Jewel IV for Era IV. Photography by Emerald Arguelles
Everyone seems to be in an era, whether that be their enlightenment era, villain era, or soft era, but for Jewel IV; this is his “Era IV.” The importance of this era is more than simply a transition to music and to not shy away from the creative avenues of film, rather re-envision them.
At his core Jewel IV is a filmmaker, but in this era he has taken a momentary hiatus from the director’s chair to venture into a new creative medium. With a relocation across the country came various effects, such as lack of creative inspirations, the breaking of ties, and the immense urge to create something new. Music is an inventive, divine, and therapeutic exploration for Jewel. He wrote his first song in high school where he adapted a poem into a song and recording on GarageBand. The song, which Jewel teases will never see the light of day, was personal to him during that moment in his life. The exploration of this creative venture fostered a new division in the making, but in order to understand the present; the past must be explored. IV Sound, now the official music division of IV Vision Co., came into development in late 2022; where Jewel co-created the soundtrack for his seventh project “Exposed: Back To Black,” thus officially birthing the division. Naturally the music progression has led Jewel to focus on the craft for himself, “It is more connected to my pen on a personal level than my pen is on a film,” he says. On a film, Jewel thinks more about the audience's reception and character motivations for the sound. However, for his upcoming EP, he unapologetically and unrestrictedly puts himself first.
““This shift in medium ultimately planted a seed for a new vision that is now peaking on the horizon.””
Jewel IV, the pure and simmering Sagittarius, credits many inspirations for this upcoming era of his life and his company, IV Vision. Firstly, his parents have influenced his creativity and the way he does business. Following his parents as a guiding light and relying on them as they helped to develop his music taste while growing up in Houston. Much of his musical seasoning comes from early R&B genre. An album he still listens to ‘religiously’ to this day is Jill Scott's The Real Thing: Words and Sounds Vol. 3. Jewel laments that her album “needs to be studied in music class. It's the flow of poetry, the seamlessness of how it correlates the music and the lyrics and the atmosphere and the tone that she's creating for not just her, but the audience, is immense.”
His parents expressed apprehension with the transition to music, but understood that it is an addition to the film world and skillset as well. Jewel has expressed his nervousness to enter a new creative medium and is just now becoming more public about it.
““I have not been as transparent with this expression of medium as I have with my filmmaking with my immediate family. I am a bit nervous for them to see this other layer to my artistry. The only ones that know are close friends and Vision staff; thats it.””
VISIONS CAME LIKE BUBBLES
He’s lived in Los Angeles for about a year now, exploring what it means being truly single and seeking clarity in a new city. He has used music as a coping mechanism for the various emotions he has felt with this new season of his life. Jewel says, “I have never experienced regret or heightened anxiety before. It’s all very new and it’s something I take day by day.” To release this anxiety and keep himself busy he collaborated with other artists such as Soul Sydonna and his cousin, Christiana. He would write and record rough demos on his phone to send to ATL for Soul and go to studio sessions with his cousin to take more artistic risks and flex his pen. The result is a project that explores Jewel’s personal life, professional, and creative passions through auditory storytelling.
SUGAR … SPICE … AND EVERYTHING NICE.
Jewel IV for Era IV. Photography by Emerald Arguelles
This EP spawned as an earlier concept for his album, “Phases.” The album, from what he has shared, took 6-7 months to write/demo and has been sitting since October 2023. Jewel mentions that when he still felt the urge to continue to write and create after completing the “Phases” demos. He also felt that it would be premature to release an entire LP with no lead in. While continuing to make new music, he decided to deconstruct the album into three individual EPs to encompass a complete project called “The Ludes.” The triptych stems from time in relation to music storytelling. It also takes inspiration from the well-known animated series “The PowerPuff Girls" where the phrase, “Sugar, Spice, and Everything Nice” is incorporated into each EP.
For “Prelude” the motif stems from the “sugar” or Bubbles. With this being the first EP in his catalog naturally the theme of this project is an introduction and start to his bubbling artistry. The project to follow, “Interlude” pulls from Buttercup, the spice or rather the main event and “Postlude” from Blossom with everything nice to complete the Ludes trilogy.
Though the whole LP will be released at some point he didn’t feel it was the right timing and instead wanted to focus on creating a project that showcases and introduces him as an artist.
Jewel IV for Era IV. Photography by Emerald Arguelles
For the upcoming EP, “Prelude”, Jewel has stuck to his origins of R&B while diving into other subgenres such as alternative R&B. He looks up to the multitalented independent artist Tinashe and takes inspiration from her lyricism and all around artistic development. He even shouts her out in his song “Say So.” He is also fascinated with the darker hip hop tones; similar to Beyonce's “6 INCH'“ and “ALL UP IN YOUR MIND”. He enjoys studying demos and unreleased tracks by said artists to focus on the their artistic evolution.
““There are a lot of artists I can relate and connect with through their art, but Tinashe is one that was right with me in that moment and translates exactly what I would say, feel, and how I would react…sonically. She is ahead of the industry in my opinion.” ”
As Jewel and IV Vision Enter this new era, it is apparent that he is open and eager to learn, absorb, and grow. The main difference with “Era IV," coined by the company entering its fourth year of business along with Jewel as the fourth generation, he states, “it’s very public.” Normally the company likes to surprise their audience and drop exclusive content but this approach is two parts a celebration and an opportunity to be more open and honest with their audience. "We will be doing 4 major drops this year. 2 visual projects, and 2 audio projects. All different mediums and formats that we have been experimenting with for the last 2-3 years up till now." Jewel states. A few notable mentions that are expected for the company on a visual side is the documentary for the making of “Exposed" and the highly anticipated episodic proof “Exposed: Back To Black.” The company will be going further in the audio space with an upcoming podcast collaboration with Starring Entertainment.
This era is all about exploring new ideas and trying new things. It gives the company an opportunity to do things, “we've never had the chance to do, but now we do,” Jewel says. During this era, he plans to wear many creative hats and flow between a musician, filmmaker, and a creative director with a focus on tapping into himself and collaborating with others. Jewel says that “new strategies are always being developed for the releases of our projects, so who knows what else is to come from this era. It’s full of surprises.” While Jewel has many inspirations he, maybe unknowingly, is an inspiration and motivation to others in his mission to give back and fuel other creatives through these collaborations.
““I love putting other creatives on, highlighting other creatives, and giving them a platform to showcase their work in their art.””
The ‘hue’ of Era IV is not a single color but rather a focus on the primary colors: blue, green, and red, a separation from the neutrals of brown, black, and white seen in the “World of Exposure.” In Vision’s catalog every film is associated with a color. Every color has a deeper meaning that symbolizes each film whether through similar hues or saturations it sets the tone of the creative work. For “Exposure,” the tone was “warmth mixed with grit,” but when selecting the color for Prelude Jewel says, “I was looking, digging deeper inside of myself, and I realized there was no color. It was new; it was clear.”
“Prelude” embodies themes and motifs that rely heavily on the fun that is Bubbles’ childlike wonder. Incorporated into this is the use of the color blue, big fluffy clouds, and mirrors. The concept of mirrors plays on the idea of refraction and the breaking of light; which translates throughout the EP with the use of up tempo beats and sweet yet sassy lyrics. Each song on the EP represents a different color; “Say So,” a warm red and “Jaded,” a deep green. The range of colors shows his openness and intention to the sound and care each song deserves. Era IV provides a sense of vibrancy that shows through Jewel’s artist development.
However, for his upcoming EP, “Prelude,” he reflects on his journey so far unapologetically and unrestrictedly putting himself first.
Jewel IV for Era IV. Photography by Emerald Arguelles
““Music, to me, is laying out how I feel or what I want to say on the track without judgement or a stamp of approval.’””
He has different stories he wants to tell as an outlet and knows that it will reach whoever it was meant to reach. Jewel explains the process has been the funnest part. The creation of his songs either start with the lyrics first or the beat which he sometimes finds off of YouTube. A great example is with his song “Jaded” which resembles a letter to himself of self reflection and regret.
Space and time, did it right.
Was on my mind, but for a night
These precious stones, they holdin’ tight
Just a reminder, that I’m gone be alright
Jewel not only uses ‘type beats’ as a way to exercise his songwriting skills, but to see if the song is demo worthy. All the heart and hard work is a part of the exploration of this new era; without the need for financial gain or influence. Jewel proudly states, “I’m doing this because I want to,” as a way to stay true to himself and his brand.
Jewel IV for Era IV. Photography by Emerald Arguelles
““The Ludes will be a layered expression of where my head (creatively, mentally, intimately) has been since the exposure era. It’s a reflection of self. An expression of self. A reminder of worth that we carry in all aspects of ourselves.””
As for Vision, the company will grow and evolve stronger focusing on the values of quality work, paying attention to detail, and being authentic to the craft. For Jewel, IV Vision is “a legacy for me, it’s not just the company.” Jewel has many aspirations and goals for this era, but the biggest one is to “release everything on time,” he says jokingly. With all the exciting releases this coming forth this era, Jewel is most excited about the music. When asked what his top three songs on the upcoming EP are, he says people might really like “Jaded, Hush, and Like U Do. It’s hard for me to choose. I resonate with them so differently. I love them all.” Although the actual release date is unknown (even to Vision staff), Jewel says to expect “something” by the summertime.