What started his career in making music skipping his SAT prep class and his mother being told about him missing his SAT prep class began Jiubel’s journey of making music. Jiubel is a Cuban American artist from Miami, Florida. Though his family allowed him the freedom to explore his creative side, they didn't allow any slack from him on his academics. When his mother received word of him skipping his SAT prep class, she grounded him and removed his video games from his room. He was left with nothing to do. However, his dad's laptop is what comforted him. The day he downloaded Garageband and did a deep dive for beats online helped him get into producing music.
As he began to grow his audience through SoundCloud, Jiubel credits SoundCloud for the connection he gained with his new fans. While also crediting the inspiration he gained from SoundCloud, including the several artists he discovered on the app during the “SoundCloud era.” He credits his inspiration to artists such as XXXTENTACION, Juice Wrld, and Lil Pump. Watching his favorite artist create a buzz in their own way helped lead him in how he wants to make music and build that connection with his fans. Tik Tok as well helping him connect with his fans. Most importantly, he credits his cousin for helping him recognize how he consumes music. Jiubel’s cousin helped him to understand and appreciate an artist's music; by sitting back in a non-distracted environment, listening, and genuinely digesting an artist's body of work and feeling the artist's sound and words.
We chatted with Jiubel to discuss his EP “Ren,” The SoundCloud era, and how he recharges this creative juices.
So, it all started when you skipped your high school SAT prep class; I have to ask if you could talk to your high school self-right now, what advice would you give your high school self?
Jiubel: I would tell high school Jiubel that skipping that SAT class probably created the best domino effect in his life. I know it was irresponsible, but at the end of the day, everything happens for a reason, and that had to happen for me to be where I am now.
I see the fits you be rocking. What would you call your aesthetic?
Jiubel: Well, as of now, I'm casual with it. I'll be honest I'm a little lazy, and because I don't leave the crib that much, I will be home making music from home. When I do go out, I try to be casually fresh. I’m not all that flashy; I throw on some baggy pants or a baggy shirt, a nice little necklace, and some lovely earrings. I’d call my aesthetic “casually fresh.”
Please explain in 3-4 words how you describe your sound that you think perfectly sums up your music.
Jiubel: I have a diverse sound. That’s where XXXTENTACION inspiration comes through. I can’t say I love all genres worldwide; I love multiple genres. My music is varied and versatile; you never know what's coming. I could drop a hip-hop song one day, then the next day, I drop an indie pop song, which is usually like some lover boy type music. I don't know why it's. It’s just that I love making love songs.
Your first EP, Ren, is out now. How does it feel to drop an EP instead of an album?
Jiubel: I like EPs better than albums. Albas are great, but EPs are short and sweet and give you everything you want. I feel that sometimes albums can be put with filler songs. Filler songs are some. Some of them are great to listen to, but EP usually has more bangers throughout it. Honestly, with “Ren” being the EP I dropped, it's special not because of what the EP has but because I've wanted to drop it since I started making music. When I was on SoundCloud at 17, I wanted to drop an EP. This is my first time doing this, so I'm excited. Plus, with an EP, I feel like there are no rules, and you can have fun. With an album, I feel like it has been orchestrated more than an EP.
What does Ren mean to you personally?
Jiubel: It's one of the most special projects I've ever dropped. Of course, it's my first project, but it's the most special thing I'm dropping because, as I said, I've always wanted to drop an EP. It's always going to hold a special place in my heart. I'm going to look back at it five, maybe eight years from now and be like, damn, that’s what started. I feel like that's the best music I've created so far; I feel like this will lead to the next phase in my music career.
Outside of creating music, what is Jiubel doing that helps you recharge your creative battery?
Jiubel: I know this will sound random, but it's buying fish from my tank. I know it's random, but I'm telling you, I don't know if you have a fish tank, but something about those fish in that fish tank inspires me. From the lights on and just looking at the fish swimming, I stare at them. When I stare at them, I'll stare at my fish for like an hour or two, just like watching TV. I'm watching the fish do their thing. I'm telling you, it inspires me after I'm done with that fish tank; I don't know. I feel like making music and stuff.
As an emerging artist that just dropped their EP, what would you tell any artist struggling with creative blocks or not sure if they want to drop an album, EP, or singles?
Jiubel: If you think of music as a job, it will not be enjoyable. I know that for many of us, it's our job, but at the end of the day, we all started doing it for fun. So, you gotta look at it as if you're doing it for fun. Then you don't think about it as much. That’s when that creative block is going to go away. Another thing I do is try to get my mind off music for a couple of hours. I play video games, stare at my goldfish, take walks, and do other things.
What would you like listeners to do when they first listen to Ren?
Jiubel: I want them to sit back and relax after a long day doing whatever they were doing. Please sit back, relax, flip the album, and listen. I have a song on the EP. The last song on the EP is “End of the world.” If you listen to that song sounds like the end of the world. It's like a cinematic song. Listen to it from the beginning to the end. Think of always having the back of your mind that the world is ending. That's what that song sounds like. You have to sit back, relax, and envision the song as if you’re in a movie like that; it's what it sounds like.
Interview by Chris K