How Beats & Ballads became one of Atlanta’s premier live music showcases

Dri Jack was looking for a way to pull herself out of a creative slump.

The College Park native has been an independent artist for roughly 15 years.

But after grieving an ectopic pregnancy, losing her manager and adjusting to life as a new mother, she stepped away from performing.

In 2023, she attended Beats & Ballads, the quarterly live jam session for rising singers, and signed up to perform Brandy’s “Almost Doesn’t Count.”

“That was one of the first times that I performed after having my son,” she said. “It just gave me a little bit more encouragement and the community of love and support from other artists and musicians in the city.”

Dri Jack wasn’t the only artist who found a sense of belonging at Beats & Ballads. What began as a single performance opportunity has evolved into one of Atlanta’s most trusted spaces for emerging musicians, drawing everyone from first-time performers to industry executives looking for new talent.

Singer Dri Jack has performed at Beats & Ballads several times. (Courtesy of Ashlyn Baldwin)

The first Beats & Ballads doubled as a birthday party for singer-songwriter Daijah Ross in 2019. She came up with the name using an online generator, designed a flyer, recruited a friend to cook and welcomed about 100 people to Switchyards, the coworking space where she worked.

Today, the event boasts hundreds of attendees, including casual fans and music executives in search of Atlanta’s next music star. “We’ve had A&Rs, we’ve had executives, we’ve had managers and scouts,” the founder said.

Ahead of the brand’s next jam session on Friday, nearly 100 singers signed up to perform alongside a live band. Only 20 will make the final lineup.

“What I love is anybody can sign up, but we set the tone that you need to be intentional. Do what’s on your heart, but be on key.” Ross said, with a chuckle.

Daijah Ross founded the open mic jam session Beats & Ballads in 2019. (Courtesy of Jonai (Casso) Jackson)

Ross understood what young artists needed because she’d spent years searching for those same spaces herself.

She grew up in Stone Mountain before attending Georgia State University. Throughout college, she sang at open mic nights at local cafes such as Dream and Apache, the latter of which once hosted India.Arie, Bone Crusher and Janelle Monáe. Ross hoped to follow in these artists’ footsteps, but she discovered she also had a passion for collaborating with other musicians.

In less than five years, she co-wrote a number of songs, including the title tracks for Snoh Aalegra’s Grammy-nominated “Temporary Highs in the Violet Skies,” and provided background vocals for artists such as rapper Noname.

Ross’ work as a singer and songwriter provided her with an intimate view of the communal spaces needed for artists to gain the experience and network required to advance in the music industry. But in the past decade, many of the local open mic nights she’d once attended have closed.

In the aftermath of the COVID pandemic, the future of Beats & Ballads seemed uncertain, too.

“My stepdad would say that church is not always just the building. It’s in your heart. (It’s) how you show up, how you communicate and interact with people,” she said. “Keeping that in mind, I’m like, OK, Beats & Ballads is not always going to be in (a physical) space. We can’t even really be with each other. We gotta be six feet apart. So what does that look like?”

Beats & Ballads returned to its regular schedule in 2022, but Ross has implemented some changes. Where singers would originally sign up to perform at the event, they’re now asked to do so a week in advance. The logistical change has allowed the live band a chance to rehearse ahead of time.

Tafari Malik has been singing in the Beats & Ballads band for three years, after his former roommate Storm Ford connected them to Ross.

The job has given Malik a recurring gig, while also allowing him to continue to develop as an artist.

“It has literally made me so confident in my ability, as a performer, as a singer, as a background vocalist,” he said. “It’s also made me feel more established as an artist in Atlanta.”

Malik enjoyed the spontaneity of performing songs without advance practice. It required a nimbleness and helped train his musical ear. But he said he appreciates the opportunity for additional preparation that the new sign-up process has afforded him.

“I’m really glad that (Ross) made the shift to getting some of the songs that we were going to perform beforehand. People want to be able to sing the song the way that they’ve practiced it and the way that they feel comfortable singing it,” he said. “And as a band, we want to be able to help them do that, but it is difficult when we have only heard a song once.”

Tafari Malik has grown as a background vocalist and independent artist through his participation in Beats & Ballad's live band. (Courtesy of Baj Creative)

The venues have had to expand with the brand’s growing audience, too. Recent editions of Beats & Ballads have drawn as many as 500 attendees. Still, Ross says she’s continued to select venues that do not offer an elevated stage, instead allowing performers to be on the same level as the audience to create an approachable atmosphere.

“I’m also trying to demystify the idea of the artist and the star,” she said. “We all are stars, even if you’re just there supporting. That’s important. We would not be where we are if people can’t support (us).”

Ross has also started The Close Up, a live show spotlighting local artists such as India Shawn and Jai’Len Josey, and Beats & Balance, an event series focused on encouraging creators to prioritize their mental and physical health. Ross said she hopes to one day produce a Beats & Ballads compilation with the various artists who have performed at her events throughout the years.

She welcomes the continued growth of the event, but she’s content with keeping Beats & Ballads’ quarterly schedule for now.

“I’m just so happy to have something that people can look forward to,” Ross said.

The event also includes a market that will showcase local vendors as well as a meditation and breathwork session under the Beats & Balance brand.