Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Alyssa Jacey. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Alyssa, thanks for joining us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?
First, thank you for reaching out to me about my family, careers and passions! I’m thrilled to read such a diverse group of topics to select from!
I’ve most often been asked, “How did your music career start?” Call it accidental, call it divine intervention, but I had not a single clue I was musically inclined until I was nearly 24-years-old, and it took co-workers and friends who heard me singing to myself to help me recognize it. One night, I’m getting forced by them to sing karaoke, 1 year later I’m writing, recording, releasing songs and playing shows. 10 months later, I’m teaching myself guitar and 2 years after that, drums. If I didn’t temporarily move from my hometown San Diego to Los Angeles to teach dance in 2003 (just after dancing in Super Bowl 37), I may not ever have been put on the last 18-year path that lead me to moving to Nashville to pursue music, which lead to several other doors opening such as TV Hosting, Inspirational Career Coaching and more, which brings me to answering the main question…
There’s no way I would be who, or where I am today, without the love and support of my parents. What did they do right? Even though they divorced when I was 9, and I lived under two roofs, I always was made to feel like I was under one roof of love. They ALWAYS put my brother and I first, no matter what. There has never been a second in my life where I have doubted my parents’ love. So, the first thing they did right, was BE parents. Real, loving, compassionate, communicative, life-lesson-teaching, reprimanding (when needed), best-friend-like parents. Another thing they did right was not force religion on my brother and I. They had us go to church a few times when we were young, but only so we could decide for ourselves if we wanted to continue or not. They have completely different perspectives and beliefs and yet, they raised my brother and I to “Believe in who and what you want. But either way, religious or not, always be a good person.” I have ALWAYS been so thankful for that. I personally don’t feel comfortable when beliefs are forced on me and my parents, while they felt it necessary for us to at least test out what church might be like, they didn’t force us to go if we didn’t want to and let us find our own paths. I am most appreciative for that style of parenting, and it has been something I’ve always been extremely grateful for.
They have always encouraged my brother and I to follow our dreams, find multiple passions and work hard towards making a happy, fulfilling life for ourselves. When I told my parents I was moving to Nashville where I only knew two people and didn’t have a job set up yet, of course it was unnerving for them but they STILL supported me. I was so dang driven to make something of myself outside of what I was doing in San Diego, and I think they felt and saw that in me. I gave myself a year and said, “Either make music your full-time job, or get a day job and pursue music on the side (like I was doing in San Diego) or move home and go back to that life. At 13 months, I making a living as an original artist and booking agent in Nashville, while teaching hip-hop on the side. 3 months later, I was nominated for “Best Live Performer” for the Nashville Independent Music Awards. Soon came TV Hosting, developing and owning www.IAUM.live (I Am Unashamedly Me – inspirational career coaching for mainly aspiring musicians and artists), getting signed to two acting/modeling agencies, touring Europe, and I’m proud to say that Whiskey Jam has booked me every year since I moved here, which is a huge deal! I’ve had residencies at places like The Listening Room Cafe (voted over and over as one of the best singer/songwriter venues in the Nation and top two in Nashville, next to the Bluebird Cafe.
I couldn’t do any of this, though, without the love and support of my parents. I’ve been down in the dumps many times, as each of these industries can be extremely harsh. My parents have taken every call, listened to my cry countless times without ever making me feel like I was letting them or myself down. Life has it’s ups and downs and that’s what they continue to remind me; it’s just life. I’ve had far more ups than downs and THOSE are what I choose to focus on, as well as am reminded to focus on from both my mom and dad.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Born and raised in San Diegan right here! I went straight from high school in SD to college in northern California as an English major with a minor in Spanish, assuming a possible future profession would be teaching English, a news reporter, or maybe a court translator. I had been taking dance classes (jazz, tap, ballet, hip-hop, lindy-hop and character) since I was four years old and was asked to take over teaching students hip-hop at college second semester. For no reason other than missing home, I moved back to SD and changed major’s sophomore year to Communications, uncertain again as to what type of career the future held. I was always SO nervous getting up in front of peers to talk, so it’s an absolute wonder how I ended up not only as a professional singer/songwriter but a TV Host and motivational speaker!I took a break from school towards the end of 2003 and moved to LA to teach dance, knowing I’d eventually go back when ready. It was at that point in my life when I learned I had a voice. I would unknowingly be singing to myself at work and co-workers who overheard convinced me to try karaoke. Actually, per the request of one of the bars I worked at! “Alyssa, we’ve heard you singing and we decided that beginning Wednesday of next week, we’re going to start hosting karaoke night, and you’re going to be the one to kick it off.” Wasn’t even given a choice. That’s how my music career started! And I had no intention of EVER being in the music industry prior to that; Never played an instrument, never written a song (although I had written hundreds of poems) and never sang in public. I wanted to be Usher’s, Justin Timberlake’s or Janet Jackson’s backup dancer, or a successful choreographer! I did dance in the Super Bowl and still choreograph and dance to this day in my own and other musicians’ music videos and live shows, which is awesome! But never in my life could have guessed I’d end up in music. (People always want to know which song I performed that night. It was “Life Goes On” by LeAnn Rimes, which is ironic because little did I know, I’d eventually end up moving to Nashville!)
I got off stage and every table I was waiting on that evening, even random people at the bar asked the same questions almost verbatim; When can we see your next show? Where can we buy a CD?
I was hooked immediately and began singing weekly.
But it wasn’t all rainbows and butterflies. Instead of making dance a priority, I worked four part-time jobs, barely making rent and was hanging with the wrong crowds. I hit rock bottom multiple times and it was the last time that really woke me up. That’s when I decided to move back to SD, go back to school, and get back on track. I continued singing karaoke and after a years’ time, felt what I can only describe as an invisible (but gentle) slap across the face, which in hindsight to me, meant, “Wake up! This is your calling! You need to be a singer!” It was December of 2004 when I called the only producer I knew and said, “I know you know me as Alyssa Jacey the choreographer, but…I think I’m supposed to sing. Can you record me?” He said, “Yeah, do you have any songs?” I said, “Oh, yeah! That’s part of this whole thing, isn’t it! OK…” and less than a month later, I had three songs written and ready to record.
I had a full schedule, taking college courses Mon-Thurs. I’d drive up to LA to record on Thursday nights after my last class, record Thursday night through Sunday morning, drive back to San Diego, do all the homework for the week, and repeat for three months until “The Alyssa Jacey EP” was recorded and released. I submitted it to local radio and the Del Mar Fair (later called the San Diego County Fair) and before I knew it, my first single, ‘The Longest Kiss’ was getting radio play on multiple local stations and I was performing to tracks and/or with a guitarist at the fair.
Another thing I never saw coming was playing an instrument. But, after being flaked on by eight guitarists in a row (either late to practices, no-shows, etc.) I picked up a guitar and decided to teach myself. I was performing live shows on guitar three weeks later and celebrated 100 shows in six months. I was addicted, hooked and ALWAYS inspired. I kept writing, releasing, performing and networking, writing, releasing performing and networking. Four years later – after putting out an LP, another two EP’s and my first full-length album, I was asked to open for Bruno Mars. The club said it was such a success, they requested I open for him again a few months later, and it was just as fun as the first time! I assume because of having a dancer/rhythmic background, became attracted to the drums, so I started drumming for fun whenever I was around a kit. One of my favorite memories was singing on the drums, opening for Paula Cole, in front of 700 people at The Coach House (San Juan Capistrano, CA) and one of those people was world-renowned music manager Doc McGhee (KISS, Bon Jovi, Motley Crue, Darius Rucker and more) who was there that night, just to hear me. We are great friends to this day and regularly keep in touch!
I have always managed every aspect of my career: Booking local shows, nationwide and international tours, marketing, either produced or co-produced all single and album releases and everything else a musician’s career incorporates. Three releases in, I was in-studio, playing guitar and percussion or drums on the songs. Wrote 100% of the lyrics, music, melodies and instrumentation. I came up with the tag line, “Bring the crew and wear your blue,” as a way to connect with fans and set myself apart. I wear blue to all my shows and call my fans the “Blue Crew,” requesting that everyone who comes to my shows wear their favorite shades of blue! In 2012 when I moved to Nashville, I started connecting my blue brand to a charity near and dear to my heart. My grandma, who I was EXTREMELY close to, passed from Alzheimer’s just one month after I started singing (Feb 2005). I vowed that when/if I could ever start giving back through music, I would do so by donating $1 from ticket and/or merchandise sales to the Alzheimer’s Association, just for fans wearing blue to shows. I only wish it could be $1,000,000/show! I’m delighted to share I’ll be celebrating nearly 11 years of doing so, come January of 2023!
Moving to Nashville changed the course of my life. It’s where every other facet of my career was born. From hosting writer’s nights and playing six times a week to being nominated “Best Live Performer” at the Nashville Independent Music Awards barely a year after living here to starting a mentoring, artist development and booking agency called ‘Image Twelve28,’ to touring Europe four times in 13 months, to motivational speaking both nationally and internationally, to hosting five different TV shows (some on YouTube, some on Amazon Prime and Roku) co-writing with and playing drums for other musicians, getting signed to three sync licensing agencies (who pitch songs to TV/film) and two modeling/acting contracts. To date, I’ve released ten albums (the most recent album is called ‘Showing Up,’ and was released on 10/10/22. Being that it’s my 10th album and 10th year in Nashville, I thought a 10/10 release date would be fun:) 11 songs, multi-genres like pop, pop/country, country, blues, reggae, Americana/folk and even rap, I’ve written over 400 songs and played close to 4,000 shows. Plus, I have met some of the most AMAZING people who I am SO BLESSED to call my closest friends. Nashville forced me to be a better writer, singer, musician, performer and even a better friend. It also taught me what my life’s purpose was: To inspire.
I didn’t realize it at first. It took a few years. It didn’t really sink in until 2014 when I had a lightbulb go off after reading a message from a fan that said my story inspired them to go after their dreams. I realized that wasn’t the first time I had received a message like that. I started looking back at old emails and comments on social media and recalling conversations with fans post-shows. It had been happening for years and I only just then started realizing that I was making a difference through my music. I had wondered why music came into my life, especially so late. I had asked the universe many times, “Why did you introduce me to singing and songwriting?” I started paying attention. People were leaving comments or coming up after shows and saying things like, “I follow you because you lift me up,” “you make me happy,” “your spirit…” “your lyrics…” “your smile…” “your energy…” “because of you, I’m going to chase my lifelong dream of…” “because you have inspired me to, I’m going to move out of (city) and pursue (x career).” It was all positive. One of my favorite stories to share is about this woman who approached me after I played at The Coach House, which is in San Juan Capistrano, CA. I opened for Paula Cole there, Shawn Colvin, Lisa Loeb, Sophie B. Hawkins, Joan Osborne and more. After one my set, a woman came up to me and said, “Your story inspired me to quit my job and move to (new city) and start (new job/passion).” She had this mixture of excitement, emotion and gratitude. It was beautiful. When she heard I left San Diego for Nashville, didn’t know anyone or have a job lined up, busted my tail and made it work, it moved her so much that she did the same.
I had unknowingly been moving people and touching hearts and it felt SO GOOD to know that! My purpose hasn’t been to play music, necessarily, but to INSPIRE people THROUGH my messages, whether lyrical, stories I tell on stage or what I share on socials. I find it inspirational myself when others are brave to reach out and share their stories. Had they not reached out and expressed their sentiments and experiences, I might not have ever known or become aware of my purpose.
Fast forward to 2019, when I revisited my mentoring business. I hadn’t worked with clients in a few years, wanted to get back into it and did, but something was missing. It took me until last winter to figure it out. I wanted to give more to my clients on a career level, but also a personal level. Like combining career coaching and life coaching! So, I re-worked the business model, came up with a new name and had the logo and website completely re-designed. My new business, which launched year, is called “I Am Unashamedly Me; Inspirational career coaching for all careers, ages and stages of life!” The idea for the name originated seven years ago by a friend who said, “Alyssa, you are so unashamedly YOU!” And it stuck with me ever since. Now, I know why
Check out www.IAUM.live! I don’t want to put a cap on who I can inspire by only working with one industry; I want to inspire as many people as possible! Parents of third graders with daily changing dreams, retirees in their 70’s, and anywhere in between have reached out for coaching and I pray it continues. Especially after everyone having gone through 2020 and knowing what growing pains I personally endured, now more so than ever is the time for inspiration!
Today, 11/19/22, I’m thrilled to say I am still just as happy as I was the day I moved. Sure, I hit some of the lowest points in the last few years like going through a pandemic and divorce while simultaneously experiencing personal as well as family health scares. The loss of loved ones. Financial hardship. Questioning my future. But I have a strong foundation in my family, I have the BEST friends a girl could ask for, a roof over my head and I do what I love for a living. I’ve been blessed all over the place and continue to be and THAT is why you’ll always hear me say the same two things ALL the time; 1, “You Never Know,” and two, “Living With Gratitude.”
Have you ever had to pivot?
Every year since moving to Nashville, I’ve pivoted or in my mom’s words, “reinvented” myself. First came hosting/booking/promoting/
The next year, so 2013, is about when I started touring more so I stopped doing the live stream. I also created and started a career coaching business for other aspiring musicians. I stopped hosting rounds and focused more on coaching others while still touring, writing, recording and releasing original music.
2014 is when Balcony TV approached me to be their co-host. Four other TV shows soon followed and I was hosting TV shows from 2014-2016 or so, again, continuing to perform, tour (I had been touring Europe these last 2 years as well), co-produce all my studio recordings and self-release. One by one by 2016/2017, each TV Show was either canceled or bought out, so I was forced to stop hosting, which was a SUPER bummer because I LOVED HOSTING THESE SHOWS! Some were live, uncut and off the cuff, some were scripted. Look up “Alyssa Jacey TV” on YouTube and you’ll see my 2016 TV Reel).
2017 I started painting and selling my original artwork. I paint abstract art and also make handcrafted, original, one-of-a-kind dream catchers. Still, doing all the above for music and occasionally hosting writer’s nights here and there again, even all the way out in Birmingham, AL.
2018 I was signed to a local acting/modeling agency called TRIBE. Nearly immediately started walking in bridal runway shows and modeled for Chico Clothing Co., and acted in a Honda commercial a couple years later. I was hired to sing a jingle for a local lighting company and for the first time ever, heard my voice on the radio just a few months ago! So, it’s still out there! I was also hired to choreograph for and dance in a friends live album release party, as well as be the lead actress/co-produce/choreograph for/dance in/help with lighting and co-direct an artists’ music video who was on American Idol! THAT was a fun project and hope to do more in the future!
2019, signed to a larger talent agency out of Atlanta, GA, whom I’m still with. Somewhere between 2017 and 2019, I had also acted in a couple friends music videos, one of which I was the lead. I had been cast in a musical as the lead as well, however, that never ended up getting proper funding, so that never happened.
2020 was awful for ALL of the above careers, so I started working at a furniture store. Awful experience, that lasted maybe a couple months. I still had 1-2 clients I was coaching, one-off private events where I’d be hired to sing the National Anthem or play for private parties and I was still able to perform by streaming live shows from home, so thank God for that! And I was always, consistently and constantly writing new material.
2021 I started playing live shows weekly again, and got signed to three sync licensing agencies. My ultimate goal in music is to get my songs on TV and film and that is exactly what these agencies were created to do. I’ve since had a lot of interest and “holds,” as they’re called, but nothing has panned out, yet.
For this year, I had two main goals: Finalize my divorce (which ended in April), and record/release the highest quality album of my repertoire to date. “Showing Up” just released on 10/10/22 and I could NOT be more proud. I co-produced every song, co-engineered, wrote or co-wrote all music/lyrics, played multiple instruments, created all video and artwork promo such as the main cover and all single cover art (minus the black and white cover for ‘Man of God’), and could not have had a better time doing it. 11 songs, several genres such as pop, pop/country, country, blues, reggae, Americana/folk and rap. I even mix some of those together like ‘Choosing Boys’ could be referred to as surf rock meets pop/country meets rap! To every one who played a part on making this album dream come true – the fan crowd funding, musicians, co-writers and co-producers, mixing, mastering, I am SO grateful for all of you.
All of that to say, each year has brought me something new for me to pursue or “pivot” towards.
Never let the confusion and self-doubt creep in to where it stops you in your tracks. Instead, acknowledge it, accept it for what it is and let it work itself out in its own time because I PROMISE YOU…if things are hard for you now, they WON’T be forever. You must believe in yourself. Everything is temporary. Life is short. LIVE IT!!! Even if it means having to pivot over and over until you find your way!
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
To inspire.
My life does not feel complete, unless I know I’m inspiring others.
Whether I do so through my story of going from 0 years old to 24 having never sung or written a song, to 31 and music became my full-time career which opened many other doors which goes to show you can start ANYTHING at ANY age and make it what you want!!! Whether it’s the lyrics in my music, which could get you through hard times, such as two of my newest songs on the album “Showing Up.” One is called, “Showing Up (Hustle Pie),” which is about setting intentions, chasing your dreams, staying motivated and even when you don’t feel like it, you keep showing up! The other is called “It’s Gonna Be Fine.” I pray y’all reading this look up the album, especially those two songs, on iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon Music, etc. if you’re struggling with self-doubt on any level right now; career, romantic, family, business relationships.
And finally – most importantly – to make a difference by contribting portions of ticket and merch sales to Alzheimer’s research. My grandma passed from Alzheimer’s 1 month after I started singing. She never got to see a show. She was my best friend. I spent many weekends and celebrated Christmas and New Years Eve at her house when I was a child and throughout my teens. She passed when I was 25 and I vowed right then and there that when/if my career grew enough to where I could start donating portions of what I made to the Alzheimer’s Association, I would do it through my blue brand. Blue has been an obsession of mine since I was 16. So, when I started playing live shows at 25, I had already unknowingly branded myself as the blue girl. I was always wearing blue anyway, so I made sure I conciously began wearing blue to every show, started referring to fans the “Blue Crew” and came up with the phrase, “Bring the crew and wear your BLUE!” Which, means wear your favorite shades of blue to my shows (blue jeans don’t count lol get creative!) and I‘ll donate a percentage of ticket and merch sales to the Alzheimer’s Association. I plan on continuing to donate as long as my life expectancy allows and I ever win the lottery, I plan on giving a ton to the Alzhiemer’s Foundation! And also, sending my parents and their prospective partners 1st class around the world!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.AlyssaJacey.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alyssajaceyofficial/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlyssaJaceyMusic
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/alyssajacey
- Youtube: www.YouTube.com/AlyssaJaceyMusic
- Tiktok: http://www.tiktok.com/@alyssajaceyofficial
- Other: www.Reverbnation.com/AlyssaJacey ; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alyssa_Jacey
Image Credits
Dango Empire (drum photo) Alyssa Jacey (#1 chart photo, hand in hair/smile selfie and pulling curly hair photo) Jess Maples (guitar, sunglasses, dress, lake photo) Michael Maple (blue cup, looking down smiling photo) Renae (blue hat and grass/guitar photos)