“They Followed a Dream”, a series collaboration between Urbaanite Nashville and Music City Spotlight by Ollie Gabriel, offering intimate conversations with local musicians —who turn pain into power and passion into purpose.
For this installment of the series, I had the pleasure of speaking with two incredibly gifted artists harmonizing their journeys into one shared dream. Jonathan “Ginger” Hamilton and his wife, Neka Hamilton, moved to Music City in 2020—two days before a massive tornado rocked the city, and just two weeks before the pandemic locked the world down. The timing might’ve been wild, but Ginger and Neka came here with one mission: build their rhythm together.
Their soundtrack began eight years ago, both living in their dreams, they met while on tour with Jessie J. Ginger on drums, Neka singing background vocals. “I remember watching her from the drum riser,” Ginger says, “thinking, that’s my melody.” Neka smiles over the line: “He’s really one of the kindest, smartest, most incredible talents I’ve ever met.”
Ginger’s dream was set long before Nashville. Born and bred in London, he was playing church gigs by age four and by his early twenties had circled the globe with Olly Murs, Sam Smith, and Leona Lewis. “Doing pop tours, you can be on the road for months at a time,” he reflects, “but here in Nashville, I love that I get to clock out and enjoy family life more.” You can almost hear the relief in his voice when he talks about trading airport lounges for consistent date-night dinners.
Neka’s journey reads like a Dreamgirls odyssey. Originally from Youngstown, Ohio. She moved to L.A. at sixteen to cut her first demo for Rodney Jerkins’s gospel imprint, and went on to co-write Grammy-nominated songs for Tyrese. She’s lent her vocal gifts to American Idol’s house band, Beyonce’s film, backed Anita Baker, and most recently toured stadiums with Coldplay. Yet she insists, “The most sacred stage is our living room with Ginger. Nothing beats being home together.”
When I ask why they chose Nashville, Ginger answers without hesitation: “We felt spiritually led here. It wasn’t just the music hub—it was the community values. People in Nashville ask about your partner, not just your playlist.” Neka adds, “They care that you come home to family, that’s the priority.” It’s that Southern embrace that turned relentless touring into an invitation to plant roots and expand their dream—together.
Breaking into a new scene had its hurdles. “As a pop drummer, I had to overcome some typecasting when moving into country music. Ginger admits. “But now folks respect I can do it all.” Ginger is currently on tour with Russel Dickerson, “that’s been a big blessing.” Neka shares that finding her community felt a bit challenging initially, “Despite our résumés, we started from zero here. We are super humble and loving people, yet it took a minute to find a community that supported us and wasn’t intimidated by our previous successes.” Thankfully, we are finding our tribe here now.
What’s the secret sauce to maintaining a loving marriage in this crazy industry, I asked?
Balance and boundaries. “We protect what we’ve built together,” Neka laughs. “Prayer, respect, and prioritizing each other—that’s how we stay strong.” Ginger agrees, “She’s my partner on everything. Even though we give so much to touring, we make sure to reserve the best parts of ourselves for each other.
Outside of touring, Ginger and Neka are both creating other projects. Ginger is launching a drummer-centric clothing brand featuring an exclusive collaboration tee with Hall of Fame drummer Dennis Chambers. Neka is in the studio getting ready to take center stage with a solo EP, executive-produced by her husband. They are even plotting a future podcast at some point.
By the end of our call, I was smiling from ear to ear. Together, they were locked in the groove that left me inspired and hopeful. Individually, they are both stars, but as a duet, they are a classic hit. A Black love story written in melody, dreams, and the backdrop of the music city they call home.
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