We recently connected with Jessa Joyce and have shared our conversation below.

Jessa, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I was bullied pretty extensively as a child — being undiagnosed autistic and ADHD, I didn’t know how to interact with people, and kids can be mean sometimes. So I begged my parents to let me switch to another school, and by the end of seventh grade, they finally obliged. But I had one last field trip with my old school — to the Motown Museum in Detroit.

The museum was the old house studio where many of the beloved hits were recorded and polished, and one of the features of the building was a chamber in the ceiling where the music producers could play the recordings and record the echo as a sort of primitive reverb. The tour guide asked someone to sing under it to demonstrate how it worked, and I figured I was never going to see any of these people again, so why not? I sang “My Girl” by The Temptations and to my surprise, everyone was in awe! Even my bullies were impressed! From that moment on, I knew I had to be a performer. It was a high I’ve been chasing since.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I started playing guitar at the age of 10 because I wanted to be Richie Sambora from Bon Jovi and because one-on-one guitar lessons were the only thing I COULDN’T get kicked out of for not paying attention. Ballet, gymnastics, and swimming didn’t work out too well! But guitar was something I could really fall in love with. A few years later, I started performing with the worship teams at the church I was attending at the time and really cut my teeth as a musician in that environment. When I signed up for college, I had initially registered for all pre-med courses, assuming I was going to eventually go to medical school and become a cardiologist. But my parents overheard me playing and singing to myself in my bedroom and convinced me to switch my major to classical guitar instead. Which makes them the first parents in the history of human civilization to talk their kid into being a musician instead of a doctor.

As far as my current projects, I have three. The first is my solo project, and I’m actually in the process of releasing a double EP called The Librarian’s Daughter. The second is the glam rock band I front, Wake Up Jamie, which has played several huge festivals in the Metro Detroit area and venues such as the legendary Blind Pig in Ann Arbor, MI. The last and newest band is an emo/pop-punk project I play lead guitar in called Syrin, which is in the process of recording a debut EP.

As far as what sets me apart as a musician, I’d say my sheer versatility. I’m admittedly a Jill-of-all-trades with a guitar — I’m not “the best” at playing any particular genre, but I can handle myself in pretty much any musical situation. I’ve even dabbled a little in jazz and funk! I’d also say my flamboyant persona stands out. I love putting on a show. I always joke that I’m not a “musical gay,” but I really should have been! I love obnoxious costumes and lots of glitter and big bombastic choruses. I want to be the Chappell Roan of rock and roll!

Have you ever had to pivot?

Well, for a long time, I assumed I was going to be a music therapist. I was VERY invested in the field and dedicated at least twelve years on and off to its study. I was a top student and won a prestigious scholarship had everything going for me, but when I actually got out into the field, I found out the hard way it wasn’t for me. I’m not a therapist by nature. The work was too cold and clinical for me. Everything was about meeting goals and I just didn’t feel any musical joy in it. I realized where I really belong is on stage or in a recording studio. I love making people happy, and I think the way I can best do that personally is through my performances and recordings. Thats where I really come alive! That’s when I decided to go all in — I was going to make it as a musician if it killed me.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

Everything is song fodder. EVERYTHING. I feel like an occupational hazard of being around me is that there’s a chance I’ll write something about you! I view everything through a creative lens, especially relationships. That’s why I love writing about them. There are so many interesting stories happening around us all the time, you just have to be looking for them. And the thing is, once you’ve learned to look at the world this way, you can’t help it. You’re always looking for new stories and experiences to write about. She’s a divisive figure, but I personally love Taylor Swift’s lyricism for the way she addresses interpersonal relationships in her music. I consider myself a follower of the Swiftian school of songwriting in a lot of ways, but especially in the way I can turn events in my everyday life into music.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jessajoyce.com
• Instagram: @thejessajoyce
• Youtube: https://YouTube.com/@thejessajoyce
• Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/7KgrFJVKshwQeo5T9
• Other: Newest release on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/6wZ61T4hSwOrCdyf2eYJV2?si=nNuVi-5BTEO4-o-9Fm5DRw

Image Credits

All photos owned by me!