Today we’d like to introduce you to Jae Tron.
Hi Jae, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I got started playing the guitar fairly young- my tried showing me a few chords when I was about 8 years old. I remember him sitting me down and saying something along the lines of “This brings me so much joy, it’d be great if it could do the same for you.” Of course, the strings hurt my fingers when I pressed down too hard, so I gave it up. My patients was few and far between at that part of life.
A few years went by, and I saw my sister take up the guitar to accompany her singing. We had an afterschool club in our middle school called “Rock Ensemble,” and seeing her perform with a full band, singing and strumming away without a care in the world, I realized at that moment what my father was trying to show me. The sense of community, accomplishment, and self improvement that playing music alongside your friends could give- I wanted that for myself. I dove straight into the deep end- watching live performances on Youtube, googling chord shapes and scale exercises, buying the same clothes I saw my newfound heroes wearing, and even copying their mannerisms and common jargon. Alongside hours and hours of bedroom practice sessions, I coerced my friends to take up arms with me. We forged straight into battle, hammering out riffs and screaming our lungs out covering Zeppelin, Stones, and any other bands we loved. We all kept going into the end of high school, where we got our first taste of performing and writing songs.
I managed to turn my love for music into a honed edge, allowing me entrance into the Berklee College of Music in Boston. It’s there that I truly fell in love the process of creating music. From the science of writing songs that touch hearts, to producing and shaping sonic landscapes while helping my fellow artists achieve their dreams, my time at Berklee cemented my future as a working musician. Here I am a few years later, balancing the multiple plates I’ve got spinning all at once in the music scene. I’m always writing, recording, producing, gigging, or finding some way to keep that guitar in my hands. I can confidently say I’ve found the joy that my old man wanted for me. I only wish I would’ve started sooner!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Of course, life always tends to get in the way in the pursuit of your dreams. I try not to dawdle too much on the negative details, but being a musician of any variety in 2026 has never been harder. Gaining enough connections in such a gate-kept industry can be really difficult. The rise of social media has given some, like myself, an outlet to display their musical talent, but staying relevant while maintaining your integrity is an uphill battle. AI threatens our usefulness and doesn’t seem to be leaving anytime soon. Most people aren’t interested in investing in the grueling hours it takes to become proficient in this field- they only want to judge the results.
Struggling to stay financially afloat has always been present in my family, so the obvious conundrum most musicians face, while not at all unfamiliar to me, is an ever-present and unwelcome source of heartache. The anxiety and depression that naturally swells up from that pressure is real, and I’m unashamed to say that there are some days when the joy of music loses the fight against daunting inadequacy. We all have our struggles, but I try to keep my head held high no matter what. Luckily, I’m not the only one in this boat. Leaning on my friends who are also dealing with the same problems gives me hope that we’ll all figure it out eventually. Until then, I plan on keeping my nose to the grindstone and chasing down my dreams.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
At my core, I’m a dedicated servant of the song. Anything I add to a project or performance is all about bringing out the best a piece of music has to offer. Most days, I’m writing songs for different artists, helping them record clean vocal or instrumental ingredients, and mixing tunes together. I also work as a gigging musician, so I spend a lot of time practicing specific guitar parts, and I pride myself on being a reliable part of any group gracious enough to let me perform with them.
Currently, I’m working with an upstart group of singers creating their first recorded album, creating guitar parts and producing tracks for various clients, all while writing songs for my own artistic endeavors and teaching music lessons whenever I can. Out of all of this, I think I’m most proud of my students’ growth. I’ve always loved showing someone how to hone their skills, but the young minds I’ve helped with the intricacies of instrumental proficiency hold a special place in my heart. I think this aspect of my career sets me apart from the rest. Teaching is something I try to bring to every aspect of my musicality. If I can help others serve the song the way I know how to, the music yet to be created will be that much better!
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
The greatest thing I learned from taking lessons as a student was how to teach myself. There’s an ocean of information readily available to anyone looking to improve their skills. The problem is that a large majority of that information isn’t exactly accurate or presented in the most useful way. For those just starting out, I’d say to be as diligent as possible. Always get more than one source, and keep your engine driving! Complacency is the greatest dream-dasher. Your own dedication to your craft is the only thing standing in the way of being successful. Finding a way that best works for you to take in new information can skyrocket your results.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaetronguitar/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaetron
