Dive into the creative universe of Jennifer Mota (@jennifermotaval), a Dominican-American powerhouse hailing from Philly, bridging Latin music through her creative journey, which takes inspiration from life, fashion, and past decades. 🇩🇴✨

Where are you from?

Dominican-american from Philly.

Tell us about yourself in 2-3 sentences!*

I’m a multidisciplinary creative, my work focuses on creating visibility and storytelling around Afro-Caribbean and Domini-can-American music storytelling as well as bridges between dominican music and the LATAM music industry.

As a historian, I’ve pioneered the storytelling around Dominican dembow and its impact. As a visual producer I’ve created impactful content around movements, artists, and fashion.

How does your heritage inform your work?

I’ve proudly created a path and career embedded in my identity. The music, jargon, and fashion of both being a diaspora kid and an inner city kid that experienced Philly and Uptown New York informs my work and projects everyday. The best pieces of art and essays that I’ve created are the most relatable to people like me.

Where do you draw inspiration for your art?

Lived experiences, fashion, and music from past decades.

What’s one piece of artwork or design that you’ve created that holds a special place in your heart, and why?

The first dembow piece I wrote in 2019. It was what solidified my positionality and authority as a music journalist and experiential researcher. It also educated the industry on the genre’s impact.

What’s the most challenging aspect of being an artist or designer, and how do you navigate it?

Creating is a vulnerable act. Knowing that not everyone will get it or like it is a reality we have to face and overcome. It’s important to get to a place where you can validate yourself and not be in search for it elsewhere. That you know its impact and for who.

How do you overcome creative blocks or moments of self-doubt?

I embrace creative blocks and moments of self doubt because it forces me to be present, self reflect and process. What am I feeling and why? Where is this self-doubt spawning from? Your thoughts really can control how you move, so l’ve really embraced being an affirmations baddie, and I will confidently say / read my affirmations in the morning and night like a prayer. That and making sure im moving with love and intentions.

A piece of advice for aspiring Latinx content creators?

Everything I was bullied for growing up made me great and unique. My music taste, my dominican background, my fashion – those things society try to make you feel bad for, embrace that shit. Because its what’s going to make vou stand out and authentic.