Life & Work with TariaJaybre

Today we’d like to introduce you to TariaJaybre.

Hi Taria, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Taria started singing with her family at the age of 3 yrs. Old under the direction of her grandmother and great aunts. She was introduced to vocal harmony at a young age by participating in yearly Christmas events and quickly fell in love with music. Her journey has so much depth and history that it is no wonder she has become the inspirational vocalist she is today. I cannot exclude her spiritual background; Taria is the daughter of the Rev. Tara Elliott and Joel Elliott and was raised in the church.

As a child, she had the opportunity to sing in the church choir, where she would have her first studio recording experience at just 9 years of age. Taria rendered her gift as a background vocalist and lead vocalist on The Seeds of Faith’s first project, “We Have Come To Lift Him,” produced by IceAge Productions.

That was not the only door opened in her musical journey; Taria also began playing the violin at 9. At age 10 she began writing music and poetry, and she loved to listen to classical and jazz music. Her passion for music was so deep she never missed the opportunity to learn and develop creatively.

As time went on, she became more involved with school music programs. At age 13 she was selected to sing The National Black Anthem “Lift Every Voice” at her school’s Black History Program. Participating in multiple musicals at Central Middle School, such as “The Lion King” and “Sister Act,”; prepared her for the prestigious music program at Waterloo’s West High School. At West, Taria participated in Treble Clef, Concert Choir, and Jazz Choir. Taria participated in many All-State music competitions for Orchestra and Choir throughout high school and was even part of a duet that placed Division 1 under the direction of the music director, Mary Citta. Taria also sang in West High’s Gospel Choir, “Voices of Unity,” under the direction of Terrance Thomas.

She became a member of “Power of Praise” in 2010. Power of Praise sang for many church programs throughout the city of Waterloo, opening up for various Gospel Recording artists such as Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson, “Highly Favored,” Tim Woodson, and “The Aires of Harmony.” Power of Praise released their first single, “Put My Trust in Thee,” in 2015, introducing Taria to her current music producer, Torrence Pettye.
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In the Fall of 2018, she was invited to join “Witness,” a Christian recording artist, as a featured guest on the “God’s the Boss Tour.” They have played many shows in the Waterloo/Cedar Rapids and surrounding areas.
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In 2019 TariaJaybre` and her producer Torrence had the opportunity to record professionally at the infamous Media Tech Institute in Dallas; under the direction of Grammy Nominated Recording Engineer Nagaris Johnson. She was a featured presenter at the TEGMMA (The Elite Gospel Music & Ministry Academy) 4th Annual “The Key of Gospel” Music & Ministry Awards in Dallas, Texas. ​ Her self-titled debut album was released in January 2021. You can find it on all major streaming platforms. To help promote the album, TariaJaybre` launched the tour titled “Make Jesus Famous.” The tour kicked off in September 2021 and will feature other independent artists from all over the United States to help them promote their original music.

As of December 2021, TariaJaybre` officially signed with Salter-Gann Universal Promotions & Management LLC, a Texas-based Artist Management Agency. SGU is a multi-genre management company, and Taria is their first Christian Recording Artist.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My answer is yes and no! It has been quite a challenge branching out as a solo independent artist and trying to gain exposure. On the flip side, it feels natural and easy to follow my dreams no matter what obstacles come my way.

Some of the major challenges thus far have been:
-gaining exposure as a singer/songwriter/background vocalist
-booking bigger venues in my area
-finding great producers

As a CCM/Gospel Artist who wants to reach a wider audience, it can be hard to spread positivity, love, and light the way I would like. It can be twice as hard to find people to work with that will respect your artistry and mission.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a Professional Recording Artist. I write and record original music and have done some VoiceOver and Narration work for local artists/businesses.

I am most proud of my debut self-titled Album, “TariaJaybre`.” This project was released last year and has gotten me a great deal of exposure thus far. I am also nominated for 3 Red Carpet Music awards and 3 Josie Music Awards.

I think what sets me apart from others is my drive, determination, and humility. I have always been a hard worker, and it feels very good to see the great response from my audience on how much my music has helped them heal. I am grateful for every opportunity to share my gifts with the world. I have taken a vow to stay true to myself and not lose sight of who God has created me to be, which keeps me grounded.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
When it comes to finding mentors and networking, I think it is very important to work with individuals who work just as hard as you and want to help you grow. As an independent artist, it can be very difficult to align with some bigger companies and creators but keep working hard, and it will all work itself out.

Along my journey, I have learned what works best for me is prayer. I am a woman of faith and know I deserve the best in my music career. You should walk into every situation with an open mind and be ready to learn. There are many people out there who genuinely want to see you win. I have learned to remain loyal to those who have helped me along the way and to never be too afraid to ask questions. Anyone who truly wants to see you win will aid you by sharing knowledge and giving you tools to succeed.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tariajaybre.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tariajaybremusic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TariaJaybre
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/TariaJaybre
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtv26h3mCtxQsyH8f9XHpkA
• Other: http://www.saltergann.com/taria-jaybre.html

Image Credits
Jolemi Productions Salter-Gann Universal Management and Promotions LLC