Everyone has a story and this is my story – so far, anyway.
My family is not a very musical family. My mother can sing and play a few songs on the guitar and I had a great aunt who could play the piano, but that is really the extent of the musical history in my family. Although my parents weren’t musicians, their interest in music exposed me to exceptional songwriters, from Lennon & McCartney, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, John Denver to Anne Murray – these are just some of the songwriters that I remember listening to and being inspired by as a young girl.
At the age of five, my life as I knew it was transformed. My father brought home a microphone that plugged into our stereo and from that moment, I would spend hours singing and recording every song I knew. When I got to the end of my repertoire of songs, I would just make them up. I was always making up my own songs. My obsession with singing and song writing was born but this was just the beginning of my journey.
During grade school, I enrolled in ukulele, violin and choral groups, really anything to follow my love of music. Throughout high school, I sang in choirs, performed in community variety acts, school plays and entered singing competitions. Music opened me up and let me share myself in a way that nothing else could. As a shy person, it was very hard for me to share my feelings when something made me sad, angry or even happy. But, give me a guitar and an open stage and suddenly I had this phenomenal avenue to really open up my heart and express myself. Communicating my experience is what drives me to write music - when I read, hear or see something that inspires a personal experience I want to inspire others to feel or know that experience. The more I perform and the more I hear people connecting with my music, the more satisfied I am as a songwriter.
After high school, and shortly after recording my self-titled first full-length album, I knew that I needed an alternative creative outlet. I applied and was accepted to New Brunswick’s College of Craft and Design and the moment I sat in front of a computer there was never any question, I was going to be a graphic artist. College was such a wonderful period of growth and evolution for me as an artist. I was surrounded by such a variety of art forms and artists; I had never been so full of inspiration and ideas. I felt like I was bursting so it was an incredibly fruitful period for my creative output.
To this day, since graduating from the craft college, I’ve devoted myself to my own freelance graphic design company Jessica Rhaye Design. I was thrilled and knew my hard work was worth it when I took home the Graphic Artist of the Year award at the 2008 East Coast Music Awards.
During my college years, I decided to work on improving my music and song writing skills. I knew I needed to collaborate with other writers but I was quite hesitant. The funny thing was that although I loved to be able to share my experiences through music, I felt conflicted about sharing my unfinished songs with other songwriters, but I put aside my self-consciousness and opened up my song journal. The songs that I work on with others were always songs that for some reason I just couldn’t finish. As I worked with the other writers or “song-doctors,” as some like to refer to themselves, these songs became much stronger and really emphasized the hooks in the melodies and lyrics. It really was one of the best learning experiences and such a boost for my career. I’ve been fortunate and been able to work with some phenomenal songwriters including my producer Ed Woodsworth, Ken Tobias, Dave Gunning, Asif Illyas and Ron Sexsmith. This period of time and my college experiences inspired the production of my sophomore album “Short Stories.”
I started thinking about producing an acoustic album while I was on tour in the United Kingdom with Dave Gunning and Matt Anderson. Each night we played our solo sets, and then we would take the stage together and collaborate on a variety of songs to close the night. My acoustic set was met with such positive feedback, that I started thinking I should revisit my roots - in essence the influences of my parents’ record collection.
The result is my new album “Good Things,” which takes a more organic approach focusing on simple and classic instrumentation such as stand up bass, acoustic guitars, mandolin, and piano. This was a trip back to the positive music that has influenced my life and art; a time when as a child I was experiencing new things, great music and had a very positive outlook on life. I have really enjoyed writing and recording this new collection of songs and taking an acoustic approach to the production. To tie in to the organic nature of the acoustic instrumentation, I really wanted the imagery to be simple and classic. I believe “Good Things” really reflects who I am as a musician at this stage in my life and the skills I’ve developed as a songwriter, musician, graphic artist and person.
I am excited about where all of my albums have taken me and where I can go in the future. To me, it’s not about the paper accomplishments, but more about the experience, the things I have learned and how I can open up and share my stories through my music.
Best Wishes
xo Jessica.
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this poem sung on myspace...
Poem 162 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (please see my blog): TEES TO TYNE: FIRST IMPRESSIONS - SUMMER 2001
Where traditions are not so rare; Sea, country and works scent the air; A multitude of monuments, Planted tubs and patterned pavements.
The longish pedestrian malls; The remnants of defensive walls; Historic buildings are a gauge Of the respect for heritage.
Wheat, rape and pines in the fields; Estuaries guarded by shields; Long sandy beaches and wide scenes; Romantic-ruin go-betweens.
Rivers in parts licked by trees, Or fringed by boat clubs, wharfs, gantries, And crossed by practical delights - Varied spans, forming pleasing sights.
Fine churches headed at Durham; Football kits ad infinitum; Kept castles - one for study; Masonry behind masonry.
And, with moulding-works out that way, It’s somewhere for a longer stay..?
Thanks so much for the lovely show last week, I haven't stopped thinking about it... I accidentally left your CD with a friend of mine, and she's been enjoying it thoroughly-I can't wait to get it back from her.
Have fun in the city of angels, you should feel right at home!
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this poem sung on myspace...
Poem 2 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (please see my blog): WALKABOUT WITH MY PEN
Once drove an old sedan, up north, From a place in Sydney to Cairns; Then to Kuranda I went forth, By train, to look without set plans.
I browsed through the trendy market, With fresh fruits of tropical kind; Walked to the creek through lush thicket - Nature’s hand giving peace of mind.
I dined in a scenic cafe; Then, outside, as I wrote for yen, Some passing Kooris called-out: “Hey, You go walkabout with your pen.”
Request or question, I don’t know - Assured voices, elderly men. That’s now several years ago, And I’ve seen the world - with my pen.
Online Now!
thanks)))
