Janubia: Ever since I can remember. Anything creative always drew my attention but ahhh...There's nothing like music! It never failes to unleash me.
LM: Where do you think your dream came from? Where do you think all dreams come from?
Janubia: A box of cracker-jacks :-)
Where do you think all dreams come from?
Janubia: I have no idea but I believe that the seeds land in the heart and that's the only place where they can mature with beauty.
LM: When will you know that you've “made it”?
Janubia: I've already made it! Now we just need to keep getting the word out. :-)
LM: Will you ever give up on this dream? If so, what would cause you to give up?
Janubia: The great thing about having a dream of being an Artist is that you ARE an Artist. You never have to "give up". It's not really a choice anyway. You're called into it and you do it because you "have to". It's a living, breathing part of you. So...I guess I'll give up when I stop living and breathing...hehe
LM: How has the pursuit of your dream changed you? For the worse? For the better?
Janubia: I would need to be able to see the complete past and complete future to judge "better" and "worse"accurately. In this moment, I feel like the "pursuit" has really refined my spirit. I'm not fully cooked yet so stay tuned.
LM: What discourages you?
Janubia: Well...I do my best not to get discouraged but I guess I would say that discouragement gets under my skin when I deal with an in-authentic person or situation. I don't stay down for long though. Discouragement is like an adult temper tantrum. You take a "time-out" and then get on with your business.
LM: Who are your idols and/or sources of inspiration?
Janubia: Wow...the list is long and the reasons varied...Impossible to cover everyone/everything. Imediately coming to mind are the people sitting close by: Alex de Rafois - (friend, guitarist, producer, song writer, general partner in crime) - he constantly challenges me to authenticity. He inspires me to love as he loves me - despite my inability to reach or maintain the "ideal"; Suzi (friend) - She has inspired me to believe that I am never alone; that there's always someone intimately connected despite passing days or across any distance. She keeps me accountable; Serguei - (friend, engineer) who has a rare ability to see the chewy center of a situation and articulate it with one or two words (literally). He inspires me to speak my mind clearly; DebO (friend) - She is an expert at creating a "happy bubble" in her world and she has inspired me to add levity to my day; I laugh more now...A lovely gift. Paige (my sis) - Her bravery as she has faced some life challenges in the last few months has wiped out a multitude of justified excuses that I've used to keep myself shielded from jumping in with both feet; Alain and Natasha (friends, artists - elevenworld.com) - They inspire me to make my dream a daily thing rather than fitting it into the holes.
LM: Does your family support your dream? How do you feel about their support or lack of support?
Janubia: My family supports me...everyone in their own way. They aren't cheerleaders and they don't always understand but they are always a phone call away. I feel fine with that. With families, and people in general, we put too much pressure on them; pressure by means of expectations. If those expectations go nowhere, we fall. I try not to expect anything from anyone except myself. That way, the pressure falls out from between myself and others; we all become support systems for each other's dreams sans agendas.
LM: Why do you think some people don't follow their dreams?
Janubia: Fear and lack of resources. That being said, I believe that if the dream is strong, there is nothing that can stop it. A path will be carved.
LM: What are your beliefs about being challenged? A part of life? An opportunity to grow? A sign to turn around and go another way?
Janubia: Being challenged is just a part of life here on earth...maybe other places too but I don't recall. :-) A challenge is always an opportunity to grow. It can also be a neon sign requesting that you take stock of where you are and carefully consider your next move. Either way, if you take the challenge, you are forced into reflection and action...thus growth. Even if you choose to not take the challenge...then the challenge takes you and you are "forced" to grow...
LM: If you could have one person, alive or dead, help you with your dream right now, who would it be and why?
Janubia: Wow...great question! I guess that person would be John Lennon. I think he would "get it" and I think he would have the resources to take it to the next level...Best of both worlds.
LM: When was the first time you publicly declared your dream to others?
Janubia: Hmmm...I've been singing in front of people since I was three but at that time it was a shear, naked love. There was no "dream" definition attached to the act of singing. I guess in 3rd or 4th grade range would be the time that I became determined to "be" a singer. Silly me... I already was one!
LM: Did that change your feelings about your dream?
Janubia: If anything it made me dig my heels in a bit more :-)
LM: Did others treat you differently once they knew about your dream? If so, how?
Janubia: No.
LM: Is there anything you are afraid of that will happen when you achieve your dream? If so, what ?
Janubia: Ahhh...Banish the thought! It's not real...Mental masturbation! Wasted bandwidth!
LM: If you knew you couldn't fail, if you knew that no matter what, you will achieve your dream, what would you do differently right now?
Janubia: What I would do differently "right now" would be predicated on WHEN it will happen...not IF. If there was a timeline of 6mos to 1 year from today before the recognition rolled in, I would go into the studio full-time and knock out a few CDs, play some local gigs...live, eat and breathe music...chew "life" more fully.
LM: Do you believe it's important to maintain a balance in your life while pursuing your dream or do you believe it should be an “all-out effort”?
Janubia: Yes, balance is all-important and often relegated to the sidelines. This has always been a tough one for me; however, sometimes balance IS an all-out effort depending on timing. Tricky stuff, balance!
LM: What advice would you give someone considering following their dream?
Janubia: GO FOR IT!! You've got nothing to lose. Just remember to always keep your heart involved completely...otherwise it's just a thought. Thoughts drift. Dreams drive.
