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Up & Coming Louisiana Artist You Need to Keep Tabs On

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J.LeGras is an independent artist who originally grew up in Louisiana and began making music at a very early age. Earlier this month he released a new single titled “Talk to Me” and it has already surpassed 20,000 steams on Spotify. His story is a fascinating one and one that has helped him become the talented musician that he is today. This past August he released his latest EP and we took some time this month to catch up with him and learn more about his career and where it’s headed.

Everyone’s journey in music is different, but J.Legras is one of those people who got their start early and never looked back. We asked him about his upbringing in the music world and how it became his dream, here is what he told us.

“I have loved singing and performing before I can remember anything else in my life.  I didn’t really watch baby cartoons growing up. I watched music videos and stage performances. That’s the only thing that used to soothe me as a baby and Toddler. The same remains today. I have been performing since I was four. Started in the church then gradually went into local and national boys choirs.  Then In middle and high school performing solo and part of a choir on the local and state level from both chorus and theater. It’s always been a part of my makeup and I wouldn’t have it any other way”

The love and passion he has for music are more than evident when you listen to his music. And while he has a style all of his own, you can hear the influences of the past in his sound. We asked him specifically about these and he gave us a pretty talented and varied group of performers that inspire him and his music.

“My top 5 are Stevie Wonder, Prince, Luther Vandross, Maxwell, and MJ. Then it’s Usher, Sam Cooke, Freddie Mercury, Al Green, Marvin Gaye, Anita Baker, and Whitney Houston. But, if that doesn’t answer your question I would say 90s R&B Is my biggest influence as far as my singing style. Boyz to Men, Dru Hill, Blackstreet, Usher, Tank, Joe, Jodeci, KC & JoJo, and New Edition,

Then of course it’s 2000s Neyo, The Dream, Mario, Chris Brown, and Frank Ocean.

At the same time, I’ll turn around and name rock band singers like Freddie Mercury, Mick Jagger, and Paul McCartney. 

Then of course for Gospel, it’s Fred Hammond, John P King, Rance Allen, Donnie McClurkin, Kirk Franklin, PJ Morton, and Last but not least my old choir director Travis Greene. 

I have so many musical influences and they keep growing.”

Meet J. LeGras and His Silky Smooth Vocals 1

Understanding where J.LeGras came from and what inspires him tells the story of his journey to this point, but we also wanted to check in on the present. The present is centered around his latest single which we mentioned earlier, “Talk to Me”. Here’s our review.

“Talk to Me”

This song is the embodiment of the Soul. The bluesy riffs, the moving bass lines, the soft drum track, and the powerful and rangy vocals of J.LeGras all come together in this beautiful love story that you can feel in your soul as you listen to it. The track isn’t needlessly dressed up or overdone, it’s simple yet sophisticated and it’s raw and emotional. The exquisite production value allows you to crisply hear each note, word, and sound, and it’s just a phenomenal listening experience from start to end.

We asked the man himself about the song and he gave us insight on what inspired him to write it and what he hopes listeners will take away from the track.

On what inspired him:

“I was smoking in a cigar lounge with my wife and we were talking and people watching . And the lounge is already smoky of course so i just started to think about intimate spaces like that. Then I thought if I had met my wife at that cigar lounge, what would the conversation be?”

On what he hopes listeners will take away from the song:

“Intimacy is KEY! I just need you to TALK TO ME.  This song is about meeting someone and wanting to talk to them just to engage in a conversation so you can expand your mind and get to know them. Going back to the basics. Let’s just talk and get intimate and let me explain to you, what type of love I am going to bring to the table. This song is one of my best songs I have released as an artist. I have been behind the scenes so long so now I am sharing my love and experiences with the world.”

The song is honest and intimate and that’s the message that J.LeGras wants you to hear in it. That message resonated with us and the song’s early success is an indication that listeners are feeling the same.

Meet J. LeGras and His Silky Smooth Vocals 2

With the success he has reached as an artist, we couldn’t help but wonder what’s on the horizon for this blossoming and talented singer. So, we asked him what’s next for his music career. Here’s what he told us.

“I would say growing my fan base and performing more. I am 100% independent so I am excited about my growth and to just collaborate with more and more people in the music industry.  My plan is the replace my 9-5 with music full time so I can give it 200% instead of the 110% I’m giving it now “

It’s not surprising to hear an independent artist say that their goal is to turn music into their full-time gig, but we think J.LeGras has a real shot. His music is thoughtful, full of talent, and crafted professionally. He clearly has both the experience and the drive, and he seems to only be getting better with age.

The last thing we wanted to pick his brain about before finishing our conversation was why he thought people should check him out.

“I Sing Soul Music that’s good for the soul. Very Plain and Simple. If you want to hear me incorporate all my influences throughout my career buckle up and get ready for a hell of a career. I am just getting started. I want to explore more in other genres. Though R&B is my foundation, it definitely is not my whole existence.”

Raw, honest, and emotional. These are three words that come to mind after hearing his music and getting the chance to chat with him. All we can say is, if he isn’t already on your radar, he should be now. Check out and follow J.LeGras with the links below.

Spotify

Apple Music

YouTube

Instagram

J.LeGras Website

Live Sessions

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Danny Ramirez on Joaquin Phoenix Leaving the Gay Romance Film Directed by Todd Haynes

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Todd Haynes was planning to cast Danny Ramirez and Joaquin Phoenix in a gay romance movie. However, Phoenix left the untitled production five days before Guadalajara, Mexico, filming got underway.

At the Academy Museum Gala on Saturday night in Los Angeles, Ramirez told Variety’s Marc Malkin, “It’s definitely disappointing.” “If anything,” he continued, “If anything, it just gave me more inspiration to keep driving, keep pushing, and knowing that I’m on the right path and approaching the work the right way. So that’s what I’m excited about.”

The movie, which depended on Phoenix’s casting, was in danger after it was revealed in August that he had quit the production, according to sources. Two guys in love in the 1930s who escape Los Angeles and travel to Mexico were the main subject of the NC-17-rated movie.

“It’s definitely a very complicated situation,” Ramirez stated. “The audition process was extensive, and so what I walked away with that was just the artistic validation of throwing down opposite of [Phoenix] in this chemistry read… There was a moment that I was like, ‘Oh, I’ve arrived as a performer.’”

“The most recent update is ‘hopefully.’” Ramirez said in response to a question about whether the movie is still in development with filmmaker Haynes.

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David Schwimmer Remembers Rejecting “Men in Black”: ‘That Would Have Made Me a Hollywood Star’

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Although David Schwimmer admits his “career would have taken a very different trajectory” if he had been the lead in the 1997 movie, he doesn’t regret declining Men in Black.

The actor said, “That’s not why I turned it down,” in response to a question on a recent episode of the podcast Origins With Cush Jumbo regarding whether he rejected down the successful franchise because it conflicted with his Friends filming schedule. Rather, he decided to become a feature film director.

Schwimmer said, “[It] was a brutal decision.” the actor chuckles. “I had just finished filming The Pallbearer, my first film with Gwyneth Paltrow, and there were high expectations of that, which didn’t come true (Laughs). It was kind of a bomb, but there were high expectations, and the studio, which was Miramax, wanted to lock me into a three-picture deal at a fixed price, and I said I would do that if I got to direct my first movie.”

After months of talks, the intelligence actor said that they had come to an agreement whereby he “would act in three more movies for them” in exchange for allowing him to “direct my entire theater company in the first film,” Since You’ve Been Gone from 1998. The film was told through the perspective of a doctor who was severely beaten up by a fellow graduate on graduation day, humiliating him and setting the stage for a ten-year class reunion.

“All these unknown actors but I was going to put them on the map, basically. I was going to let everyone discover the talent of this amazing company,” Schwimmer said, “We found this amazing script, and we were developing it. We started pre-production. All my best friends in the world in my theater company quit their jobs so they could be in this film over the summer, which was going to be a six-week shoot in Chicago.”

However, Schwimmer had to make a tough decision about his career because the production for his directing debut happened to coincide with the filming of Men in Black.

The Six Days Seven Nights actor recalls, “We’re in pre-production, hired the whole crew, everything’s going and that’s when I was offered Men in Black.” “It was a direct conflict with this. My summer window from Friends was four months. I had a four-month hiatus and Men in Black was going to shoot exactly when I was going to direct this film with my company. And of course, it was an amazing opportunity. However, my theater company and that relationship with all those people would probably have ended. I don’t think it would have recovered.”

Schwimmer stated that he is unsure if “he made the right choice,” but he firmly feels that in these kinds of circumstances “you have to follow your gut, you have to follow your heart.”

“Look, I’m really aware, whatever 20 years later maybe more, [Men in Black] would have made me a movie star,” he continued. “If you look at the success of that film and that franchise, my career would have taken a very different trajectory.”

In the end, Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith played the key parts in the Men in Black franchise.

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The Role of Vulnerability in Success: Hannah Love’s Guide to Embracing Your True Self

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In a world that often celebrates strength and success, vulnerability might seem like a weakness—but for Hannah Love, it’s a cornerstone of true personal growth and success. Throughout her journey, Hannah has discovered that embracing vulnerability isn’t just about being open with others; it’s about being honest with yourself. It’s through this honesty that real transformation begins.

Hannah’s life has been shaped by challenges that tested her resilience and forced her to confront deep-seated fears and insecurities. From childhood trauma to the emotional struggles of her twenties, she faced moments where vulnerability was not an option but a necessity. “For a long time, I saw vulnerability as a sign of weakness,” Hannah recalls. “I thought that if I let people see my pain, they would see me as less capable, less strong.”

However, as Hannah began to open up about her experiences, she realized that vulnerability was not her enemy—it was her greatest ally. It allowed her to connect with others on a deeper level, to share her struggles without shame, and to find strength in the very parts of herself that she had once tried to hide. “Vulnerability isn’t about being weak,” she explains. “It’s about being real. It’s about showing up as your true self, no matter how imperfect that self might be.”

One of the most significant lessons Hannah learned is that vulnerability is essential to building meaningful relationships. When we allow ourselves to be vulnerable, we create space for others to do the same. This mutual openness fosters trust and deepens connections, both personally and professionally. “The more I shared my story, the more I realized that others were going through similar struggles,” Hannah says. “By being vulnerable, I wasn’t just helping myself—I was helping others feel less alone.”

In her work as a mental health advocate, Hannah emphasizes the power of vulnerability in healing and personal development. She encourages others to embrace their imperfections, to share their stories, and to see vulnerability as a pathway to growth rather than a hurdle to overcome. “When we hide our true selves, we limit our potential,” she explains. “But when we embrace who we are, flaws and all, we open ourselves up to new possibilities.”

Hannah’s journey also taught her that vulnerability is closely linked to authenticity. For years, she tried to fit into societal molds, hiding her true feelings behind a mask of perfection. But this only led to more pain and disconnection. It was only when she started living authentically—when she stopped trying to be what others expected and started being herself—that she found true success. “Living authentically means embracing your vulnerabilities and showing up as your whole self,” she says. “It’s about being honest with yourself and others, even when it’s hard.”

Through her platform, Hannah continues to advocate for vulnerability as a key to personal and professional success. She believes that when we embrace our vulnerabilities, we not only empower ourselves but also inspire others to do the same. “Success isn’t just about what you achieve,” she explains. “It’s about how you achieve it—by being true to yourself and allowing others to see the real you.”

As Hannah prepares for her TEDx Miami talk, she is eager to share her insights on vulnerability and authenticity with a broader audience. She hopes to inspire others to embrace their true selves and to see vulnerability not as a weakness, but as a source of strength and connection. Her message is clear: in a world that often values perfection, it’s our imperfections—and our willingness to share them—that truly make us successful.

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