About Jawz

Jawzilla is a lyricist, beat maker, and multi-instrumentalist. He is currently a senior at Lincoln High School in Tacoma. Jawzilla has been part of The Residency (formerly The Hip Hop Artist Residency) at MoPOP twice, the SPOKES Leadership Board, and the Arts Liberation and Leadership Institute. He will be competing in the Sound Off! Semifinals #1 on February 9, 2018 at MoPOP.

Tell us a little about how you discovered your love for music. What are some of your greatest influences?

I’ve always had a love for music growing up. I used to love hearing Motown hits from the temptations and OutKast with my dad while jamming sweet child o mine and the ghetto boys with my mom. But it all started when I decided I wanted to make music. I loved seeing legends like slash and Mimi Hendrix and so I wanted a guitar. After I got one at nine I’ve been in love ever since.

Tell us about your song. What inspired you? How do you hope listeners will receive your message?

Honestly "Family Reunion" was one of the hardest songs to write. I mean I’ve had a lot to go through in my life and I was under a lot of pressure from a lot of things so I decided to write his song. I hope people get a wave of emotion and think more about their position in life when they listen to this. And I also hope people just enjoy it in general. I mean the reason I write is to share my story and have some fun with it.

What have you learned from your experience with Totem Star? What are some of the biggest takeaways?

Totem star has done a huge amount for me and my artistry. Ever since my first show with totem star not only was I enlightened to access to amazing mentor ship but also an amazing community of artists. My biggest takeaway from totem star was how to work in a community and be more dependable. There was a lot of team work needed to work on things like the last mixtape and the projects that went on it. Honestly without that boost totem star gave me, I don’t know if I’d be at the place I am now with my art. 

What advice would you give to other young artists?

I’d probably say just find what you want to do and just go for it. If you want to sing start doing it now. If you want to be the best composer ever start now. I think too many people don’t know the resources they have available to them. And for a lot of people feel like they have to wait for something to start doing what they want. Just find out what you want to do and do anything and everything to start doing it. There’s library’s and even your own school or neighborhood can have something you didn’t know.