Introduce yourself
Well, hello. My name is Jesse. I write songs, and occasionally, I sing them for people. Sometimes, people like the songs I sing, and they buy my album. Which allows me to buy groceries and gas. I’m obsessed with Frank Sinatra, and I wish I could pull of wearing sunglasses inside, but I’m just not that cool.
You’ve been doing music since you were very young, was it something you were always passionate about?
I started when I was in first grade, with piano lessons. I think I reached my peak in fifth grade, that was when I could read music fairly well and perform complicated classical pieces. But my heart was never in the piano. When I started playing guitar, it clicked instantly. Music was always around in my house – my dad is also a musician – and as I grew up, it became a safety net when other things went wrong. I spent way too many hours of my childhood in my room, listening to records. But I guess I’m grateful for that now.
In 2004 you moved to Boston and that seems to be when things picked up for you. You started booking shows, which then lead to sold out shows and then a performance on KISSFM in Chicago, was all of this surreal since it was all happening so fast?
Hahaha. I’ve never been asked that before. It certainly didn’t feel fast. I’ve been playing out now for four years, and it is only in a few specific areas where the shows consistently sell well. But I’ve also been very lucky to have had some incredible experiences, like that radio broadcast, or playing at festivals for a few thousand people. Hopefully those things will happen more and more in the future. Right now, I’m just glad I’m still on the way up.
You just moved to Nashville, how is that going for you?
It’s been great. I literally JUST moved here last week, and we’re moving into our house today. I’m excited to be in a new place and meet new people, but at the same time it’s going to be interesting to start all over again, since I’ve only played down here a few times. I’m looking forward to it though.
Your debut CD Aiming for Honesty is out now which can be purchased on your myspace and on iTunes, what was the process to this album? How excited were you for its release?
Ah. I love this question. Making that record was one of the most amazing/terrifying/incredible experiences of my life. Last summer, on my 21st birthday, five of my best friends presented me with a check for a large sum of money that they had raised as a surprise. It was amazing, and I could not have made the record without them. The actual recording process was a bit overwhelming at first, but looking back, I wouldn’t have it any other way. When the album came out, we decided to have three CD release shows, instead of one. So in a week, I played three of the most amazing shows of my life, in Philly, New York, and Boston. Absolutely incredible. Now, I just want as many people as possible to hear it.
Did you write all the material on the album?
Almost all of them. “Song for Zack” was written with a friend of mine named Rachel Antion, and “Enough” was written partially with Jonny Lowell, both of whom are incredibly talented. Other than that, I wrote everything.
Do you have a favorite song on the album?
It’s tough to pick a favorite out of eleven, because I like different songs for different reasons. “Advice” is one of them, because it was a different type of song than I’d ever written before. Same goes for “Point Me in the Right Direction”. But I love all of them. If I didn’t I wouldn’t have put them on the record.
What is your favorite to perform live?
Mmm…probably “A Lack of Armor”. It’s the song I usually end shows with, and the one that most people know, so it turns into a nice sing-a-long with the audience, that I love. “Ace of Spades” is fun too.
Can we expect a CD from you anytime soon?
Hopefully sometime next year, maybe next summer. It’s tough, because I have new songs for at least two full albums, but recording is very expensive. I might do a live EP at some point, just to get the new stuff out there.
You recently toured with Kyle Patrick, how did the tour go?
It was amazing. We spent almost three weeks together in my 1995 Toyota Camry. The shows were really fun, and for me, it was different because I am used to touring and playing alone, so it was great to have a good friend of mine to share the stage (and driving) with.
Do you have any upcoming tour plans?
For right now, I’m trying to get settled into my new place in Nashville, and write as much as possible. Once the new year starts, I think I’ll be out on the road much more.
What is one thing you’d like to accomplish out of your career in the music industry?
ONE?! There are millions of things. I’d like to meet Bob Dylan. I’d like to play at Bonnaroo. My mom wants me to be on Oprah. But really, I just want to make music that I like, and that other people like, and perform as much as I possibly can. It’s tough not to be happy when you are doing what you love, and surrounded by amazing people.
Do you have a message for your fans and the readers?
Breathe. It will all work out in the end.
And, buy my album. Please? I’d love you for it.
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