Jimmy Hits Turns Rejection Into Momentum
Checkout our interview with one of Beatport's Best New Indie Artist
Hi Jimmy! Thanks for talking to 6AM. First off congrats on being recognized by Beatport as one of the Best New Independent Artists of May 2026! That's a huge milestone for any artist. First of all, how do you personally define what it means to be an independent artist? What did that recognition mean to you, and did it change how you looked at the next chapter of your career?
Thank you so much — it still really hasn't hit me yet, to be honest. I haven't taken my foot off the pedal to process everything that has happened the past 3 months. I am beyond grateful for the recognition, and being an independent artist means everything to me. I have total control, but I also wear so many hats. I haven't stopped working lol. As I move into the next chapter, I can start to lean on and trust the team I've been building. It's impossible to do everything alone.
A lot of people discovering you for the first time are also seeing this very specific visual world around you, especially the dolls that show up in your images and content. Where did that idea first come from, and what do those dolls say about the world you are building around Jimmy Hits? Are they more of a character, a mirror, a joke, a symbol, or something else entirely?
Honestly, I've always been on top of meme culture, but my friend was sending me doll memes, and since I'm also a Creative Director I thought it would be funny to create a video. It aligned so well in the moment and it just took off. It became a symbol of empowerment for women, which I love so much! Because of IPs, I've had to start altering them for legal purposes, but a lot of them are my friends or about my friends lol. I was sending songs to labels, which I never wanted to do, and got rejected by all of them. I wrote the song "I Don't Care What You Say, Imma Do It Anyway" to process my rejection, and people resonated with that.
"I Don't Care / Je M'en Fous" has reached a lot of people through Instagram, but the interesting part is how different people seem to be finding their own way into it. When you look at the comments, shares, and videos people are making with the track, what have you learned about how listeners are connecting with it that maybe surprised you?
I've learned that it gave a little glimpse into a lot of women's party days. A lot of women see themselves and their friends in the videos, obviously with a very over-the-top, exaggerated comedic view lol.
You have done a lot independently before this current wave, from international charting to Spotify streams, Shazams, sync placements, and DJ support. What has being independent taught you that you probably would not have learned if you went through the standard route of releasing through major/established labels?
It taught me that all the faith and trust I had in the process really does pay off when you put your head down and never give up. I've had bands break up and my SoundCloud taken down 4 times. Each time, I learned from it, worked harder, and grew from it.
Before this chapter, you were part of Super Square and had music connected to the Mortal Kombat franchise, which is a pretty specific world to have your work live inside. What did that era teach you about building music that can exist beyond the club or streaming platforms?
Super Square taught me a lot about striking while the iron is hot. My band at the time had a hard time being consistent with releases, and it eventually dissolved. I knew I would never let that happen again.
You have played rooms like Marquee Sydney, HYDE Bellagio, Temple Nightclub, Bumbershoot, and Dirtybird Campout, but now there is a national tour planned around this new momentum. What are you hoping people understand about Jimmy Hits once they leave one of these upcoming shows?
My goal has always been to help people through music, even if it's just for the 3 minutes of a song, to help them escape from all the craziness of the world. I'm naming it the Unhinged Baddie Tour because I want everyone to feel like the dolls in the videos I make. Unhinged and everything. I have a designer making custom fur coats, sunglasses, tank tops & champagne flutes for merch to help create the ambiance. I want people to let go.
Thanks again for talking to us Jimmy! Is there anything else you would like to add?
Thank you so much for having me! New music OTW, and whenever someone tries to prevent you from achieving your goals, just tell them: "I don't care what you say, Imma do it anyway."