is prepared to release his next single called “Merry Go Round” on July 16th, about places that have resonated with him and that he wants to visit again. He incorporates an impressive blend of a melancholy feeling with an upbeat summer jam vibe that should be a real treat for his audience.