Today we’d like to introduce you to David Jacober.
Hi David, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I began drumming at an early age, and later graduated from Towson University with a BA in Audio Production and Jazz Performance (percussion). Soon after, I formed a rock band with my best friend called “Dope Body”. We spent over a decade releasing music and touring mostly the US and Europe. During this time, I also played drums, toured and/or recorded with Dan Deacon, Future Islands, Ed Schrader’s Music Beat, and Scout Niblett. I currently release my solo music as “Jacober”, which you can listen to on streaming platforms or get directly from me at Bandcamp. I write, perform (vocals, drums, synth, bass, electronics), record, produce, and release it on my own. Please consider giving it a listen and following on streaming platforms.
Music is still my first love, but more recently, I have grown to love making visual art and teaching as well! Art has helped me overcome huge obstacles and saved my life in many ways. I am inspired by family, friends, my students, animals, nature, history, architecture, science, dreams, music, lines, colors, and shapes. Thanks for having me here!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has been no bed of roses. In 2020, I rapidly lost about 1/3 of my body weight and generally felt terribly ill. So I visited my Doctor and was diagnosed with late-onset Type 1 diabetes right there on the spot. If you aren’t familiar with T1D, it’s an autoimmune disease for which there is no cause or cure, requiring multiple daily insulin injections and constant maintenance. This was a devastating experience, to say the least. It still causes tons of stress and frequent mental burnout. After this diagnosis, I went down a dark path with alcohol, fueled by a touring while away/working in the service industry at home type lifestyle. This all came to a head last summer when I nearly lost my life to simultaneous cases of pancreatitis and diabetic ketoacidosis. I spent 10 days in an ICU, and my family was told I may not survive. Thankfully, I did survive! So with this amazing gift of a second chance at life, I decided to get sober and healthy, focus on art, music, teaching, and living a much more positive life.
I am proud to say that as of today, I have over 400 days without alcohol! Art has been absolutely crucial to this healing process and recovery. Instead of poisoning myself, I focus on admiring and contributing to the abundant beauty in life, as hard as it is to see past all of the evil in the world today. I do this by pouring my visions out onto canvas, proving to myself that I can endure my struggles and overcome my challenges. I never thought I would be able to make my dreams come true, but I have, in a way, by changing, growing, and learning to channel positive rather than negative energy. I want other people to feel that sense of hope and renewal when they view my work.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
One thing that sets me apart as a creative is that I make art as a form of self-care, which helps me transform negative energy into positivity. As for what I specialize in, it’s making original paintings and designs that blend the abstract, surreal, and modern, using familiar 3D shapes, vibrant colors, patterns, lots of buildings, plants, water, bricks, some ducks, and nice things like that. I am not formally trained in visual art at all. I mostly use acrylic paint on stretched canvas. Everything that you see is original and not traced or copied.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
People can support me by buying my art, purchasing my music, or donating at Bandcamp. I am currently working on a Shopify store, but for now, the easiest way to buy from me is by direct messaging my Instagram, linked in this article. @d_jacober26. I read my DMs!
I am open to working with others and really enjoy collaborating! I can be reached regarding art, music, and collaboration in the same way.
Pricing:
- Art $50 – $500
- Jacober Light Years Vinyl $20
Contact Info:
- Website: https://davidjacoberart.myshopify.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jacober_26/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-jacober-93b437377
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JacobraCommander
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/jacober-music
- Other: https://jacober.bandcamp.com
Image Credits
David Jacober
