Today we’d like to introduce you to JP Silva.
JP, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My name is João Pedro, but I go by JP. I was born in Bauru, São Paulo, Brazil, and moved to the U.S. when I was 13. I didn’t speak a word of English when I got here. But surprisingly, I never really felt that culture shock everyone talks about. I was just thrown into high school in Chandler, Arizona, first at Hamilton, then Queen Creek, and started figuring it out one day at a time. It took me about two and a half years to fully hold a conversation, and even then, it wasn’t smooth. But I’ve always had this thing in me that doesn’t let me give up.
Art has been with me for as long as I can remember. Back in kindergarten, we had to pick a famous artist to recreate. All the cool names were taken by the time I got to pick, so I ended up with Monet. I copied Water Lilies, and to my surprise, people loved it. That moment stayed with me. I’ve never really stopped drawing since.
In high school, I took AP Art. A few of my pieces won awards, and one of my drawings was even displayed at the U.S. Capitol Building. But by junior year, I needed a new medium. I started making raw, unfiltered YouTube videos about being a Brazilian kid lost in the desert. They were weird and awkward and full of honesty. I loved them. That led me to take Film and TV classes and start learning how actually to use a camera. Around that same time, a friend invited me to my first concert. That show changed everything. The energy, the sound, the chaos it lit something up in me. I knew I wanted to capture that feeling and somehow pass it on.
In senior year, I asked a local band called Fake A Home if I could shoot one of their shows. They said yes and adopted me after that. I followed them everywhere, even to Mexico. I was hooked. I fell in love with live music, the local Phoenix scene, and just being in those rooms full of noise and emotion. That led to music videos, concert photography, and any creative project I could get my hands on. After high school, I linked up with a band called Troubled Minds. They brought me into their world like family. I went on a month-long U.S. tour with them, from Phoenix to Maine. We lived out of a van, didn’t sleep much, created a lot, and documented everything. I even shot their recording sessions in New Jersey, and some of my photos became their official single covers. That tour made something click. I realized I wasn’t just a kid with a camera I was a storyteller.
When I came back, I was working for a local production & distribution company. I worked on movie trailers and posters, built sets, and even helped on a full production of a local haunted house called Mill of Madness as lighting director. It was hands-on, gritty, and creative in all the right ways. That job made me realize I didn’t need college. I was already doing the work I wanted to be doing.
Most recently, I moved to Austin, Texas, and started working full-time as a Video Production Specialist at GigFinesse. It’s honestly the perfect fit. I get to stay close to live music, tell stories, be creative, and not have to stress about chasing clients like I did when I was freelancing.
At the end of the day, my passion has always been about storytelling. Especially the stories most people don’t notice. In a world flooded with fast content, I like slowing it down. I care about the outsiders, the weirdos, the dreamers, the people who make art because they must. That’s who I make for.
For most of my life, I never fully fit in with one group. I always kind of lived in my own little world. But instead of letting that isolate me, I turned it into my strength. Now I’m surrounded by a community of artists and creatives who inspire me every day. They’re not just friends. They’re family.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not at all, and honestly, I wouldn’t want it to be.
I think most artists carry something heavy, and instead of dropping it, we find a way to turn it into something else. That’s what pulled me in. The idea is that struggle could become color, light, and sound. Most of my work lives somewhere between beauty and brokenness. That’s why I gravitate toward moodier visuals. The raw, the grainy, the timeless. It’s not just a style; it’s how life has always felt to me.
When I moved to the U.S. at 13, I didn’t speak English. I never really fit in, and that outsider feeling stuck with me for years. But the biggest shift happened before all of that when I lost my grandpa at 12. He meant everything to me. A year later, my mom and I left Brazil. We weren’t just chasing a better life; we were also running from grief. I didn’t realize how much that loss shaped me until much later.
For a long time, I didn’t want to deal with it. I kept myself busy telling other people’s stories, hiding behind the camera. But eventually, I had to turn that lens inward. And once I did, everything shifted. My art became more personal. Less about perfection. More about truth.
I’ve always been drawn to emotion. That’s what makes us human. That’s why I create, so people feel something. Even if they don’t know exactly what it is. I’m fascinated by what makes people feel, and how we process pain, joy, love, loss, and anger. That’s why I love talking to strangers. Everyone’s carrying something. And sometimes the most honest part of art is just listening.
Now, every time I make something for myself, I learn something new about who I am. It’s like therapy with a camera. There are no rules. It’s just me and whatever my eyes can see.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a videographer, photographer, storyteller—and as my friend Fabio would say—I’m also a visualist. But more than anything, I chase feeling. I want people to experience something when they see my work. Whether it’s a live show, a music video, or a quiet behind-the-scenes moment, I aim to capture raw, honest emotion. I want it to feel like you’ve stepped into someone else’s world, even if just for a second.
Right now, I work full-time as a Video Production Specialist at Gigfinesse in Austin, Texas. It’s been a big step for me, combining my passion for visual storytelling with the structure of a growing company rooted in live music. It’s the right kind of challenge, and it allows me to stay close to the scene I care about while pushing myself creatively.
My visual style leans toward moody, nostalgic, and vibrant colors. I’m drawn to grain, imperfect lighting, and tones that carry emotional weight. There’s something about that textured softness—blurry, raw, a little messy—that feels like a memory. Not perfect, but honest.
I’m known for my work in the Phoenix DIY scene, especially with bands like Troubled Minds and Fake A Home. I toured across the country in a van, capturing everything from soundchecks to late-night gas station stops. Those experiences shaped me deeply. One of my proudest moments was seeing my photos become official single covers. That wasn’t just a personal win, it was proof that the work mattered. It became part of someone else’s story.
What sets me apart isn’t just how I shoot, but why I shoot. I’m not interested in perfection. I care about connection. I want to make people feel something, even if it’s subtle or unexpected. That quiet moment where everything slows down and hits you, that’s what I’m after.
I’ve always been fascinated by people. Why do they feel the way they do? How do they move through the world? What do they carry when no one’s watching? That’s why I love talking to strangers. Everyone has a story. Sometimes it just takes the right light and the right frame to let it show.
At the end of the day, I just want to make honest work—something that lingers long after the scroll.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
There are a lot of people who deserve credit for helping me become the artist and person I am today. I wouldn’t be here without them.
First, my mom. She’s been my biggest supporter from the very beginning. She believed in my art before I even knew what it could be. Her strength, her trust, and the way she’s always stood by me, that’s something I carry with me every day.
My grandpa was a true visionary. He saw the world differently, and he passed that lens down to the family. Even though he’s no longer here, his spirit still fuels a lot of what I do. I think about him often when I create.
Jared Tyler and Fabioo Thomas, my best friends and creative anchors. They’ve been there through every version of me, always pushing me to stay curious, to keep creating, and to never settle. They inspire me constantly, just by being who they are.
My dad has also played a huge part in my growth. He’s always given me the space to explore, to try new things, to learn. That kind of support is rare, and I don’t take it for granted.
I also have to thank the band Troubled Minds. They brought me into their world, trusted me with their story, and reminded me why I fell in love with documenting real life. Touring with them changed everything for me.
And of course, my family and friends. Their love, their support, and the way they’ve continued to show up for me through it all, it means more than they know. I’ve been lucky to be surrounded by people who saw something in me, even when it was still just a spark.
I also want to thank everyone I’ve met on the road. The artists, the strangers, the random conversations that stuck with me. You’ve all played a part. And to the people I haven’t met yet, the ones I’ll cross paths with later in this journey, I’m grateful in advance. This road keeps unfolding, and I’m just trying to stay open to wherever it leads.
This journey isn’t one I walked alone. Every win, every moment, every story I’ve told has their fingerprints on it too.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jp.media
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joao-silva-788982311
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jpsilvafilms
Image Credits
Fabioo Thomas, Jared Tyler, and me
