Incarceration to Record Label Success: geriFree’s Journey of “Pure Joy”
In the world of music, there are few things as powerful as an artist’s ability to turn personal struggles into expressions of joy and triumph. Such is the case with Geri Meyers, a graduate from our On a New Track Reentry Mentoring Program 2021 Cohort and Program Consultant, who has taken her experiences and transformed them into a captivating song called “Pure Joy.”
Geri’s journey is one that truly inspires. After being incarcerated and finally released on parole in July 2020, she found herself yearning for connection with her loved ones, particularly her children and grandchildren residing in Virginia. It was during a serendipitous encounter at GameStop that Geri experienced an overwhelming sense of happiness when meeting her grandson for the first time. This moment sparked something within her - a surge of gratitude, thankfulness, and pure bliss.
“I hadn’t planned anything, but witnessing the happiness of my grandchild and seeing people preparing for Christmas filled me with a sense of gratitude and thankfulness. A song melody came to me, and I hummed just to remember it. The words were so clear in my mind.” - geriFree
At 60 years old at the time, Geri found herself embracing her true self, breaking free from limitations imposed by circumstance. As a fitness instructor, house music had always been Geri’s source of motivation before incarceration, and she had long dreamed of making beats to accompany her high-energy routines.
“Give a Beat gave me an opportunity to pursue a dream. In spite of me being formerly incarcerated, in spite of my age, they opened that door and believed in me. There’s so much beauty in that.” - geriFree
On a New Track and Breaking Free from Limitations
Geri Meyers’ journey of transformation is truly remarkable. From her time in incarceration to her involvement in the On a New Track Reentry Mentoring Program, she has overcome numerous challenges and emerged as a symbol of resilience and personal growth. It is through this program that Geri found her passion for music and embraced her true self. The On a New Track Reentry Mentoring Program is an initiative aimed at providing support and guidance to individuals who have experienced incarceration. The program’s purpose is to help these individuals successfully reintegrate into society by pairing them with music industry professionals as mentors, teaching them how to DJ, produce music, and develop related business and entrepreneurial skills.
Reentry poses numerous barriers, with one of the toughest challenges being job access. Therefore, our program offers skills to enhance creative career pathways, monetize their art, and ultimately reduce recidivism. Throughout the process, we strive to promote positive change, foster self-esteem and self-worth, and empower individuals to discover their passions.
Give a Beat Records: A Powerful Manifestation of Freedom
On a New Track Reentry Mentoring Program graduate, Alumni Program Consultant and Give a Beat Records Label Artist geriFree with Teaching Artist, Artist Relations Coordinator and Mentor Angela
Give a Beat Records is an extension of our On a New Track Reentry Mentoring Program, giving our artists the platform to share their voice with the world. Through this program, participants like Geri Meyers are given the tools they need to overcome challenges, embrace their true selves, and ultimately find freedom from within. So when Todd, the Label Director of Give a Beat Records, reached out to sign her, this opportunity became a powerful manifestation of Geri’s newfound freedom and a platform for her to express herself artistically. This is why Geri has chosen the artist name “geriFree.”
“I had to overcome a lot in order to get here and understand the true meaning of freedom. We all have our own stories. What are you breaking free from? My message is that everyone can find freedom from within. “Free for me” is about finding contentment regardless of my circumstances or location. - geriFree
geriFree’s story and “Pure Joy” message serves as an inspiration to us all. When she was a guest speaker in our latest On a New Track cohort, a participant shared, “hearing her made me realize that my age doesn’t have to be a barrier between me and my dreams.”
Inspiring Others: geriFree’s Evolution of “Pure Joy”
The creative process behind “Pure Joy” was one filled with synchronicity and collaboration. Todd connected Geri with Chaz for pre-production, and as Geri hummed along the song that inspired her in Virginia, Chaz skillfully matched the beats on the keyboard.
“When I started, my intention was for “Pure Joy” to resonate with me. I want people to take away the messages and emotions from “Pure Joy”. I wake up every day and feel grateful. There is always something to be grateful for - I am alive and breathing.” - geriFree
Her love and passion for house music truly brought the song to life and from there eventually lead to the additional composition of the legendary Godmother of House, Stacey Hotwaxx Hale’s production and HazMat Live’s co-engineering for the “Pure Joy (Hotwaxx & HazMat Live Remix.)” Together, they created a harmonious blend that perfectly captured the essence of Geri’s original vision.
“Pure Joy (Hotwaxx & HazMat Live Remix)” is more than just a remixed song; it’s an anthem of resilience, self-expression, and freedom from within. It reminds us that regardless of our circumstances or location, we all have the power to find contentment and be our true selves. Through its infectious beats and inspiring lyrics from the original “Pure Joy,” it invites listeners to embrace simplicity and appreciate life’s small moments.
“The simplicity of “Pure Joy” made it easy to work with, and it embodies what house music means to me: staying rooted in positive energy and love. geriFree’s message serves as a great inspiration - we must choose to be happy because everyone wants to experience joy.” - Stacey Hotwaxx Hale
As Give a Beat Records presents Pure Joy (Hotwaxx & HazMat Live Remix), we are honored to be part of this extraordinary journey. The collaboration between these exceptional artists has resulted in a song that transcends boundaries - both musical and personal - inviting us all to break free from whatever holds us back. Geri Meyers’ journey serves as an inspiration to many, highlighting the transformative power of music and the human spirit. Her story deserves greater attention as it exemplifies the strength to overcome adversity and find solace in one’s passion.
“Everyone desires pure joy, peace, and empowerment. We aimed to emphasize the message that (geriFree) wanted to convey. As a co-producer, it was my responsibility to discover that pure joy and bring it into the atmosphere.” - HazMat Live
So let Pure Joy (Hotwaxx & HazMat Live Remix) be your soundtrack as you navigate through life’s ups and downs. Allow its uplifting energy to remind you that even in the face of adversity, there is always room for joy, gratitude, and self-discovery.
We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our On a New Track program partners, California Mentoring Partnership, Anti-Recidivism Coalition, Native Instruments and Ableton for their invaluable support in making the work at Give a Beat Records possible. We are also immensely grateful to our distribution partners at EMPIRE that helped bring this project to life. A special thank you goes to the funder, California Arts Council, whose generosity made it all possible. Together, their contributions have transformed lives through the power of music and deserve recognition for fostering positive change.
Check out "Pure Joy" (Hotwaxx & HazMat Live Remix) now and dive into Geri's incredible journey of redemption and inspiration. Grab the track on Beatport to download it to your personal mixes and playlists.
