Meet Jasmine Day | Drummer, Actor, Photographer, Filmmaker, Dancer, & Model

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

Hi Jasmine, we’d love to hear what makes you happy.
I am the most happy doing what I love with the people that I love. I am so thankful to have a partner who I get to create and perform with, my amazing bandmates that I get to share the stage with, and my friends that support and challenge me along the way. I am my happiest when I am drumming, acting, or doing any creative wild idea I have that week. Anything that allows me to be who I am and share my art with people who care is what matters most to me.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I have been extremely lucky to have so many opportunities to develop different skills and I am most proud of my versatility within my craft as an artist. I am a drummer, actor, director, dancer, model, photographer, and filmmaker, and I am thankful to say that I get to wear all of those “hats” regularly. Los Angeles is such an amazing place to be as an artist because I often get to use multiple different skills for one project.

Growing up in a very small town in New Mexico, I was rarely at home and spent the majority of my time at my mom’s dance studio or at the theater for shows and rehearsals. As a kid, these very long days taught me a lot about work ethic, how to run a show and conduct rehearsals, direct performers, have showmanship and perform for long hours, and how to bring your creative vision to life. These skills are the foundation of where I am professionally today.

I had a very interesting childhood spending most of my time around creative directors and performers that were much older than me. These people had a huge influence on my taste in music and film that really shaped my interest in the genres I play and perform in today. I remember being in the dressing room listening to the cool alt girls talk about emo bands and scary movies. Little did they know how much of an influence that would have on me. I was also very fortunate to grow up around people from all over the word. My mom’s dance studio was the host for the traveling Moscow Ballet Company (now known as Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet) and the teachers from Russia would come at stay at our house with us. I had the opportunity to talk with dancers from all over Europe and Asia and see the dedication they put into their craft. My mom’s dance company also allowed me to travel and perform all over North America. I have gotten to perform in Disney World, Carnival Cruise Lines, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Times Square, and Radio City Music Hall, just to name a few.

In high school, I began acting in the theater department doing stage plays and was finally able to start drumming. I had always wanted to play the drums, but it’s not exactly a quiet instrument to have in the house. I was able to go over to my cousin’s house who got me started learning on his drum kit and teaching me the basics of drumming, but I am completely self taught past that. I then attended the University of Northern Colorado for a degree in Forensic Toxicology and Criminal Justice (I’m also a huge science nerd), but ended up switching my degree my sophomore year to English and Filmmaking after meeting a group of indie filmmakers. Between my freshman and senior year, I wrote, directed, and starred in my first short film, directed music videos, and starred in the indie thriller feature film, “Safe House 1618”. I graduated in 2021 with my Bachelors Degree in English and Film and studied under my mentor, director Michael Mayer.

I moved to Los Angeles in 2022 ready to take on bigger challenges in my craft. I didn’t know anyone here, but was very lucky to find good friends quickly. My first gig I booked in LA was acting in the Goo Goo Dolls music video for “Yeah, I Like You”. I love their music and they were so nice, it was the coolest first LA acting experience. I continued studying acting at Richard Lawson Studios, auditioning for projects, and eventually met an artist looking for a drummer for her band. At this point I had not played my drums since before college, but I was up for the challenge. Coincidentally, I met my partner, Nick Sword, at our very first show playing together in her band. From there, Nick introduced me to all of his friends in the LA music community and I was so lucky to be taken in so fast as a friend from all of these talented people. Nick challenged me to quickly improve on my drumming and performance skills by participating in jam nights at the State Social House and Last Call. He also encouraged me to start taking photos for our friends’ bands. Fast forward to now, I have played iconic venues such as, the Whisky a Go Go, Viper Room, and Garden Grove Amphitheater, and also have my own photography business, Street Style Cinema, where I shoot live shows, events, headshots, music videos, and more.
I currently play for some very talented solo artists such as, Allison Kane and Michaela Ari, as well as dance for my Nü Metal rock show tribute band I started with my friend Atara Glazer called “Nü Attraction”. Getting to dance on stage with my best friends and some of the most talented musicians in Los Angeles in the best feeling in the world.

As we often hear, the best opportunities come knocking when you least expect it. A little over a year ago, my dear friend and shredder guitarist, Celinda Chang, texted me. She is just as bad as me juggling too many things at once and we already played in a couple of projects together by this point. She texted me, “I may or may not have sort of accidentally helped start a band and we need a drummer. You want to join?” I was already drowning in projects. So naturally, I said yes. This was the beginning of unpolished*. Since receiving that text from Celi a year ago, we have accomplished some wild things I didn’t even foresee us doing in the first year. We have recorded and released five songs (at the time of writing this) and are getting ready to release the sixth song for a complete EP in March 2025. We have done music videos for all of our songs, which I am very proud to have directed. We have played so many shows in and around LA, done interviews, photoshoots, made merch, and have found such an incredible support system within the music community. I can’t even begin to express how much I love drumming in unpolished*. We do everything our own grungy DIY way by using any skill we can to do some pretty phenomenal things with our little budget we fund ourselves. I know there is nothing I can’t bring to the table that the girls would not be down to do. Celinda Chang, Mary Bugbee, and Santos are the best bandmates and friends I could ever ask for. They are so incredibly talented and it is an honor to be in a band with them. If little Jasmine listening to My Chemical Romance in the theater dressing room could see me now, I would be the biggest unpolished* fan and definitely buy our shirt at Hot Topic.

Since moving to Los Angeles, I have been so lucky to get to drum for so many artists, act in many phenomenal projects, photograph and film for bands, actors, and models, direct my own pieces, and model for some awesome shows. Here are some of my favorite moments:

-Acting in the music videos for “The Crux” album by Djo (Joe Keery). This was my first day on the Paramount Studios lot! You can find me on the back of the vinyl cover. Joe was the kindest actor I have met.
-Walking the runway modeling for LA Metropolitan Fashion Week (2022, 2023, 2024)
-Directing the Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet at the Wiltern Theater (this is the same company I mentioned earlier my mom has worked with since I was five years old). This was a cool full circle moment to direct for the same company I grew up performing with.
-Modeling for my favorite photographer, Jeremy Saffer.
-Booking my first commercial acting for Oatly.
-Directing all of our own music videos for unpolished*.
-Dancing at the Whisky a Go Go with Nü Attraction.
-Photographing for the big emo festival “Ghoul’s Day Out” at the iconic church that My Chemical Romance’s music video “Helena” was filmed at.
And many many more that would take to long to recount. I am so beyond thankful to have these incredible opportunities and I can’t wait to see what the coming years bring for me in my personal life and career.

I often forget to stop and reflect on the sheer amount of work I have done thus far in my career or how many projects I am juggling at once, but I am very proud to say that my versatility, determination, drive, and willingness to learn really sets me apart from many others. My band and I always say you have to be at least a little crazy to be an artist and live with such an unpredictable schedule, but there is nothing else I would rather do. So I guess I’m a lot of crazy <3*

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?
Since I am not from LA, I have spent many hours exploring new spots in the city and I still feel like I have barely scratched the surface! I love that being in the music community and going to shows all over LA and the surrounding areas means that I get to try new places and see other areas that I may not have otherwise known about. So far, these are some favorites:

Horror Vibes Coffee: I love horror movies and coffee, so combine the two and I will give you all of my money.
Amp Rehearsal and Coffee: My favorite rehearsal spot in all of LA with some good coffee and great people.
The Rainbow Bar and Grill: An iconic piece of Rock history that I spend a lot of my time at. Home to emo nite with the best emo cover band, Becoming a Hero, great pizza, and the best spot to meet new friends.
Bar Sinister: A goth club full of dancing, the coolest outfits, and my favorite photo booth. This place is only open Saturday nights and you better wear all black!
Marmalade: A delicious cafe with my favorite macadamia nut pancakes and a mac n cheese with like seven different cheeses in it. I am gluten intolerant so this kills me, but it’s worth it every time.
Sunset Strip: You can find me either playing, photographing, or supporting my friends’ shows on all of the iconic venues on the Sunset Strip! It’s fun to walk around and explore.
The Iliad Bookstore: A fantastic little bookstore in North Hollywood with every book imaginable and some adorable shop cats that hangout. The perfect spot to browse and read.
Finally, any shop, restaurant, and cafe on Ventura Blvd between Sherman Oaks and Studio City. There’s too many good ones to name them all, but I spend a lot of time there and it is great to walk and explore around!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to dedicate this shoutout to my partner, Nick Sword, who not only loves and supports me endlessly, but has been the driving force behind encouraging me to challenge myself in all aspects of my career and personal life. He is so incredibly talented and I am inspired by his showmanship, hard work, and kindness every day. Nick, you are so loved and I could not do any of this without you.

To the best friends and bandmates I could ever ask for, Mary Bugbee, Celinda Chang, and Santos, thank you for being the band I have wanted to be in since I was a little kid. If little Jasmine could see us now, we would for sure be her favorite band. Thank you for allowing me to share the stage with you and always being ready to do whatever wild ideas I have. I love unpolished* <3

To my friends I have been so lucky to have take me in and treat me like family, thank you for guiding me, sharing your advice, support, help, and love, and being the best friends a girl could ask for. I love you all! Atara and Jack Glazer, Dani Hagan, Aaron Medina, Valerie, Boa, and Chebs and the whole Becoming a Hero community, Andrew and Rachel Crosswhite, the State Social Jam Fam, Jakob Rosen, all of my photographer friends and clients, and the LA music community that would take pages to list all of the incredible people that have been so kind to me.

To my mom for always supporting me in pursuing my dreams, reaching for the stars, and showing me how important the arts are.

Finally, to my bestest friend, Celinda Chang, for nominating me for this shoutout! I love you and I am so proud to perform and create with you!

Website: https://streetstyle-cinema.com/

Instagram: @jazinspace and @streetstyle_cinema

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@unpolishedasterisk

Image Credits
Luckyshot Photography (peronsal photo)
Jack Lue photo 1 and 5
Ballet Zaida photo 2
James Giovanni Pan photo 3
Others Photography photo 7
Creative Visual Images photo 8
Ellen Zuckerman Photography photo 9