Jimmie Moore aka J Metro is a singer-songwriter, composer, instrumentalist, and poet from Houston, Texas. Born in North Carolina, the 30-year-old Morehouse College graduate moved to H-town as a teen. From early on he had a knack for writing and eventually grew his talent through poetry and songwriting. Having no boundaries when it came to music, J Metro’s artistry took on various stages. He contributes his sound as being heavily influenced by Rock, Jazz, Funk, R&B, Soul, and Pop. This is why he categorizes his music as Pop-Fusion. No matter what his music is named, J Metro is a courageous artist that isn’t afraid to be a bit eclectic. And for that, STACKS Magazine is introducing J Metro to our readers. J Metro is not only a hard working indie artist, but also a Billboard charts topping artist. In just 5 years, he has released several singles to hit the charts. “My People (All Over The World)” (2010) peaked at #82 on the Billboard R&B Hot 100, #3 Hot Single Sales, #2 Hot R&B Single Sales, and #4 Bubbling Under R&B/ Hip Hop Singles. “Alcoholic Logic” (2011) made it to #2 Hot R&B Single Sales, #8 Hot Single Sales, #16 Bubbling Under R&B/Hip Hop Singles. J Metro’s second album Metropolis Saga had three billboard charting singles: “Baby”, “Shades of Gray” and “Governor’s Anthem. “Shades of Gray” became J Metro’s most successful billboard charting single peaking at #1 on the Hot R&B Singles chart. His most recent singles “Frosty” and “Bodyguard” both entered into the 57th Grammy awards voting consideration for “Song of the Year” and “Solo Pop Performance.” We got the opportunity to chat with J Metro to find out more about his music career and chart-topping success. What we could sum up is that he’s a smart young man that has positioned himself to where he can’t lose. Musical inspirations… I went through a lot of different phases. I had a phase where I was listening to a lot of alternative rock music, the heavy rock like Savage Garden and Third Eye Blind, Incubus and things of that nature. I had a phase in the mid-late 90’s where all I wanted to hear was neo-soul. Bilal, Dwele, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, D’Angelo, Michele Degechello, and artists in that vein. After that, I kind of kept expanding and listening to a lot of different things. When I started writing, I just put those things together and hope for the best. My first instrument was the Trombone. Then the piano. I self-taught myself the guitar and I’m also a vocalist. Projects to-date… My first album was self-titled, J-Metro. I released it in 2011. I had three Billboard charted singles off of that album. My second album I released in 2013. It was titled Metropolis Saga. I was able to chart three Billboard singles off of that as well. After that, I released an individual song in the winter of 2013 called “Frosty,” which became a Billboard charting single. Now, I’m about to release my next EP, Sentir Mon Amour EP. I just released the first single off of that, a single called “Magic.” It’s available for pre-order on iTunes right now. I’m really excited about this entire project. I been trying to release it for almost a year now and I can’t wait for everybody to hear it. Contributes his success to… Not being afraid of the stage. Some artists are afraid of the stage, in the sense that, they wait and wait and wait. They feel like they have to do one show that’s absolutely perfect. I would say get on stage all the time. Even if you just going up when someone else is performing, go up. Sing background vocals or play a little bit of piano behind them. Just get on stage. That experience and meeting other artists, that’s how you bond with other artists and people in the music community. That’s how you’ll learn industry secrets, which is one of the things I’ve taken deep advantage of. As you say with the Billboard charting, that kind of applies. A lot of artists never get a chance to be on the Billboard chart because their looking at the “main” Billboard chart. That huge chart, the Hot 100 chart. In reality, there are 50 to 60 different Billboard charts that get printed every week. You can chart on them as an independent artist. Start performing and sell your music at your live shows. So, yeah…get on the stage and perform. Share your music with people and report your sales to Soundscan. Advice to other indie artists… If you’re going to try to be an artist as a living, you really have to understand as much as we don’t want to admit it, it’s the music business. It’s 10 percent music and 90 percent business. You have to know how to copyright your music. You have to know how to register it with ASCAP or BMI or both. You have to be on Sound Exchange to get all of your royalties. And you need to be able to report your sales. His label… I have my own label. It’s called Moore Productions. I release all of my music on that. I’ve partnered with another label, Spaced Out Magazine, who has distribution through Sony/Orchard Distribution. With my last single “Bodyguard,” which was a stand alone single, and with my current single “Magic” those two were released through the Sony distribution network. But, I do have a team. My team is small, but working very hard and growing and expanding. Future goals… I’d like to be touring internationally and nationally. Right now, and over the next year, I’m heavily focused on the Sentir Mon Amour EP. Promoting it and working it within the Grammy community to get it some exposure and hopefully get a nomination. Last year, I was considered for a nomination for my single “Frosty,” but I didn’t get the final step. I wasn’t nominated. Hopefully, this year I’ll be able to cross that hurdle. Stay updated with J Metro by visiting www.IAmJMetro.com and www.JMetroMusic.com where you can purchase tickets and merchandise. Also, follow @JMetroMusic on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook!
