I'm a person who has always had a hard time finding the right words to say in a given situation. Somewhere along the line, I started writing poetry to express myself, and so, when I picked up a guitar at age 17, writing songs seemed the next logical step. I've often said it was a day of destiny that I found my uncle's old guitar under my grandparents' bed. Writing songs has become my most favorite thing to do in this world because it's cathartic for me, and it organizes my thoughts in a way. I can't imagine how much crazier I would be if I didn't write songs, and I constantly had all these pictures and words tumbling around in my head with no place to go.
I graduated from Westminster Choir College (a music conservatory in Princeton, NJ) in May 2007. While I was in school, I thought I was going to pursue a career in opera. I wanted to be a diva, and let's be honest, you really can't get more diva than that. However, upon receiving my diploma (which I could not be more proud of and has a place of honor in my bedroom), I decided that folk music was where my heart truly wanted to live. It may seem to some people that "Opera Diva" and "Singer/Songwriter" are pretty far apart, but they are actually closer than you might think. Anyway, I moved back home with my mom and dad (they are the bomb) and commenced work on what would be my newly chosen career path. (Although I will always have a warm place in my heart for classical music, am eternally grateful for the knowledge and experience I gained in music school, and will forever swoon and sigh when at the opera.)
Some of my biggest influences in my writing are Ani Difranco and Joni Mitchell. I have amazing memories of being in my college dorm, singing along with Joni's "Big Yellow Taxi" and dancing around with my roommate. We just loved how good it made us feel! Or sitting out on the quad on a spring day playing Ani's "Napoleon" with my friends, and just thinking, "Wow, I could do this forever!" I can't underestimate the influence of those ladies and others like them, and if I ever am lucky enough to meet any of these heroes, I will not hesitate in telling them how much their music and poetry has inspired me to create. Good words make me want to live better. Good music makes me want to love better. And good songs just bring it all together.
I'm so grateful for the many supportive people in my life who have helped and continue to help me on my way. My parents raised me and my sister in a really musical environment (I was always the choir nerd who couldn't dribble a basketball or catch a softball if my life depended on it), and in our house, my parents always taught us to believe that truly anything is possible in this life. When I was 14 and told my mom and dad that I wanted to be on Broadway one day, they were like, "Great! That's an excellent career choice!" (Or something very supportive to that effect.) I'm grateful for Daniel Faga and Ryan Chud, who played on the EP and devoted their time and efforts to its creation. I'm very grateful to my friend Jane who has designed and created all the artwork that I use. She just GETS me. It's great to be able to say, "Eh, draw whatever you want. Paint whatever you want. Go for it." And then she brings her work to me, and I am floored every time. I'm grateful for Greg Fisher, for his time spent on recordings, for his work on this website design, for every kind and caring thing he does, all in the name of supporting me.....Sometimes I feel like I have more love around me than I can handle! It really is a many-splendored thing.
I'm really happy to be doing what I'm doing at this point in my life, and I hope I can do it for years and years to come. I'm really proud of my music, and I hope you enjoy it. I hope it reaches you in some way, and puts a smile on your face or brings a tear to your eye, as both are equally good in my mind.
"She's only [23], but Jessy Tomsko writes songs like someone who has been around for twice that many years....With beautiful diction and an air of confidence and poise that escapes many [23]-year-olds....Tomsko has attracted the attention of some important people in the music scene in Philadelphia..."
-Richard J. Skelly, Princeton U.S.1 newspaper
Hi everyone, I thought you might enjoy this episode from The Cool Vibes Acoustic Diner! I was the "Featured Dish" on 6.4.08! Party on, Wayne!
Click this link to check it out:
The Cool Vibes Acoustic Diner for 6.4
My song "Lullaby (Someday Soon)" is the first place winner in the Folk category for Ourstage.com's July song competition! Thank you to everyone who voted; I couldn't have done it without you!
Congrats on the iTunes coverage...that's a great boon. Someday you'll have to tell me how you did it. Since your gig tonight is cancelled, you should come check out my band at the Namaste Cafe in New Brunswick! Free show 8-11 www. myspace. com/sailorsinrags
Jessy, You have such a beautiful voice--it is so relaxing. Also, I especially love the message and the lyrics in you song "Better Believe" -- it is so true. Ha I listened to it on repeat today at work. Nice work.
Take care, and I hope you got a chance to check out my tunes as well.
Thanks for your friendship! Please send us any music or other entertainment that you would like to see featured on the RED BANANA, and keep checking back to our webzine for updates!!!
xx "On a traffic light yellow means yield, and green means go. On a banana, it's just the opposite, yellow means go ahead, green means stop, and red means, where'd you get that banana?" - Mitch Hedberg
