Today we’d like to introduce you to Jilian Toreè.
Hi Jilian, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
(Jilian-Toreè is my first name) – I grew up in the worst neighborhoods. When I became a single mom, I decided my kids deserved better. Growing up, I used music to cope with the trauma and ended up becoming not just an artist, but also a certified audio engineer, songwriter, and producer. I don’t just make music, I translate life‘s most traumatic experiences for others to heal through mine. It’s art and philosophy.
I realized music alone wouldn’t save my community. So, I decided to get educated, licensed, and network as high in the world of finance as I could get. Just a year before COVID, I made the tough decision to homeschool my kids, teach them how money works, and put a replicable program in place to help families organize their finances & plan their wealth.
I currently have over 10 albums released on all streaming platforms. I’ve collaborated with well known LGBTIA+ artists like Siya and Aina Breiyon as well as Houston legends Killa Kyleon and Bambino Ent. Outside of music I run a consulting firm helping companies scale and exit to private equity as well as teaching families in my private community what I’ve learned about personal finance and investing.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road has been hell. I’m a Millennial so I know what it was like early on in music and in the world of finance where girls weren’t taken seriously…unless of course you had a man supporting and investing in your dreams. Trying to keep 2 kids alive and provide for them, from daycare to keeping food on the table; it was always a choice between investing in my dreams or keeping a roof over our heads. From studio time to road trips for shows, I pieced together every penny I could to keep my dream alive; often finding myself in dangerous environments that almost took my life. I remember several jobs I lost simply because my kids kept getting sick when they were young. I’d constantly have to take off work. After getting Covid, I was diagnosed with Autoimmune Hyperthyroidism. So now, even though my kids are in better health, my health has slowed me down. Regardless of the obstacle, I knew that if I figured out how money and investing worked, our bloodline would never be the same again. As a lesbian, I refused to date a man just so he would take care of my kids and I. The worst part about following your dream is that for most of us, no one will see the vision and we’ll have trouble communicating it in order to raise the money. So, everyone you’re close to will fall off and you’ll feel alone on a journey that only you understand. I’ve learned to remain obsessed and hold strong to what I know I can accomplish, regardless.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m known for my songwriting skills. I have a way of portraying the difficulties sacrifices required to navigate life, especially the dating world. I play guitar, sing, and sometimes rap, so my music is never just a beat with lyrics. Born in Louisiana, my music theory and jazz/blues composition background mesh worlds of hip hop, rock, and trap to compile a gumbo of unanticipated musical tones.
I’m most proud of the fact that I can be an artist, living half the day in my creative brain yet still have the capacity to offer logic and utility in the real world. Because of all the struggles I’ve faced surviving bad neighborhoods and multiple entrepreneurial attempts, I’m able to provide real world experience to the business leaders who seek my guidance; from marketing, to culture and creative financing. As a single mom, I’ve had to build an empire out of nothing. I lead by example for my clients, showing them that we’ll MAKE it work and we’ll FIND the money for any grand vision. If I can, so can they.
What sets me apart in the music world is that, as a lesbian, I have a unique way of sharing the full spectrum of love, from a masculine and feminine perspective. When I’m reviewing instrumentals from producers I’m always thinking, “I need to find a track that no one will expect to hear next.” I don’t know what you’ll feel but in a world where everyone brags about being numb, I want to be sure you “feel” something!
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
My favorite childhood memory was when the drummer at my church taught me to play the drums. I was around 9 years old. I remember always being bullied by the boys because I’d ask to play sports and they didn’t want to play with girls. Especially me, because I was usually more athletic than them. I remember wanting to do music but no one would take me seriously; except the drummer. I remember the first day, he said “sit behind me when church starts and play this tambourine.” My first task was to learn to stay on beat. A few weeks later, I was given a shaker and he taught me to use a basic drum machine. Fast forward to high school, I was fluent in all percussion instruments plus the trumpet, baritone, piano, violin, and guitar. That’s how I eventually became a producer; getting familiar with how different instruments complimented each other to create a symphony of emotion.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/jiliantoree
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jiliantoree/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jiliantoree
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0qNPR9zA9TBeO5B7qGe1yt?si=HYToHrf7SR27VO3HI-JXUg
Image Credits
Xavier Knighten
