Jimwat opens up about pressure that forced him to quit music
By William Muthama, June 2, 2026Veteran musician Jimwat has opened up about the difficult moments that pushed him away from the spotlight, revealing how pressure from fame forced him to step back from music and rebuild his life away from the stage.
Speaking during an interview on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, Jimwat recalled a period when the demands of the music industry became overwhelming.
He explained that at some point, he had to take a break from public life to deal with the pressure that came with fame and expectations.
“I had to take a break from public life. I quit music, literally,” he said, describing how he stepped away from the industry during one of its most demanding phases.
Back to school
During his time away from the industry, Jimwat chose a different direction, returning to school to study graphic design.
“I went back to school, I finished graphic design,” he said. “I got a job, a 9-to-5 for a whole year,” Jimwat said.
The ‘under-18’ hitmaker admitted the transition into office life was challenging at first, especially adjusting to workplace discipline.
“The first few weeks I used to come in late,” he recalled. “But my boss told me, you have to come in before the deadline, not after,” he added.
Despite the adjustment period, he said the experience taught him discipline and structure outside the music industry.
Music return journey
Even while working a regular job, Jimwat said music never left him. He continued receiving calls from fans and eventually found himself pulled back into the industry.
“I didn’t have time because work was demanding, and I couldn’t make music,” he said. “So things aligned in a way that I started doing shows again,” Jimwat noted.
He explained that returning to music was not accidental but driven by a passion that never faded.
“I had to feed my passion, which is music,” he said. “And fans were still demanding, so I went back,” the artist explained.
Even during his break, he maintained a creative link through graphic design, which he continues to use for personal projects, including designing posters, logos and T-shirts.
Today, Jimwat says he is fully back in music and grateful for the journey that took him away and brought him back stronger, with a clearer understanding of the balance between passion, work and personal life.