Spotlight.
Flava J
INTRODUCTION
Born in Portugal, Flava J has risen as a dynamic force in the industry, amassing international recognition.
With a background as a trained dancer, actor, and singer-songwriter, Flava radiates an undeniable energy and astonishing hyped performances that shows a relentless pursuit of musical excellence, which has been acknowledged by BBC, with consecutive releases featured on the esteemed platform.
Present in the scene for over a decade, Flava has a distinct identity, with a repertoire of infectious rhythms, conscious and thought-provoking lyrics that break boundaries, and artistry that embodies a potent blend of cultural resonance.
A testament to multipotentialite, Flava's talent extends beyond the realms of music, with appearances in film, television productions, and commercials, including, “Converse”, “Vogue Italia”,” Good Omens 2" - Amazon Prime-, "Indiana Jones 5" - Theatres and cinemas, and recently “The Buccaneers” - Apple TV.
I started writing music as a relief mechanism. I believe in the power of words, and how words changed my reality and of others around me, every day, for good and bad, and it ended up being what paved my present.
My commitment is directed at creating awareness on mental and spiritual health, one song at the time. The way I create varies, but it always comes down to the combination of peculiar sounds that makes
INTERVIEW
How did you get into music? What initially inspired you?
Growing up in a family of professional dancers, I was immersed in the vibrant world of big stage performances. My mom's involvement in music videos for renowned artists like Juka, Bonga, and Kassav fuelled my passion. Rehearsing alongside them, I aspired to become a singer, songwriter, and dancer, drawing inspiration from icons like Prince, Janet Jackson, Seal, Michael Jackson, Tina Turner, and entrepreneurship such as Rihanna.
Despite a setback on Portugal Idol stage in 2009, I continued to invest in my musical aspirations, and I trained professionally to become a dancer, singer, and actor, I studied intensively to understand the business world, and became a manager at an early age in different sectors gradually building my confidence back, eventually, I could transfer my skills to pursue my envisioned dreams in the Music Industry.
It was hard paying attention to so many sectors that I wasn’t as passionate about, but music, journaling and dancing became therapeutic outlets, eventually transforming into the lyrics and expressions you hear in my music and performances today.
What themes do you tend to interrogate in your work?
Despite being surrounded by Artists my whole life, my music journey was a lonely one, perhaps due to the lack of belief but my writing was persistent in exploring personal development, the growth mindset and creating a bridge between communities, which became a powerful force that guided me away from a predetermined path.
Growing up being part of numerous communities like LGBTQ+ and BPoC communities also presented challenges, and my family's insistence on working three times harder than my surroundings became ingrained in my subconscious, literally in everything that I do. So, I make music to build bridges and unite communities, challenging preconceptions and as a lyricist, I'm conscious of the impact words had and have on individuals' lives, so I created a platform that fosters love, positive change, and inspiring growth, all while dancing and having a good time reprograming our minds.
What is your favourite project you’ve ever worked on and why?
My EP “Emotional Perhaps “, holds a special place in my heart as it shattered mental barriers that have been imposed by family and society in the past. My circumstances made me an overthinker and striving for excellence at every given opportunity, with my releases and performances was an almost impossible mission with this first project, but I released it, as it was the best representation of my abilities at that moment. and I promised myself that I would improve and become better, one day at a time.
The project now symbolizes my commitment to continuous improvement, facing challenges head-on, and the courage to confront my fears. It really opened doors to unforeseen opportunities and keeps achieving, significant milestones in my artistic journey.
What advice would you have for creatives of colour looking to get into music?
There are 4 things that come to mind:
Stay true to yourself, independently of external influences, there are a lot of information and images that might try to stir you out of your true self and your path. Give it all you have; you are inspiring people that you might never even meet.
Treat your money with respect, Invest back in your career, whether it's education, equipment, or personal well-being.
Nurture your circle, it is super important to be surrounded by a group of people that share your work, that are supportive and that elevates you in both good and challenging times.
Don’t wait for the perfect moment, opportunities only surge if you are going out there, trying to do the best you can and getting out of their comfort zone.
What are you currently working on and what are your plans for 2024?
We are starting 2024 with ‘Front of House ‘, a collaboration that I have been working on with Yesha for the past two years, and we brought in the expertise of Joe Maggi, to elevate our sound. Our first release ‘There for You ‘will rightfully be setting the tone to this incredible album production, inviting you to heal while we dance it out together.
As a multipotentialite, my energies will be directed to ‘Peculiar Flavours ‘, a peculiar record label, founded in 2019, with the aim to give a platform to artists that I have crossed paths with, and that their message was impactful and important to be heard but somehow still underrated. Peculiar Flavours business model is a crucial step to the next generation of Artists, and we fused our vision with industry standards elements from over 4 decades ago, that were dropped, mainly because, big corporates only invest in Artist that are already stablished, making everyone else, a liability.
This coming year is all about collaborations, and the year that my best work will be released with the most amazing people that have impacted my life immensely. The process has been amazing already and I can wait for you to hear all the infectious sounds that we have prepared.