J.F.T. is a Gold award winning author and Repost Exchange Top charting composer. Some of his music has featured as number 1 on the charts many times over. He has developed a new genre of music formally known as “soul fantasy” but due to the name getting used by others, he decided to call his music “Story Music.” Basically it is a fusion of various genres with an overall theme of fantasy. J.F.T.’s music is developed to tell a tale throughout. J.F.T. usually makes instrumentals but has decided to bring a couple of underground artists together for his latest track Lost Love, extracted from the formal number ReEx chart 4 hit LIT (Latest In Trend).
J.F.T. is known to speak his mind on all matters and doesn’t shy away from discussions relating to conspiracy theories among other things.
Official Website
Socials
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorComposerPoet/
1.) What elements and/or characteristics made you say to yourself that you wanted to do music for a living? Who are your influences/heroes/role models?
Growing up, I would hum music to myself, inventing various tunes as I did so, and that was how I taught myself to play the piano–although very poorly. Unfortunately, people didn’t have the same facilities that exist nowadays and it took a lot of time and effort to compile beats.
At the time, I was too young to know what to do or even all of what I was capable of doing, so I just followed “the system” like everyone else. That meant finishing school, heading off to college to successfully obtain a Btec National Diploma in Computer Science, then progressed to a university to study Media Technology.
Most of my writing and composing is first done on or with my phone. I intend to release a soundtrack to pair with every book I write. I’ve finished working on the one for Somewhere Enchanted available practically everywhere. I also put out 2 EPs for each of my upcoming books titled “Everything You Hoped For” and “Vengeful Strike,” all of which have instrumental songs that have featured in the ReEx Top 40 charts a few at number 1.
I’ve listened to all the main genres of music growing up. My music is a reflection of all of it. Without picking a particular artist I love a wide variety of music and artists. My role model is God, as depicted in my track “God Is The Only Hero”, an electronic orchestral hit. Although I’m not religious, I am extremely spiritual and have a firm belief in a supernatural being above all others, a universal ultimate creator being as I refer to him.
2.) If you could compare yourself to an already established artist, who would that be and why? If you don’t like to compare yourself, then music-wise, what separates you from other musicians?
Since my music is a fusion of practically all artists, I would beg to believe I am a part of each and everyone out there; all connected ultimately as one in spirit.
3.) Everyone in life goes through adversity of some sort. Is there anything in your life that has any influence on the kind of songs you write? What is the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure on your path to becoming a musician?
I have suffered illnesses that have been life altering. In these dark times I’ve created most of the music you hear on my EP’s today. I’ve been trying to gain followers, but that has proved to be exceedingly impossible so I have decided to focus on quality more than quantity and entertain the little bit of fans I have by pushing out music very often.
4.) How do you prepare yourself to write certain songs? What is your song-writing and recording process?
Anytime I have cash, I make music. I can’t afford equipment so I use studios and engineers to go flesh out my compositions. I’m ready to make music 24/7/365. I’m only limited by money and money alone.
5.) Unfortunately the music industry is full of talented individuals who just don’t get any recognition for their talent and/or hard work. What do you plan to do to make sure you stand out and get noticed? Would you rather be on a major label or would you rather stay independent? Why or why not? In regards to the music industry itself, do you think that the traditional music industry model as we know it is dead?
Because I love to make music the way I like it and connect with people on a similar wavelength, be it a commercial track or underground. I find it best sticking to myself as an independent artist. A major label won’t give me the freedom although I wouldn’t mind a temporary contract just to self promote a little. After the contract is over I would go at it alone. That’s my ideal deal and I have nothing to hide. By composing a new genre plus a soundtrack from every book I write I’m hoping to make some sort of mark. To be honest I live in such a deep cave I have no idea what’s going on in the market and could care less. All I need is my computer and internet because this gets me in everyone’s living room asking them if they’ll listen to my stuff. It’s great!
6.) Are you able to make a living with your music? If so, how were you able to attain a career doing what you love? If not, what do you do in order to fund your music career? What advice would give to someone who’s interested in pursuing a career in music?
Currently I’ve only just started off in August 2019 and success has been fast with both my book and my music. I’m going to keep going because of my illness. I can’t work but I use what little money I get for music rather than other necessities. Music is a priority. It’s my food and I’m not hoping for much but to be known. Making money is a welcome bonus but by no means the goal.
7.) How do you think the internet and social media affected the music industry and how musicians are able to market themselves? Social media is obviously an extremely important element in today’s world, especially when it comes to business, branding, marketing, etc. With that being said, do you think an artist will be able to survive in today’s music industry if they’re not social media savvy?
I think the internet has created great access to fans and vice versa. It’s great and streaming services are even greater. An artist can survive by word-of-mouth alone without any tech knowledge, but social media skills would make you reach heights that you’d struggle with by using any other method.
8.) Artists who try to make music for the general public and make more money are usually seen as “sell-outs.” Do you see it that way and if so, what do you plan to do to make sure your music stays true to your brand and make a good living at the same time without having to “sell out”?
I’ve always said music is to be shared. If you have the ability to make commercial music lovers and underground artists happy why not do both and do what you were created to do. Feed all indiscriminately without discrimination.
9.) What are the positives and negatives of the music industry? What is it about the music industry that makes some artists push forward? What do you think makes some artists quit?
I think it’s great that new platforms like Soundcloud are built to promote underground artists, however they refuse to pay over 70% of them royalties, and platforms like Spotify pay artist really pay low royalties so does YouTube. Unfortunately these are the most popular services ranking number 1, 2 and 3 in music streaming services. If fans would pay for subscriptions and use apps like Napster and Tidal who pay artists very well in comparison to the others you’ll get us making more better quality music, especially underground independent artists because our primary focus is making quality music over hits for the sake of money or popularity.
I think the possibilities of getting that one hit in the underground or commercial scene is what drives most artists. Yes we make music for the love but it’s also great for your music to be loved.
If an artist is looking for quick fame and money or are competing with anyone other than themselves, they’ll be sure to quit.
10.) What trends do you see staying or going?
“Nothing is new under the heavens” so styles and trends recycle constantly, a never-ending wheel spin. Occasionally you get a spinner in the wheel, but in today’s society that person is quickly dubbed, then shunned and outcasted. They’re also strangled from making a living and ignored out of sheer jealousy and hate. Everybody wants to be a celebrity period, in this era that we live in. If Beethoven or Shakespeare were even alive today I promise you they would have hung themselves as tormented failures and then appreciated after their death. Such is the theme for the music geniuses of today… sad reality.
11.) With so many people online who are expressing their opinions on any and everything under the sun, how do you know when to take something as constructive criticism or when to see it as trolling?
Everyone is entitled to their opinions and to express it. What matters is what you do with what you’ve had said about yourself. It’s up to you to take good advice or what you understand to be good and let it build you and discard and disregard anything questionable. If in doubt investigate from more experienced individuals. Two heads are better than one. Some people can be sneaky and deceptive so ask someone you trust about what you think they are conveying and block the haters if need be.
12.) If you were to advise an up and coming musician on how to get more fans, what advice would you give them?
Don’t rush. Use YouTube and when you find out how to gain more fans let me know too.
13.) There are multiple ways of attaining fans and building up your fan base, so what are some ways you acquire fans?
Instagram boosted ads and Pinterest have worked alright for me. I’m only a few months old and learning daily.
14.) Professionally, where do you see yourself 5 years from now?
With over 10 books 100 plus songs and in the Wikipedia. I’m good with that.