Meet Jelani Aswad | Recording Artists, Pastor & Creative Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jelani Aswad and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jelani Aswad, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
The gap between dreaming, and being satisfied with the purpose of one’s life being achieved is built on risks. It isn’t about the magnitude of the dream, the risks is also a synonym for confidence. It is the direct correlation between my belief in myself, what I have created, and who I believe God is. God, represents the eternal, the measureless, and creation. The intangible tangibles we discover about ourselves as we grow and mature are things we find out about ourselves. We discover them and we choose to cultivate them, even if they are not shared publicly. An ability to sing, a propensity to organization/administration, and a deep desire to make things come from our Creator. If we believe this about God, and we cultivate that which we have discovered about ourselves as a gift buried within us, we will recognize that we are held by God securely when we take risks. A leap of faith is not having faith in myself. A leap of faith is having faith in the One who created me and the gift within me. No maker can thrive without the risks. I had a very spiritual moment happen to me 2 years ago with I was fearful about continuing to do music and was discouraged about the process, though I have released many songs. I heard the Lord say to me, “Jelani, you believe in me and I believe in you, but you don’t believe in yourself.”

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I think what sets me apart is my upbringing. My mother was born in England and raised in Jamaica. She was raised by neither her mother nor father but mainly by 2 of her aunts. My father was exposed to religion and spirituality early and is a massive critical thinker. One of the greatest traits I inherited from him is inquisition and curiosity. My father too was born and raised in the island of Jamaica and migrated to the US in the 1970s, like my mother. Growing up in the Bronx, NY and Spring Valley, NY was a mixed of the suburbs and concrete jungle of NYC in the 80s and 90s. I was nurtured by my aunts and cousins who I later realized were not even my blood relatives. I learned family, blood relatives of not, transcended DNA. Life was not easy at times but my mother was brilliant and grew in her career so she was able to expose to travel, excellence as an everyday practice. I am most proud of choosing to serve with my gift of music and art than to become known. I had tough skin as a child that developed because my mother did not allow me to make excuses. Thought I made lots of mistakes as a kid, I was held accountable. I also got to experience larger platforms as a middle schooler and high schooler using my abilities. It humbled me and allows me to relate to so many people. I want to the world to know that our personal or creative brand is something God has created for us before we are even born. Talented people don’t have to brand their talent, their talent is often what brands them. It is the thing they often become known for. However, it is such a small part of who we are as individuals. Our abilities and what we create are fueled by who we are. Therefore, if we live being defined by what we create, we will be loved and valued for only a part of who we are. We will end up living a fragmented life and none of us can survive a fragmented life for too long. When God created us, he did not intend for us to solely be producers and consumers. He created us to love and be loved. The whole self He created, not the partial self, or curated self, or filtered self we present. Not the meme self, or the talented self, or the hardworking self. He loves and created us to be loved as our true self.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
First I would take them in the morning to the Cleveland Botanical Gardens or the Cleveland Museum of Art. I am an early riser and I seek peace, solitude and stillness in the morning. Open and reflective spaces help me to do that and prepare for the day. I would take them to Cuyahoga Valley National Park, maybe the Lakewood Foster Pool. Italian food in little Italy, shopping for Cleveland based art and clothing at City Goods in Ohio City, and a Friday rooftop party to chill and see the view of the City thrown by my friends at Cleveland Vibes. I would also hope to have a pop up art Gallery event so my guest could meet more small business owners and creatives who are responsible for the culture of Cleveland.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
When I was 26 years old, I went back to school. I had a 1.8 gpa and had nearly failed out of college before dropping out. I didn’t even know whether I could be a good student or not. Nevertheless, I was accepted into the now closed Nyack college. I worked hard and encountered professors like the late Dr. Orlando Rivera, Dr. Wanda Walborn, Dr. Ron Walborn, Doug Bortner, Siobhan Seaman, and Dr. Rob Reimer. These professors changed my life. They taught the truth unwaveringly and helped me to think critically about faith, religion, and my place as a servant in the world. They also taught me how to cultivate my gifts of listening, practicing selfless empathy and growing in my emotional health daily. I learned how to communicate at Nyack College and I learned how to serve with the best of my abilities. Some of the leaders who saw me and invested in me as a teenager were Pastor John Harris and his wife Kivian Harris as well as other Pastors like Paul Eliezer. Their greatest gift to me was their time, attention, and representation when I was in trouble or when I needed guidance.

Website: www.JelaniAswad.com, www.MessianicSupply.com, www.WorshipandRenewal.org

Instagram: @JelaniAswad

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/

Facebook: https://Facebook.com/JelaniAswadMusic

Youtube: https://www.Youtube.com/JelaniAswad

Image Credits
4ft 5 Photography by Kevin Cekanor
Davis Evans Photography
Michelle Loufman Photography