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Today we’d like to introduce you to Joannah Zamora.

Joannah, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I’ve always had an affinity for art and performing, and my hobbies took me from drama, to band, art classes, and guitar. I didn’t pursue my passions professionally, however, until I was 25. I had a traumatizing experience in high school when I tried out for the musical “The Pajama Game”. I failed miserably the song “My Funny Valentine” by Frank Sinatra, having no training in voice, and not taking into account, the range disparity between mine and Frank’s voice. To add insult to injury, my brother was cast for the musical over me. So, I decided from that point, I was not a good singer, and should stick to something different. My love for music however, never died.

After college, I decided to give singing another shot. I took voice lessons with a teacher in Phoenix, who helped build my confidence, and shortly after, I began playing open mics and building relationships in the music community. Now I’ve played music professionally for 4 years and have taken the leap from accountant to full-time musician/ entrepreneur, and the ride has never been better.

We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I sing and play guitar, write my own music, and am quietly in the works of producing. My self-titled EP, “Songs for The Authentic Soul”, is on almost every music medium you can think of, and although doesn’t make me much money, I’m proud of the songs I wrote. They all mean something to me.

Music is my favorite medium because I love to sing, dance, and perform, so the acts all bleed in to each other. I love different genres of music from rap, to classical, blues, soul, rock, and I love seeing what indie artists do to change those genres in to something new.

I love writing as well, and it’s something I’ve done since I was 11, and has helped me through the hardest times in my life. Writing alleviates my mind and emotions to give me clarity and answers when I’m struggling through life and is a great tool to keep history of my sense of being and emotions through wonderful and trying times.

I’m a knowledge whore, so I love to impart my wisdom from the pain and sorrow I’ve gone through, on to those who are struggling through a similar situation. I love to bring new perspectives and broader ideas to others, who may otherwise have never heard it. I guess that’s my biggest motivation is sharing my stories so others benefit from my pain, struggle, sorrow, wisdom, insight, and perspective. So, we all have a bigger collective consciousness and understanding of each other, and maybe we can build more compassion for ourselves and each other from that knowledge.

I think all my songs have broader and deeper messages in them, but everyone hears songs differently for themselves, so I leave it up to the fans to decide what my songs mean for them. Everyone I’ve come across has their favorite song of mine, and it’s always so curious and interesting to see which one they tell me is their favorite. I never ask, because I want them to love the music for themselves, but I’m always tickled and surprised when they tell me.

The sterotype of a starving artist scares away many potentially talented artists from pursuing art – any advice or thoughts about how to deal with the financial concerns an aspiring artist might be concerned about?
Make what you can with what you’ve got, use everything free until you have to pay for it, and find a source of income that is flexible, and build streams of revenue you don’t have to physically work for to earn (music streaming, royalties, stock investing, etc.). For me, fame, notoriety, and passive income are the end goal.

Independent contracting for income while building your art is wonderful. Think driving for Uber/ Lyft, delivering for Postmates, Task Rabbit, Upwork. Fiver. Think opportunities you can do from home or you can do when you need money quick so you don’t have to waste your time commuting or get permission to take time off to work on your craft. You’ll jump from paycheck to paycheck for a while, but if you keep at your art, and use every medium of free promotion available (social media, email), people will begin to notice you, then remember you, then follow you, then support you.

Right now, I promote myself on Instagram and Facebook. I live stream on Twitch to get followers and paid subscribers and to get donations & tips for performing on stream. My subscribers get perks like access to Snapchat, Discord, discounts on merchandise, access to my fan page on my website, etc.

Twitch’s payouts for Affiliates is 60 days, and I don’t make that much from subscribers and tips, so for “sure” money, while I build my followers and presence online, I deliver for Postmates. My goal isn’t about getting lots of money doing Postmates, the goal is about having the flexibility to make immediate money to pay my bills, while I build my name, reputation, and craft. I love doing Postmates because I don’t have to dress up, even brush my hair or do my makeup to make money. I just pick up and drop off people’s deliveries, and I don’t have to engage with anyone until I pick up and deliver their orders. I don’t have to listen to co-worker drama, I don’t have to appease a boss, I just ask my next customer if they need anything else while I pick up their order and deliver it to them. Then when I’m done, I go home, and continue my work as an artist & entrepreneur. I’ve found a few new spots to eat and actually meet some cool people doing it.

I’m doing a lot of benefit shows as well as open mics, and they’re wonderful because they get my name and face in front of a ton of people, which builds my network, and gets me more gigs. I recently discovered that the more connections I make, and the more I play in front of people out of volunteering and charity, the more gigs I book. It’s 10x’s more effective than sending an email to bar and venue owners/ managers, who have never heard of or seen you, with an awesome promo video, and chasing them to book you for a single or couple nights.

I’m generally guided by 3 financial mottos:

1.) Be so good they can’t take their eyes off you
2.) Do the best you can, with what you’ve got right now
3.) One step at a time, everything’s happening exactly how it’s supposed to

Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
My website! www.joannahzamora.com, Spotify, iTunes, Band camp, Google Play, YouTube, Amazon, Tidal, Deezer, Saavn, Claro Musica, 

Contact Info:

B_W_Taylor Image Credit:
Joannah Zamora
Larry Herrera
Cody Simpson – Top photo of the article

Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.

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