This week's From The Expert features Juni Kobe, a singer/songwriter, musicpreneur and creative director. Kobe is the founder of Starlight Sessions, an initiative that provides a platform for emerging artists to showcase their talents.

In her interview with The Joburg Post, she shared her journey in the music and arts industry, the process of selecting artists for Starlight Sessions, and the benefits that ARTANOVA, a monthly event hosted by Starlight Sessions, offers to artists. 

Kobe talks us through how Starlight Sessions has adapted during the pandemic by launching Starlight Sessions Live W/. The initiative interviews artists and provides a comprehensive experience that supports and celebrates artists from different genres and mediums. 

As an expert in the music and arts industry, Kobe's insights on industry trends, career development, and tips for success are surerly valuable to all aspiring musicpreneurs. 

Juni shares her personal story and journey into the music industry, as well as the vision and mission behind Starlight Sessions. So sit back, relax, and get ready to be inspired by Juni's insights and passion for supporting emerging artists.

My name is Juni Kobe. I am 23 years old. I have a BA General degree majoring in Media Studies and African Literature from the University of Witwatersrand. I have a year qualification in Digital Marketing from iHub housed by the Hillsong Africa Foundation. I am a singer/songwriter, musicpreneur and creative director. 

I always say I fell in love with music when I was in my mom's womb. I came out crying in key lol. My passion for the arts and music started on the dance floor. Then I did choir in primary and that's when I solidified my love for music and singing. 

But I really started to nurture my love for music when I started attending and singing at Gracepoint Methodist Church. There I was surrounded by working musicians who took me under their wing and helped me figure out my sound and perfect the way I use my voice. 

In 2019, I decided that I am taking music seriously as a career. I didn't know where to go to practice performing and learn the music business. I watched the visuals for the Clear EP by Summer Walker and I wanted to recreate that. Thus Starlight Sessions was born in the youth hall of my church (in my Powerpuff Girls narrator's voice). 

4 years later, of #illuminatingstars, the vision has grown and I now lead a team of incredible creatives. I never take my journey for granted. I am truly blessed.

To be honest, I cast a wide net and see who bites lol. I trust my gut and my taste in music which has not led my astray yet. In the beginning of the year, and as the year progresses, we send out quite a number of DMs to artists I have seen at events or artists I've seen around the artists I've worked with before. 

Thereafter we work on a first response, first serve basis. The more I do it, the better I get at curation. I wish I had capacity for everyone but I'm working on it.

ARTANOVA was born in 2022 through a collaboration with a beautiful space in Melville. We want to be that corner in the industry that supports, showcases and celebrates artists from different genres and mediums. The vision is to have musicians, visual artists and poets under one roof where we network and enjoy each other's art- introducing them to an audience open to fresh and beautiful art.

ARTANOVA is the space to experience fresh and pure artists that you may miss in the saturation of the industry #theartofthestars. 

What I have come to see and hear from the artists is that our space is different because of how we give them the full artist experience through how we communicate and treat them at the shows. They are our VIPs, no matter where they are in their career. 

They get their performance posted on our pages which is an archive of their growth and what they offer. As our network grows, we hope that ARTANOVA will be the space where new talent can be nurtured and discovered.

I am like an accordion. I dream big and try big then I work backwards on what I know works to then scale it up again. As I mentioned the vision is to have all artists from different genres and mediums under one roof. Poets perform pieces, musicians sing/rap their hearts out and visual artists get interviewed on their work. 

A fully comprehensive experience you know. I am working on the infrastructure to make the vision a reality. For now you will definitely hear poets perform their pieces and musicians perform their hearts out.

2020 really sparked the vision. I was like what is going to happen to our industry. That's when Starlight Sessions truly became less about me and became a love letter to upcoming artists.

So we launched Starlight Sessions Live W/ where we interviewed artists and found out how they started and where they want to go. I will branch into virtual shows, virtual artist experiences etc.

We are  working on content segments that give insight into the artists and artistry. Stay tuned for that. Starlight Sessions on Instagram and YouTube.

Start where you are. I know the top seems great but there is so much that goes into being an artist. Like how you're going to perform to 5000 people when you cannot perform for 10 people. How you gonna be interviewed by Hype when you don't know what it is about. 

Please network straight. A cosign by the people at the top is great but when the streets love you it's even better. Talk to the sound guys at shows, the camera people, the artists , the owners etc.

Starlight Sessions was started by a black queer womana and the team consists of POCs from different works of life. I am very intentional about how I represent my people both black people and queer people. 

I do not want to tokenise them. I don't want to risk anyone's safety. All are welcome and we do not police anyone based on their skin tone or sexuality or gender expression. The values are intrinsic in our operations, how we communicate and how we treat people. 

If we ever do shows that are catered towards my people then it will be done with great intention and all markers will be crossed.

I like being an HBIC. I learn from experience, you know. I get autonomy over my time and the work environment. I do not and will not believe in burnout culture. I balance by understanding my strengths and weaknesses. My team is God's greatest gift to me. They really help me keep the ship going, you know. 

The challenges are that you don't know what you don't know. It's like you really learn on the job. I love what I do but artists can be drama queens. I am learning to keep a smile even when I'm frustrated. I love it though. I really want to be able to host CottonFest type of events so I'm happy to be learning now because I can only imagine the types of fire they put out.

I love my work. I believe in it with my whole heart and I believe that we will cultivate a space in the industry that is a breath of fresh air for the game. You just watch the space.

ARTANOVA is turning 1 on 29 April 2023 at Spilt Milk Melville. Come celebrate with us. Tickets available on Quicket.  Doors open at 4pm. A drink will be waiting😉

Kobe's Starlight Sessions has become a love letter to upcoming artists by providing a comprehensive experience to showcase their talents. Her passion for music started at a young age and was nurtured through singing at Gracepoint Methodist Church. Her process of selecting artists for Starlight Sessions involves casting a wide net and trusting her gut. 

Kobe's ARTANOVA event is a space to experience fresh and pure artists that the audience may miss in the saturation of the industry. With Starlight Sessions Live W/, Kobe's initiative has adapted to the pandemic by providing a platform to interview artists and support them during these times. 

Next week's From The Expert will feature an industry expert who will be shaking things up and talking all things cocktails!