Meet Ebony Jeanette | Heavy Metal Music Publicist & Owner of Ebony Jeanette PR

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

Hi Ebony, how has your work-life balance changed over time?

Early in my career, I had no work life balance and I heavily subscribed to the “no days off, hustle/grind culture.” This was toxic at best and left me with multiple stress induced stomach ulcers as I worked nonstop and never took time for myself. It was not until I was years into my career as a publicist that I started to feel the dreaded “burnout” creeping up inside of me and ultimately I had to have a “keep it real with myself moment” and understand that the work itself will always be there, but if I am not showing up as a whole complete person I am doing a disservice to myself, which could lead to a disservice to my clients. My clients’ satisfaction is the cornerstone of my brand and business. With that realization, I began to take my power back and create balance and harmony with the work schedule I gave to myself and the self-care that I required in order to show up as my very best in my business. It was a challenge in the beginning, but the most important thing I did to create more balance between work and life was to take inventory of all of the output required for the daily run of business. I then evaluated what items could be outsourced, what items could be streamlined, and what items could be done away with entirely. I also implemented strategies such as: putting my phone on “Do Not Disturb” for a set amount of time every evening; hiring team members or contractors for specific campaign needs; and curating a strategic client roster that focuses on a select amount of client campaigns at a time. By taking these steps, I was able to create a system for my business that allows me to truly excel but not at the expense of my mental and physical health. It is extremely important to take care of your mental and physical health as an entrepreneur. My advice to all creatives and entrepreneurs is to focus on creating harmony in your work and life as one of your keys to success and to please talk to someone if you are experiencing feelings of anxiety, depression, imposter syndrome or unmanageable amounts of stress.

What should our readers know about your business?

I have dedicated my working life to nurturing and promoting heavy metal and rock – the music that I love. Since 2010, I have worked with countless clients, both high profile and aspiring through my PR company Ebony Jeanette PR, among scoring numerous great successes, what I am most proud of is achieving chart placings for several unsigned bands and previously serving as the in-house publicist for two of the world’s foremost extreme heavy metal record labels: Century Media Records (Sony) where I worked my way up from an intern to tour publicist and later in-house PR, and Prosthetic Records where I held post as the in-house Publicist. Another milestone I am proud of specifically through my own company Ebony Jeanette PR, is single-handedly breaking the story of how death metal legend Jeremy Wagner continued the legacy of late, great Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman, by acquiring his guitars and using them exclusively on Broken Hope’s 2017 album Mutilated & Assimilated.

At Ebony Jeanette PR (EJPR), our focus and passion is discovering, curating, and promoting extreme music and culture. This is accomplished through engaging all our networks and connecting them with the entertainment and brands they love, by converting messages into meaningful media experiences and unforgettable events. My personal mission as a music publicist is to help musicians gain more exposure and to spread their music to new audiences around the world. At EJPR tenacity is combined with raw talent, to cultivate targeted media impact for extreme music artists, bands and brands. Through consistently uncovering and connecting new opportunities, EJPR produces results that further the major traditional and non-traditional publicity goals specific to each client.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

I love being on the water so I always recommend starting the day with a beautiful view and my favorite “almost hidden gem” is the Beachside Restaurant located inside the Jamaica Bay Inn Tapestry Collection by Hilton in Marina Del Rey, they serve brunch daily and open at 7am although it’s like 11am when we would arrive. If it’s a Sunday we’re starting at Duke’s in Malibu for brunch or if we’re feeling more of a rooftop brunch vibe we do The Perch in DTLA.

For the best lunch it’s all about Sushi Gen in Little Tokyo or the super tasty Sandwiches at Langers in Westlake (the pastrami here is a must for my meat eater friends) and for dinner, Dulan’s in Inglewood is where it’s at for the absolute best soul food in the city, and while we’re relatively nearby we’d head over to Leimert Park to make a quick pit stop to Eso Won Books for the culture. If we’re feeling like a more plant based meal experience we’d have dinner in Melrose for Gracias Madre or for just a quick bite that is guaranteed to hit the spot without breaking the bank we’d enjoy the unassuming glory that is Burrito King in Echo Park. Then it’s time to hit the town! First we’d venture to West Hollywood, specifically Melrose and enjoy some shopping fun at my favorite locally owned store -New Profanity especially if they’re having one of infamous events like “Queer-O-Sphere” or Night Market then it’s time for some drinks and live music (heavy metal shows obviously preferred) on the Sunset Strip or The Wiltern or The Knitting Factory in North Hollywood. For a larger show, we’ll head to the Hollywood Bowl!

Some of my other favorite fun things to do with friends in LA include catching comedy shows at Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB) in Hollywood, lots of hiking especially to The Wisdom Tree in Malibu, Bronson Cave in Griffith Park, Bommer Ridge & Emerald Canyon in Laguna Beach, hiking trails in the Santa Monica Mountains, an obligatory Hollywood Sign visit and sightseeing and exploration at The Getty, Griffith Park museum, LA Brea Tar Pits and The Natural History Museum. Visiting the urban lights at LACMA and of course, trading in LA traffic for a day or two for zip-lining and relaxation on Catalina Island.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to my dear friend and former client, singer/songwriter Tiana Woods who recommended me for this piece. She is a gem in my life and her constant encouragement and support of my career means the world to me.

Website: www.ebonyjeanette.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialejpr

Facebook: www.facebook.com/EbonyJeanettePR

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ebonyjeanette

Image Credits
Lori Spellman Photography