CREATIVES OF WIDENER: JERMAINE "VENO" QUATTLEBAUM
By Ciana Bowers
Jay Quattlebaum studied accounting at his time at Widener University, He graduated in 2014 and while at widener Quattlebaum played for Wideners football team and was active in a presidential service core scholarship where he dedicated 300 hours of community service doing various things in the Chester community.
Quattlebaum would describe his time at Widener as a great experience. It differed from where he comes from in DC and he enjoyed being exposed to a lot of new cultures and types of people as well as being a part of the football team and meeting a lot of friends.
Since he graduated from Widener, Quattlebaum is now pursuing music full time. He has now been seriously working on music for about three years now and when asked about what made him want to go to music from accounting, he said “Accounting was something I was good at and they told you to pick a major to graduate so I picked accounting.” But music was something he was always passionate about.
Growing up, the music Quattlebaum listened to and his favorite musicians inspired and shaped the sound of his music. “The things I was exposed to from my parents, grandparents and people from Widener understanding new cultures and different types of music bled into what I like now.”
While at Widener he spent his focus on football, but a friend of his always messed around with music. It was a way for him to express himself and get out different thoughts and emotions. It was something he did for fun because at that time football was his main focus. But now Quattlebaum writes his own songs and is a part of a group called Free Party alongside his best friend Mo Conteh another Widener attendee. His stage name in his group is Veno. This stage name originated from his love of the show entourage putting a spin on one of the character’s name Vince Chase.
His favorite thing about making music is getting to be completely honest, and there is no right or wrong way to do it. You can express your feelings and have people relate to you, and you can help them get through things they’re going through with the music he creates.
Currently, Quattlebuam has created a new project for this year. The quarantine has inspired him to make a project about self-reflection and taking a look at himself, things he doesn’t like and things he does like and channeled all of that energy into a project. He already has a project out called Grey and you can find it on any platform.
To those who want to make music of your own, Quattlebaum advises doing it for yourself at first and building your confidence. To our current Widener students, he advises you to learn as much as you can and learn what you actually like because you might not enjoy what you choose at first. Don’t let anyone tell you a major is wrong and learn inside as well outside the classroom about your field of interest. And always enjoy your time there.
