Places Everyone: JJ Niemann Gets Real About His Life On Stage.

If you’re anything like the staff at 47Magazine or one of his 1.1 million followers, you will have been lucky enough to spot JJ Niemann on your TikTok For You Page. Creating a diverse slew of consistently quality and entertaining content, Niemann has garnered a loving and passionate fan base, as well as maintaining his “day job” - living out the career of his dreams. In this interview, 47Magazine was able to get down to the nitty gritty with JJ Niemann of what it means to be a social media influencer while also being a full-time actor. Niemann, the newest cast member of Hamilton, got open and honest with us about past projects, grief, rejection, and even plans for the big screen. 

47Magazine: How do you feel that being a social media influencer has affected your path as an actor? Has it hindered or supported your journey? 

JJ Niemann: The coolest, most tangible difference is that I now feel supported by an online community of millions of friends. At the stage door, no matter what role I’ve played that night, usually 50% or more of the stage door know me by name or have seen my content, and express that they were excited to see me in the show. It truly means the world to feel that support and to get to meet people IRL after connecting online and sharing common laughs and cries together there. Of course, having a platform comes with having some haters and naysayers here and there, which can feel overwhelming at times. But the pros WAY outweigh the cons, and I choose to focus on the joy that content creation brings me, and the joy I can bring to others.

47: Working in some of Broadway's most famous shows and theatres, some performers have built superstitions or rituals they live by to pull off a good show. Do you have any you’ve learned from past cast members or developed yourself? 

JN: Honestly, I don’t have any wild rituals! I just take properly warming up seriously - doing a vocal routine and physical routine before the show so that everything is in alignment. I do love to steam or nebulize my voice, and I swear by my Ricola for my voice and Tiger Balm for the aches and pains!

47: From Broadway to underground theatre, the arts have been graced with some truly amazing roles. What is your DREAM role (ANY show, ANY gender, etc)? 

JN: A dream role I’ve had since college is Frank Abagnale Jr. in Catch Me if You Can. I love roles like that where it’s truly a triple threat role - singing, acting, and dancing while leading big production numbers. However, if gender bent roles are an option, Anne Boleyn in SIX would be SO fun! I identify with her chaos.

47: Musical Theatre is full of powerhouses and iconic performers, who are your three biggest inspirations?

JN: I’m very inspired by artists that I’ve been fortunate enough to work with, whose kindness and work ethic match their massive talent. Susan Stroman, an icon and legend, ran the Smash rehearsal room as it should be - with kindness and grace. I was fortunate enough to play alongside Roger Bart in Back to the Future many times, and he truly took me under his wing, and I learned so much about comic timing and how to command a stage from him. Getting to witness James Monroe Iglehart tear the roof down every day in Hercules, but also be the sweetest and most supportive cast member, is something that really stuck with me. Those three really stick out to me at the moment.

47: Would you ever consider making the leap from stage to screen? Why or why not? 

JN: I’d absolutely LOVE to! The bulk of my training so far as a performer has been for on-stage performance, and I feel my skill sets lend itself naturally to the stage. I’ve definitely started to take more camera acting classes and have been pursuing some of those auditions. It’s such a different medium, and half of the battle is being in the right place at the right time for on-screen work. The other half is having the right tools in your toolbox to know how to best approach self-taping and auditioning for those jobs, which I’m actively working on.

47: With such a long history in the industry, you must have had your fair share of rejections. How do you react to “no’s”? What’s some advice you have for upcoming actors when it comes to auditioning and callbacks, and moving on from a no? 

JN: One of my favorite quotes from a castmate of mine has been “Rejection is Redirection.” We can be thankful for that. And a “no” isn’t even necessarily always a “NO,” sometimes it’s just a “not yet.” I think about doors that have closed for me in the past, and how thankful I am looking back that those doors closed, because it led me to a different door that was open for me, one that I was ready for, and one that was in more alignment with who I am and what I want. I often think about when I initially auditioned for Hamilton years ago, and I was considered for going on tour with the show. I was devastated that it didn't work out, and I thought that door was closed. I'd missed out on doing Hamilton, one of my dream shows. But… if I had taken that tour, I wouldn’t have been in NYC for my callbacks to book my first Original Broadway Cast, Back to the Future, which was a life-changing experience I needed. Now, two and a half years later, the same role I almost did in the touring production opened up in the Broadway company of Hamilton, and I’m getting to do this dream show on Broadway. It was just a “not yet!"

47: How do you react to a yes? What’s the most exciting “yes” you’ve gotten? 

JN: It depends, honestly! When you get a “yes,” it can be the most THRILLING feeling in the world. It means you got the job and put in the work to land that job. But then, immediately, you wrap your head around the fact that the hard work is just beginning, and the road ahead to do the work will be fulfilling but tough. The best “yes” I can remember was getting that call to be in Back to the Future on Broadway, covering Marty McFly. It meant I was going to be in my first Original Broadway Cast, and it also meant that I was going to get to take the final bow on a Broadway stage when I went on for the role. Even though I truly never doubted that the job was mine (I had a lot of intuitions and just a feeling about it), I had waited 5 weeks after my callbacks to hear back. It was like a wash of emotions when my agent called me right before Christmas in 2022. It was truly the best Christmas present ever!

47: I’m sure it’s hard to choose, having done numerous productions over the years, but what has been your favorite part of being able to work on Broadway?

JN: My favorite part of working on Broadway and in this industry is the community. Genuinely, I have met the greatest people and forged the most special friendships through showbiz. I like to joke to people that I got into theatre for “social reasons” in the first place, but it really is true - the best part about these experiences is the people you get to share them with.

47: Having a strong support system is important when doing full show weeks, pushing your body and mind to bring out an amazing performance isn't always easy. Who has been your biggest supporter?

JN: My biggest supporter and hugest fan my entire life was my father. He sadly passed in March, pretty unexpectedly, and it has been the most challenging chapter of my life I’ve ever faced, not having him to go to or call for life advice, career tips, or even the smallest things. However, I know in my heart of hearts he has the best seat in the house every night at my theatre and is cheering me on. I’m honored to be his son and to continue his legacy in this world.

47: To pursue a career in the arts is one of both triumph and uncertainty, for those who choose to do so, they are pushed by their “love for the game.” When was the first moment you realized this is what you wanted to do? 

JN: I had a director in high school when I did a summer production who told me and my parents that if I wanted to pursue this as a career, he thought I genuinely had what it takes if I pursued it and studied it in college. I always knew I loved theatre more than anything else, but I never really considered that I could make it, or even realized there were programs out there to hone my skills. Having that director believe in me gave me the kick I needed to audition for college programs and pursue training in theatre!

47: What’s one piece of advice you’ve kept with you along your acting journey that you always look back on? 

JN: In terms of keeping my head on straight, the best advice has been simple: what’s meant for you won’t pass you by. If it’s for you, it’s FOR you. That has helped me remember to stay in my own lane and path, and not look too much to my left or my right, getting distracted by what others are doing or achieving. Another simple bit of advice that has stuck with me is to “be the kind of person that I would want to be around and work with.” It’s a small world, so it’s always good to operate and act in a workplace or rehearsal room as the kind of person YOU would want to hire and be around every day.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity

Keep up with JJ on his socials: 

@jjniemann

Or on stage: https://hamiltonmusical.com/new-york/

Written by Lucy Anderson and Jazzi Almestica for 47 Magazine. 

Creative direction — Lucy Anderson (@lugzyjane), Toni Desiree (@tonidesireethomas)

Production — Emma Oviedo (@emmaovi_), Jazzi Almestica (@shes.so.dope)

Photography — Mark Bluemle (@barks.mindd)

Styling — Shelby Leeming (@shelbyleeming)

Makeup — Emma Oviedo (@emmaovi_)

Hair/asst. — Natasha Teiman (@natasha_teiman)

Clothing from Electrix Vintage @electrixvintage

Meet Elise: Theatrical Darling and All-Around Entertainer

Young adulthood is a time of uncertainty. Most of us are still trying to figure out what it is we are passionate about and what we want to do for the rest of our lives. If we’re lucky, we find this out when we are young, and when we’re older we keep the spark alive. For Taylor Elise Jackson–or simply Elise–this passion was performing. A glance at her resume shows that she is a hard-working, versatile entertainer who embraces all kinds of performance, ranging from film and T.V. to musical projects. From her first live dance recital at 5 years old to her most recent concert for her latest single “Go Shawty,” Elise has never lost her love of performing. Armed with a soulful, acrobatic voice and a charismatic stage presence, it’s clear that Elise was destined to perform. A countdown on her website shows the number of days until she performs at Harlem’s Apollo Theater–hopefully the first of many performances at the iconic theater. 

I recently had the privilege of asking her a few questions about her earliest musical memory, pre-show rituals, and, of course, her favorite musical.

J.D. Valdepenas: What is your earliest musical memory? 

Taylor Elise Jackson: My earliest musical memory takes me back to my middle school debut at the Alberta School of Performing Arts. I played Carmen, the lead role in Fame Jr., and it was such a special moment. I was dressed in a fire-red leotard, had my big afro and leg warmers. During my solo song, the lyrics were: “(Fame!) I’m gonna live forever, baby, remember my name.” I remember looking into the audience, I no longer felt like I was just playing a character. It was as though I was verbalizing my dreams to the crowd. I felt so powerful and connected to the moment. 

J.D. Valdepenas: How did you know that you wanted to be a musician? Was there ever a defining moment when you realized that this was something you knew you had to pursue? 

Taylor Elise Jackson: I’ve never had a single defining moment where I had to decide to become a musician. Performing has always been in my spirit, and I’m grateful that God has blessed me with opportunities and a supportive family to pursue it. Honestly, I wouldn’t even call myself just a musician — I like to say I’m an overall entertainer. Whether it’s acting, singing, or strutting on stage, I feel completely free to be as big and bold as I can. That freedom is something I can’t find anywhere else, and to live without it, or to not allow myself to chase my wildest dreams, would feel like living a half-lived life. 

J.D. Valdepenas: How did you feel the first time you ever performed live? 

Taylor Elise Jackson: The first time I ever performed live was at the Bama Theatre when I was about 5 years old, during a dance recital. I remember wearing a sparkly baseball outfit for our "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" number. The lights were so bright that I couldn’t see anyone in the audience, which made me feel a bit disoriented. Honestly, I was more irritated by how itchy the costume was and upset because I couldn’t spot my mom in the crowd! 

J.D. Valdepenas: What are some of your pre-show rituals? 

Taylor Elise Jackson: This might sound a bit crazy, but after I do my stretches and prayers, I like to find a quiet corner or any peaceful spot to sit alone. I take a few deep breaths, shortening them until I feel a little lightheaded. As I sway, I release all thoughts and judgments, clearing my mind completely. This way, when I run onstage, I can allow whatever wants to come out to flow freely, with no distractions, and fully express myself in the moment.  

J.D. Valdepenas: What is the best part of your job? 

Taylor Elise Jackson: The best part of my job is the exploration. I take all my pain, fears, and triumphs, and I get to reinvent and rediscover myself with every new idea and creative opportunity. It’s like alchemy. But nothing will ever beat the feeling of the audience responding to that. It's as if the air leaves and time slows down — and it becomes just me and the audience on a journey together. There’s no destination, just a shared moment in time that we’ll both carry with us. 

J.D. Valdepenas: Who is your biggest inspiration? What about their life or career inspires you in your path? 

Taylor Elise Jackson: My biggest inspiration is Michael Jackson. I don’t think the word "legend" even comes close to capturing the magnitude of his impact on the music industry. He was a true visionary, surrounded by a team of visionaries, and you could see that in every detail of his work. And of course, I LIVE FOR the theatrics, darling! My goal in life is to create art and moments that break through imagined limitations and live long after I’m gone, and Michael did that. 

J.D. Valdepenas: What is your favorite musical? 

Taylor Elise Jackson: This might sound a bit lame, but Hamilton is my favorite musical. I remember back in 2016, my dad tried to get me into it, but I thought it was so lame because who wants to watch a 3-hour show about history? But then it found me again a few years later, and it became my soundtrack freshman year of high school. And yes, I went to one of those performing arts high schools, haha! 

Hamilton on Disney Plus became a comfort show for me. The summer before college, whenever I felt lost, I’d turn it on, and somehow it always made me feel better. Hamilton was a visionary — whether you think it was "good or bad" is another conversation, but he fought for his vision and made history doing so.

Check out and follow Taylor Elise Jackson’s social media pages for more of her work! 

Interviewed by J.D. Valdepenas

Directed by K Pereira @Kaleb.pereira922

Photography by Mark Bluemle @barks.mindd

Styled by Jaiden Blank @thejaidenalexis

Pulled from: DOORS NYC @doors.nyc & Electrix Vintage @electrixvintage

Designs from: Metamorphoza @metamorphozafashion , Tania Orellana @taniaorellanaoficial , Mymokondo @my_mokondo

PA: Kedma Moise @Kedma_music

Featuring: Taylor Elise' Jackson @1amelise

Talent: DJ Placente @djplacente

Talent: Luis Betancourt @luis.Betancourt55

Rachel Bochner Has Something to Say

Rachel Bochner is on a journey, and she's inviting you to follow along. The NYC-based artist is no stranger to laying her cards on the table, with her 2020 debut single "Purple," a poppy ballad on the fear of falling in love too fast, introducing listeners not only to Bochner's philosophy on love but also her trepidations. Her second release, "Be Happier," continued to gradually and candidly ease listeners into her mind, highlighting her struggle with mental health in an ambient, almost hazy lament. Bochner continued to churn out tracks throughout the pandemic, with all her songs highlighting not just her vulnerability, but her relatability. 

With twenty-plus songs, three EPs, and one nationwide tour later, Bochner is not slowing down yet. As she prepares to release her latest EP, Lovergirl, I had the privilege of chatting with Bochner about her, the start of her career, and what it means to give yourself so wholly to your art.

Daniella Fishman: How did you get your start in music?

Rachel Bochner: I've been a singer and a music lover my whole life, but I didn't really start writing until 2018. I thought my love for music meant I should work at a label or something in that vein, but once I dipped my toes into the writing/artist side of things, it was so clear what I needed to do. 

DF: Who were your early musical inspirations, specifically when you first started writing in 2018? 

RB: At that point, I was inspired by Lana Del Rey, Lorde, and also artists who are songwriters, Julia Michaels, Taylor Swift, 1975, Maggie Rogers, and Frank Oceans. What a trip down memory lane…

DF: What about your experience interning with A+R that drew you to the creative side of things rather than the business side of the industry? Has your understanding of "the business" shifted how you produce your art?

RB: I think it was just a perfect storm. I started my internship right as I started taking my writing more seriously, and I could just feel this pit form in my stomach that would grow every day at my internship, telling me that what I was most passionate about was writing and sharing music that was meaningful to me. The music landscape is of course constantly changing, but having that taste of the industry side of things has helped me approach my artist career from a strategic standpoint in addition to my love and passion for the art and creative side. 

DF: Why this sound? What draws you to the noise of pop music? Are there any other genres that you want to experiment with at some point?

RB: As I've become more comfortable in my own skin as an artist, I don't think that much about how to achieve a certain sound or style, or even how to adhere to a genre. I make music that feels right and sounds right, whatever that means for the song and the moment it's being created in. Every project I work on ends up being an opportunity to experiment, but it feels like a very organic sort of wandering and playing with different sounds and instrumentation, and vibes. 

DF: You once described your music as the "soundtrack to the coming-of-age movie you wish you were the main character of." Which movie is that for you? And does it still hold true with this latest release?

RB: In a lot of ways, my upcoming EP Lovergirl feels like the most mature body of work I've created, but it also feels very reminiscent of the giddy and emotional, and sometimes naive nature of a coming-of-age film. I don't know that I can point to a specific movie that feels like it encapsulates the many lives I feel like I've somehow lived, but maybe a bit like the TV series Heartstopper, if it were based around people realizing they're queer in their 20, 's instead of high school. 

DF: Your early songs are emblematic of the stagnation and isolation felt by everyone during the pandemic, but your new music seems poppier, almost freer in theme and experience. How has the pandemic shifted your opinion of yourself as an artist? What has it taught you? What has it held you back from (if anything)?

RB: I feel like my artist career started as COVID did since the world shut down pretty soon after my first official release. The isolation, self-reflection, and downtime I experienced during the pandemic actually allowed me to form the beginnings of an artist identity. I learned so much about who I am as a writer, an artist, and a creative person in general during that time, which helped me feel really confident and prepared to move to NYC and quit my full-time day job in 2021. 

DF: Talk to me a bit more about your decision to go full into music in 2021. What was the catalyst for quitting your job?

RB: During COVID, I wanted to move closer to NYC, the hub of the music. During the summer of '21, I moved back home after college and tried to find community in the music scene at home. I tried to find people to collaborate with, producers and songwriters; it really takes a minute to learn how to hold your own in a room with other musicians. But, I wanted to learn to be able to move into the city and be in the middle of it all! I worked a full-time PR job from 2020-2021, and once I had saved up enough to leave, I quit and moved here. 

DF: Walk me through the writing process for your lyrics. Do you have any literary influences when putting pen to paper? Similarly, what is your songwriting process? How do you start working on a song? Do you write music or lyrics first?

RB: Especially as of lately, my songwriting process has been pretty solitary initially. I make sense of what I'm feeling and conceptualizing and beginning to write. Sometimes, I'll just finish the song alone if the words are pouring out that way. Other times, I like to bring the start of a song to any of the writers I know and love working with to help me finish and make it stronger. I'm inspired and influenced by a lot of things… what I'm feeling or going through, the music I'm listening to at the time, a particularly cool title of a book or poem, or a phrase that sticks with me on a billboard. Whatever the inspiration is, I try to just let it flow as it wants to and not try to force it. What I need to say will make its way out one way or another. 

DF: You call your fans "ghosties." Where did the nickname come from, and how have your fans embraced it?

RB: I put out a song called 'Ghosted My Therapist' and the merch for it had this adorable cartoon strip-esque design with a little ghost character in it. Everyone who got the merch really loved the little ghostie, and it became a recurring character in visuals and merch, and somewhere along the way it just felt so right to call my fans' ghosties' - me, Tiger, my frequent collaborator Alex, and a bunch of fans now all have matching ghostie tattoos… it's so special to me!!!

DF: In recent years, Pop music has shifted girlier and gayer. At this point in your career, and at this point in pop music history, your catalog fits perfectly into the current sonic zeitgeist. What is your take on the rise of queer/sapphic-pop? Do you identify your music under that label? 

RB: It's always interesting that music written by a queer or sapphic artist has to have that additional classifier of "gay" or "queer" pop. In a way, it's really powerful for representation, for people needing to feel seen and find music that they can relate to. It's great to normalize queer artists doing queer things in mainstream media. It's great to make music when queerness is being celebrated. With Chappel Roan, Renneé Rapp, etc, it's a really exciting and celebratory place to be in music right now. It's exciting to me to be a part of it! I make pop music, but I don't want to just be known for making one kind of music. People always want to emphasize the "queer" part of "queer pop," but one day it will all be considered general "Pop."

DF: You frequently collaborate with Tiger Darrow and recently released a collaboration with Xana. Now that you are four years into your music career is collaborating with and chatting with other artists easier? How has your confidence as an individual artist grown with your past releases?

RB: I love working with my friends. It's so rewarding and awesome and surreal to create with people you love and watch it be received as passionately as you feel about it. Collaborating is such an important part of the process for me - especially in terms of production. Having been at this for 4 years in a way makes me more comfortable in whatever room I'm in, but mostly because I just have seen over and over that no one ever really knows what they're doing, no matter how long they've been doing it. We're all just trying our best. 

DF: Speaking of Xana, you recently wrapped your first official tour with her! Talk to me about that. Was it just like you were expecting? Were there any unexpected bumps in the road?

RB: I loved touring with Xana. We're great friends, so it just felt like getting to hang out with your besties every day. I traveled with an awesome band and team, and all in all, it was a pretty smooth ride. I was on the road for about 3 weeks, and I thought I would be so ready to get back home at the end of it. When the last show rolled around, though, I remember my tour manager Alex and I looking at each other like… I could go another 3 weeks, couldn't you? Getting to play to so many new people, seeing places I've never been before, really seeing and feeling my music impacting people… it's pretty amazing.

DF: Tell me about "Alchemical," the music video, and the song's meaning.

RB: To put it simply, Alchemical is just a good, old-yearning song. It's inspired by being so fully captivated by your desire to know someone and be close to them, and letting yourself give in to it. As for the music video, I think it's a beautiful visual depiction of wanting and indulging. 

DF: You've been teasing your upcoming track, "Groupie," across your social media. Can you share the inspiration for that song?

RB: Groupie is similar to Alchemical in the sense that it's about desire, but Groupie is more of a naive fascination with something new and shiny. It's about being enamored with someone glamorously motivated by the spotlight and not minding being just another body in the crowd as long as you're first on the guest list. It lives in a city light-adorned moment before the smoke clears and the limerence high fades. 

DF: With most of your work being autobiographical, how do you separate Rachel Bochner, the individual, from Rachel Bochner, the musician? Do you feel like you need to balance the two? 

RB: As I've grown as an artist, my music has gotten more and more personal. When I was just starting out writing, I thought it's almost easier to let yourself be a little more "academic." I was really trying to get more confident with my writing, so sometimes I would write to a prompt or text my songwriting friends for topics or song titles for inspiration. I feel like in the beginning my songs were a mix of things that felt personal to me, that were coming from authentic emotions. But the songs weren't necessarily about my life in a 100% honest way. With that, it was easier to separate my emotions, but as I've come into myself as an artist, I feel like my music has developed into a way to be honest and express myself. Now that it's personal, it makes releasing music a bit scarier. It's like a little diary entry! I found that if I'm writing about something specific to me, and when someone listens to it, they relate to it in a profound way. Somehow, the way I relay my experience makes it more relatable. It's a scary responsibility, but that's what I have to say. 

DF: With you seemingly amping up to release a new EP, what do you hope your fans will retain from it, message-wise? What do you hope to showcase as you come into this new chapter of your career?

RB: This project was important for me because it involved writing about coming to terms with one's sexuality. This EP feels like not just a milestone in my career but in my life. I have one more single to release before the EP comes out; the song is called "Without A Doubt," and it'll be out on September 6th! 

Lovergirl is the accidental, ultra-romanticized diary of the past year of my life. The project documents the way my heart moved and stumbled and shapeshifted in that time. In many ways, 'Lovergirl' is a character, a version of myself that was yearning to feel something I couldn't name (until I could). It's a celebration of queerness, the highs of falling in love, the anxieties of unreciprocated feelings, and the warmth of experiencing things you never knew existed. The project is so special to me, and I know it will resonate so deeply with the right people. I just hope it's able to find those people. 

DF: What are you listening to right now/this summer?

RB: Brat!!!!! So much brat. Tommy Lefroy, MUNA, the Japanese House. Oh, and Chappell Roan…obviously.

Written by Daniella Fishman

Photography by Diana Victoria, @dianavictxria.jpg

Production by Mark Bluemle

PA: Chloe-Kaleah Stewart

Styling by Jaiden Alexis