We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jackie Rae Daniels a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Jackie Rae, thanks for joining us today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?
I have this thought often these days. What would it be like to have a job that makes a good living? To be able to have something that resembles financial security has always been a pipe dream to me. I knew from the middle of my high school years that I didn’t have any interest in pursuing a “normal” or maybe just common lifestyle. I knew music was a driving force in my life and I wanted it to be the beacon that I followed no matter what. I felt compelled to give my life to music and create a romantic, nomadic, and artistic lifestyle with all else falling to the wayside. I did this, I’d say, pretty successfully. Right out of high school my best friend and I travelled through Europe willy nilly for 3 months after working at Domino’s Pizza for a couple of years saving up for this daydream of an adventure. So at 18 years old I showed myself how I can make a literal dream come true. That was a total “bust the seams wide open” event in my life. For the next few years I lived in 4 states, usually just showing up with some cash, my fiddle and my guitar and whatever clothes I could fit in the cases. I didn’t even have a car back then! So I was totally on foot, planes, trains etc… Also this was in the early 2000’s, so no smart phones. I had to get the local newspaper, in some instances, to find ads for available apartments. I would get a job at a local coffee shop, bar, or restaurant, something in food service. I’d work just enough to pay the minimal bills and then go out and play music. Networking is a skillset I didn’t know I had, but got me every gig I’ve ever played. This was my life for many years, with a brief hiatus when I got married and thought about starting a family and opening up a business, a music school. It’s a long story but that turned out to be all wrong. After about 4 years of not traveling, but still pursuing music, I found myself eager to get to the life I had before. I have been on my musical adventure since then and the road has been long and full, with the highest highs, and the lowest lows. So, yeah, at this point in my life nearly 2 decades later, and 10 states with established residency, I find myself wondering, what on earth would financial stability look like? Is it even an option for someone with no college degree, no other career experience besides food service and being a performing musician? Truthfully though, I always settle on the same solid foundational thought. My focus on music is too hyper. It’s unshakeable. It’s my freakin’ compass. Can you change true North?? I didn’t think so.
Jackie Rae, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I first held a violin in my hands when I was just about to turn 5. My mom asked me, “what instrument do you want to play?” I said “violin”, because that’s what she plays and I absolutely idolize her! She asked all of my siblings this question right around our 5th birthdays. My mom is a musician too and has a joy for music that is unmatched. From that time forward I new playing music was something special, something that not everybody gets to do, and something that can bring a ton of joy! I was hooked. I will say though, music never came easy to me, and to this day practicing is a real chore. BUT! It’s still something I cherish more than most things in life. I play mostly acoustic style music and my instruments of choice are violin, guitar, viola, mandolin, tenor banjo, and bass. I am most proficient at violin/fiddle and I love my guitar as my accompanist for song writing. My latest endeavour has included a loop machine and composing 6 piece string parts live over my original music. I play with several other bluegrass/americana type bands as a fiddle player, or mandolin player as well. I perform solo or as a duo or sometimes as a band. I am always writing new music, trying on new styles, or thinking out of the box when it comes to music. I love to write the song I need to hear, and provide a unique performance to onlooking audiences. I have three full length albums and several EP’s that I have released as well. Songwriting is my greatest joy and making music with others is a close second. I can be heard as a fiddle player or background vocalist on other artists’ albums including Nathan Kalish, and Arlo Hannigan. I have performed countless weddings, corporate events, festivals, and many music venues. I pride myself on being versatile as a musician.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
I built my meager audience on social media over time. Mostly being tagged while playing in other bands was a big boost for me. I always try and keep that part of my music career as authentic as I can. It feels gross in a lot of ways, because artists are vulnerable more than most people in real life. To put that all over the internet feels extra. If the ick factor is too high, I just don’t succumb to the pressure to create content. I know social media status is not why I do what I do in the first place. Success on the internet does not equal success as a musician. All that being said, there’s no denying how important of a part it plays when you are an independently funded musician. I just try and strike that balance.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
I don’t know if France has all the answers… BUT… they do offer a stipend for musician’s and other artists’ living expenses as long as they are creating and pursuing their art. If they are going out and playing gigs they get fed and housed. AMAZING!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jackieraedanielsmusic.com
- Instagram: @jackieraedaniels
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jackieraedaniels
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtrP0_nYHr64Zy5ns0_mz2A/featured
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/jackieraydaniels
- Other: BANDCAMP: https://jackieraedaniels.bandcamp.com/
SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2LNgsaPfPpwPymMTtgQtCD?si=EkCNgtXSRbGrPWKDz7FiVg&nd=1&dlsi=384207099ffa4c5a
Image Credits
Dark Mark