Welcome to BuzzMusic, Jess Elise. Your latest single, "Jealousy," is incredibly dynamic and breathtaking. Please share with us the personal experiences or inspirations that fueled the creation of such a powerful song.
Thank you so much!! My co-writer and I had such a great time writing this song together. It started with finding a guitar progression that spoke to us and then having a deep conversation to find commonality within our lives. Pretty quickly, we had a shared experience of feeling Jealousy in a relationship, even when you know it's not their fault, and you may be blowing things out of proportion. It's a self-realization song and a look within, as opposed to only blaming your significant other. I'm a Pisces, so I recognize that I am a super-sensitive soul and am incredibly self-aware. This song encompasses all those aspects and how angry you can get at yourself and your partner when feeling these emotions.
In this track and other songs you've released, we hear a fusion of various musical influences and eras. Can you dive into your creative process and how you blended these diverse elements to craft a sound that's true to you?
Nowadays, "genres" are becoming extinct, in my opinion. There are so many fusions happening in the music industry all around! I listen to everything under the sun and take inspiration from many influences. Between my classical music background, growing up with Ashkenazi Jewish music, my dad blasting 80s radio in the car on the way to school, and my current love of Paramore, I gravitate towards that early 2000s rock sound that Avril Lavigne gave way to, mixed with all the musical sounds I was raised with. I don't put myself in a box; I go with what sounds good and authentic.
There's something so hauntingly captivating about your vocals in "Jealousy." They carry the weight of the song's emotion. How do you channel your personal experiences and feelings into your singing to connect with your audience on such a deep level?
That's so kind of you to say! I spend a lot of time connecting with my lyrics as a songwriter and ensuring the emotion I need from the song is correctly portrayed in my vocals. As a teacher, I ask my students the same thing. Connection, inspiration, and execution. It's essential to be completely aware of every word you say and think, "How would I say this in conversation?" Before every take, I put myself back in the shoes of the situation I wrote about- I try to remember every bit of what happened and what I felt in that moment of life.
Your journey from playing the trumpet in all-state orchestras to now being a singer-songwriter is remarkable. How have your musical experiences and background influenced your style, and how do you integrate classical and popular music elements into your artistry?
I started playing trumpet when I was 12 years old. I loved it so much that I made it my entire life and even went to college for it. As a current professional in the music industry, I get to work in both facets of the music world- classical and popular. On the classical side, I am a professional trumpet player working in studios, ensembles, and orchestras and playing for other independent artists. On the popular side, I am a professional vocalist, songwriter, and musician working in studios, collaborating weekly with other songwriters, and doing topline work. Recently, I have been working to find a fusion of both worlds in which I have been doing trumpet improvisation and background harmonies in shows for other artists and putting out my own artist project- Jess Elise Music- with my first single release, Jealousy!! It has been a joy having a place in each world, and I am so excited to keep growing and evolving as a musician and artist. Everything I do is always influenced by my extensive background in both worlds and guided by my hunger to keep learning.
Lyrically, "Jealousy" offers a glimpse into your psyche and the emotional turmoil portrayed in the song. Can you walk us through what you'd like your audience to take away from the messaging?
From this song, I'd like my audience to walk away knowing it is okay and valid to have your own emotional reactions to situations. Your gut reaction is yours; no one can tell you what you feel is invalid or inadequate. Conversely, it is also essential to be self-aware and acknowledge when you feel things that may be out of someone else's control. Did that situation hurt, or is there an underlying problem that exists? This song is a peek into a therapeutic process of seeing the problem, discussing it, and then dissecting it to find the ultimate solution. It is okay to feel the things you feel! The next step is to figure out why.