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

Hi Jillian, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?

The work-life balance has changed so much over the last 5 years especially….the music has always been my saving grace but the business aspect took a toll.  I felt my love for the music part start to get clouded because the business aspect can be so uphill……the way I found balance was to step back and start doing more of the other thing that always was my passion which is time in nature….more hiking, more adventures into nature, more camping, time with my horse, my cats, more tree hugging lol….more walking barefoot on the beach, cooking more.…..just getting back to the simple basic connections with life and earth…..that has created so much more peace and regenerated me deeply and therefore helped me with the balancing act of continuing on and going into the next chapter of my music career.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I just made my 8th studio album, its coming out first half of next year….its my most vulnerable, most honest, melancholy album yet….i’m calling it my Joni Mitchell album Lol…but the album is actually called “Beautifully Complex”….all the songs are very finger picking style on the guitar….my classical guitar background really came thru on this album…..
I’m guess I can share that I’m proud that i never sold out and went “pop”……i stayed true to my art and didn’t go after the money.
It wasn’t easy getting to where I am today because i had to be relentless at not only just self preservation lol but knowing when something wasn’t the right direction……signing deals with the wrong labels and managers was a huge part in why I didn’t get lost down some random path. I was very careful and mindful.
The lessons I’ve learned is to stay focused on the craft and from THAT you will get noticed but everyone wants to get “famous” but thats not how it works……you have to get really really good at your craft because you love it and only because of that…..everything else will come but none of that is your business really…..just make good art and even if it sucks, keep making art. The recognition naturally follows.

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?
I’d first take them on my favorite sunset hike either at Will Rogers or Reseda Point (both in the Santa Monica mountains)……both are magical and stunning. Then, we’d have dinner at one of my favorite restaurants in Venice called Gjelinas……Then, I’d take them in the morning to Thousand Oaks/Hidden Hills to go see my horse…..throughout the week i’d take them to various live music venues…..the hollywood bowl, petit hermitage, the blue whale, the venice west, walt disney concert hall, etc…..a barefoot walk down Zuma Beach in Malibu is a must, and sunset up at Corral Canyon mountaintop. Brunch at Akasha in Culver city…..drinks & live music one night at Black Rabbit Rose…..spicy miso Ramen in little japan, oh god the list goes on…..its basically…..nature, hikes, food, music, tequila, sleep, repeat! 🙂

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to shoutout to my Mom who paid for yearrrrs of classical guitar lessons, voice lessons, dance lessons, all while being a single mother with zero child support. She drove me to play practice, dance practice, guitar lessons, voice lessons, you name it……she did everything for me! She connected me to the best guitar teacher ever, David Feingold, who took me under his wing at 10 years old, and and literally made me the musician i am because he opened up my ear extensively….he also inspired me to practice like crazy. He exposed me to incredible music, arts, and culture and i think he honestly saved my life because i had no father figure at the time so his influence on me was so needed, so positive, and so massive for me.

Website: JillianSpeer.com

Instagram: @jillianspeer

Facebook: @jillianspeermusic

Youtube: @jillianspeerVevo AND @jillianspeermusic910

Image Credits
Photo credits: @Parsons and @wildcardphoto

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.