Today we’d like to introduce you to Javon Johnson.
Javon, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My melodic talent and love for the barbering industry originate from my early upbringing. I started out cutting hair at the early age of eleven years old. I grew up in the barbershop and salon setting with strong influences from my mother, who is a Master Haircare Specialist. Since then, I knew the hair industry would be a part of my future in some sort of way. Music has also been a crucial part of my life, predating back to my early adolescence. When my father was present in my life, he spent a-lot of his time rapping, reciting poetry and freestyling rhymes in front of my siblings and I. We were his own personal audience. I was informed that he had a record deal in the late 70s and was apart of the hip-hop culture in Long Island, New York. As I grew older, I suddenly noticed that I began to merge both of these influences together. I’m now one of the manager’s at a prominent barbershop in Charleston, SC and when I’m not cutting hair, I’m an active musician who hones in on creative skills in the studio and on film.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Although both of my careers have brought endless happiness, there were definitely some struggles along the way. I spent two long years at Top of the Line Barber College while juggling fatherhood and a job outside of school to maintain financial responsibilities. A close friend of mine who I also considered a mentor in the music industry unfortunately passed away during my tenure at barber school. Somedays were very overwhelming but I knew I had to finish and continue to make him proud.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Creating music and cutting hair are both a form of therapy to me and an outlet to express myself. I thrive at connecting with people and experiencing great conversations with my clients about music, sports and anything that naturally comes up. I enjoy creating transformations through haircutting and love to see my clients embrace self care. In the music world, I have been honing in on short-film making and have been incorporating influences from my adolescence to recreate them in my music. Recently, I have rebranded and changed my artist moniker from T.R.A.P. (standing for ‘To Rise Above Poverty’) to $welly- indicating a change in my mindset and my future. “$welly” represents a more personal side of myself which shows self care, self righteousness and self love through my lyrics and content. My latest single, “Friday”, featuring artist Dooley Da Don, is recognized as one of my biggest accomplishments in the music industry. We are both artists from South Carolina pushing to ascend in the music industry and further put SC on the map.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I’m not a believer in luck because I believe that my path has already been aligned. I just have to continue to put the work in and follow my life path by embracing both of my creative sides.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/t-r-a-p/1722118112
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swelly_tv?igsh=d2Q3emkxejBmZXgz
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19DF1aTd35/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Swelly_TV
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mS9GDDkA0Lg
