It’sJustVon Opens Up: Mental Health, Dual Identities, and a Year of Personal Transformation

When you look at artists who use music as a form of self-therapy, It’sJustVon stands out as someone who doesn’t just write songs, he documents chapters.

Ever since he released his debut album welcome to the state of denial in 2020, his artistry has been rooted in honesty, emotional depth, and the willingness to confront the parts of life that most people avoid. What makes his story even more layered is his second musical identity, LLV, short for Lost Love, a name he uses when the art demands a darker lens, a different tone, or a more vulnerable headspace. Two identities, one storyteller, and a growing discography that reflects real human struggle.

2025 became an important year for Von because it marked a shift from internal battles to outward conversation. His single “Someway Somehow,” chosen for BUZZMUSIC’s Best Independent Artists of 2025, is a track that channels his personal reflections on mental health into something relatable for anyone who’s ever carried pain in silence. The song is a reminder that healing isn’t linear, and that resilience doesn’t always look loud, sometimes it’s just surviving one more day, one more moment. The track’s calm intensity and message show exactly why Von’s voice matters in a genre where vulnerability is often treated like a risk.

But this year wasn’t defined by music alone. Outside the studio, Von stacked milestone after milestone: graduating from college with a BA, earning his Class A CDL, managing at three major companies, and stepping into a project manager role for a robotics company, traveling, learning, and leveling up professionally. These real-world achievements mirror his internal growth. They show a version of Von who isn’t just writing through pain, but actively building a life outside of it.

What comes next feels like a new era. With “Leaving the State of Denial” on the horizon, Von is preparing to expand the narrative he started years ago, shifting from survival to evolution, from reflection to forward motion. And whether it’s through It’sJustVon or LLV, one thing is clear: his music remains rooted in honesty, faith, and the belief that timing — God’s timing — is everything.

You’ve released music under both It’sJustVon and LLV, two identities that tap into different emotional spaces. How do you decide which parts of your story belong to which artist name, and what does each alter-ego represent for you creatively?

ItsJustVon is who I was, and is leaving the state of denial. My last song, “You Read My Mind” on my album, says “...what? You never met LLV.” So, to answer your question, how do I decide which parts of my story belong to which artist name? ItsJustVon is heartbroken by what happened to him, but LLV is ready to move on. My last release under LLV should have been ItsjustVon, but it just didn’t feel right. LLV is ready to move on, but in his recent release alone, he has not made that leap, which is why it didn’t make the album. ItsJustVon waited years after “Welcome to the State of Denia” to reveal why the breakup occurred on leaving the state of denial, but knew the whole time. LLV stands for lost love forgot the s.. forgot the t… {lost} forgot the o… forgot the e{love}. LLV is ready to move on, making upbeat music to have fun with. ItsJustVon makes hip hop storytelling. I honestly want to say that after leaving the state of denial itsJustVon is finished, but after so many people who have heard my album before its release, it's a high possibility ItsJustVon returns to make music that hits home.

“Someway Somehow” is all about mental health and the unseen battles people carry. When you were writing it, what moment or realization pushed you to speak openly about what you were going through?

Honestly, I just felt free to share. Writing to me feels free; I just write it out on my cell phone, then record it. The second verse really comes to mind when you ask that question. I have nothing to hide; the unseen battles I, as well as many others, fight every day. I feel obligated with all my accomplishments to share what I have experienced. As I always say, “you're not alone,” let's go, “ the sky is the limit. “ I was a robotics project manager. Amazon area manager. Etc.

You’ve talked about wanting your music to spark conversations around emotional struggle, resilience, and healing. What’s one thing you wish more people understood about mental health, especially within hip-hop and R&B?

Honestly, we should not look to musicians for life advice. I have read over a hundred books, the majority on business, self-help, and religion. But musicians make music for entertainment for the most part. When it comes to mental health, I honestly believe you should be your own doctor in a way. Decide what is and what is not working for you. Keep it going to be the best version of yourself as possible. 

You’ve had a big year outside of music: graduating from college, earning your CDL, and stepping into project management and robotics. How have those real-life responsibilities and wins shaped the way you write, think, and create?

Honestly, I just got a chance to wear different hats. I tell people who have met me, “everybody knows Von from Amazon. It's really the best place to work; people high up really care about what you think and your views toward making the organization a better place. Robotics really wasn’t for me, not to bash another company, but trust me, I don’t mind doing that either lol. Amazon has been the #1 company in the world, and I’m proud to say I started as a temp and worked my way up to Manager. I have a CDL and love my relaxing occupation. I think as time progresses, it will shape my music currently. I’m glad to have finished leaving the state of denial. 

You mentioned “Just Me and the Studio” as a possible inclusion for Best Of 2025 if the timing works. What kind of energy or message does that unreleased track carry, and how does it continue the story you’re telling this year?

Just me and the studio just feels right. The calmness after the storm, the energy I feel it brings.  It brings a message of being alone and being alone is ok. I’m working alone by choice, single by choice, looking for the right people to allow in my life. This year sets the table for the next guest llv. Get ready for him, but also, if he is too much to take, you can always message me and say we miss ItsJustVon.

You dropped two tracks in 2025 “Someway Somehow” and LLV’s “alone.” When you look at both, what do they say about where you are emotionally and artistically compared to when you first released “welcome to the state of denial” back in 2020?

ItsJustVon welcome to the state of denial, brings attention to, and my ex-girlfriend being on a break to officially breaking up. Leaving the state of denial is the raw, uncut reason why the relationship ending begins the album with “hurt my soul,” hopefully something everyone enjoys. With the album over, I look forward to the next person I date. Emotionally free as well as artistically free. I can make whatever kind of music I like. A new chapter is beginning, and I hope my fans are next to me to read what’s about to be written. 

Heading into 2026 with “Leaving the State of Denial” on the horizon, what shift do you feel happening inside yourself? What do you want this next chapter to reveal about you as both a person and an artist?

Get ready for LLV! All I can say.