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

Hi Jaki, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
Consistency – without a doubt. No matter what happens, just keep going. I started really having success with my music when I stopped waiting for inspiration or studio time or cowriters to be available. I built my own studio and committed myself to being able to deliver, no matter what. Writing used to feel like this mystical process – now it’s a system. Recording myself used to be so daunting – now it’s also a system. But none of that came overnight. It came from showing up, over and over again.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My art is rooted in emotional honesty, big energy, and storytelling that moves people – literally and figuratively. Whether it’s a dancefloor anthem or something more intimate, I’m always chasing that moment where someone hears a song and feels like it tells their story.

What sets me apart is the blend of vision and execution—I’ve built a music career that reaches over 1.6 million streams a month without ever leaving my house. I get to hang out with my dog in my studio while collaborating with incredible artists and creators around the world. It’s the dream, but it came from intentional structure and a lot of hard work.

Getting here wasn’t easy. Like most artists, I’ve hit walls – burnout, rejection, long stretches of silence. But I’ve learned how to build systems that keep me going, even when motivation fades. The biggest lesson? Keep showing up. Don’t wait for perfect conditions. Just keep moving forward.

I want people to know that the world I’m building – through music, visuals, and performance—always comes from a real place. I’ve been known to jump genres a lot, and that’s because I come from a lot of musical backgrounds and have a wide range of tastes. I might be breaking a few rules, but it’s raw, emotional, and honest. Some stories demand a specific sound—but some don’t. So to tell them right, I have to stay flexible.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Step one would be a South Beach day – experience the warm atlantic water and then some of the best nightlife in the world all in the same place. Next would be the Wynwood Walls – that whole area is really awesome, and you never know when you might stumble into some free concert or something. I would definitely recommend doing a tour of the Vizcaya museum and gardens. Española way is also a sight to see but also a great spot for dinner. Head over to Havana 1957 for some authentic Cuban at some point or have an authentic Italian cheese wheel pasta at any of the Italian spots that are right there. I also weirdly like the Indian food on this coast WAY better.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Definitely my parents. My dad was a singing drummer in the 70’s and 80’s and he worked with all the major acts from The Beach Boys to Tanya Tucker. He was out of the game by the time I came along, but he raised me on stories and hard-earned lessons from life on the road and in the industry. Then, when I was in middle school, my mom opened a music school, and I basically lived there. I essentially went through music school and regular school at the same time. By the time I graduated high school, I was jumping head first into my music career.

Website: https://jakinelson.com

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

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/jaki-nelson

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JakiNelsonEntertainment/

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

Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7oz4dlYyj9jadcbGJq1jwx?si=wre83BmWSP6hKr8o8pQXpw

Image Credits
Yanni De Melo (The yellow suit and the pink suit)
Angie Myers (In studio)

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutMiami 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.