We recently connected with Jhemma Ziegler and have shared our conversation below.

Jhemma, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

I find that every project I’m involved with contributes some kind of unique meaning to my life. Artists can’t really be separated from the work they create as it’s inevitably an extension of who we are, or on some level a reflection of our perceptions and life experiences.

Passion tends to be my guiding light when I choose to take on a project, whether it be an acting role, a song I write, or something I produce. In a sense, everything I create feels like a metaphorical child that I birth, and though I prefer to not pick ‘favorites,’ as of late the most meaningful project I have worked on is the one that currently has my attention – my debut album of original music, “Burn The Tapes.”

As a creative, anything I’ve put out into the world up to this point has been based on opportunities I’ve been hired for. Implicit in that is the need for external validation – in my case, most often a TV network or studio signing off. However, the making of an album as an indie artist has meant that I could create something so wholly representative of myself and my story. It has been the first time in my adult life I’ve crafted something solely to honor my artistic taste and vision, and in turn, the experience has really re-set my relationship with myself and where I generate from.

The journey has by no means been easy, and in all transparency, I’m happy I didn’t know in advance how much energy and effort goes into making an album because it would have likely appeared too daunting. That said, I’ve learned so much about who I am and what I’m capable of, and I hope to empower other artists through my continuous discoveries.

Jhemma, 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?

Hi! I’m Jhemma and I am an actress, singer/songwriter, and filmmaker.

Early in life I witnessed the healing power of creativity and self-expression through performing for my maternal grandparents, both of whom had total laryngectomies, rendering them unable to speak. It was such a special way to connect, uplift, and inspire, and it motivated me to continue finding new creative outlets to share with my grandparents and others. I began doing community theatre, and quickly realized that acting is what I wanted to dedicate my life to, eventually moving to Los Angeles to pursue my craft full-time.

It wasn’t long before I booked my first acting job on Ugly Betty, which was especially exciting since the show was adapted from a telenovela by a writer from my hometown of Miami. That’s when I got my SAG card, and my professional journey really began.

Some of my notable credits in film and television now include roles on Westworld, Doom Patrol, NCIS: New Orleans, Capone, Bones, and the Sony / Netflix action film Sniper: G.R.I.T.

Because my roots emanate from musical theatre, it only made sense that I would eventually reintegrate singing into my offering. Like for so many, the pandemic provided me with the time and space to dive deep into my inner world and process unresolved storylines within my consciousness. What I discovered was that when I really leaned in and listened, the quietest voice inside was actually the loudest, and she was screaming to be heard. What resulted was the birth of my debut album, “Burn The Tapes,” which is available on all major streaming platforms as of September 25, 2024!

Inspired by my love of cinema, “Burn The Tapes” narrates the complexities of a rude spiritual awakening and all the intricacies implicit in remembering the Truth of who you are. I’ve often said that it is the soundtrack to a time in my life when I sorely needed it. Needless to say, the making of this music was profoundly transformational, and I trust it will reach those who need it too. I’ve now released two music videos that I produced and co-directed for songs from my album. It really takes a village to be an independent artist, and I am very fortunate to have supportive friends and collaborators who are passionate about storytelling like I am.

As a filmmaker, I recently produced my first feature, Pencils Vs Pixels (a documentary celebrating hand-drawn animation) and it is now available to stream on Amazon and other major streaming platforms. Narrated by Ming-Na Wen, the film features Seth MacFarlane, Pete Docter, the Bancroft brothers, Aaron Blaise, and Kevin Smith. I feel privileged and humbled to have played a small role in giving voice to the stories of some of the most legendary animators of the last fifty years.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I have always intended to create a work of art out of my life and the way I’ve navigated my own dark nights of the soul, as well as periods of deep aloneness, has been with this intention as a beacon. It has served to illuminate my path, and has allowed me to zoom out and gain perspective.

As a creative, I feel grateful to have the awareness that everything I go through in life – the ups and downs – really is just research for a new role I may take on as an actor, or a storyline for a song I’ll eventually write and perform, or for a film project I’ll produce. There’s a saying, “Everything you go through grows you.” This unique way of relating to things we don’t have control over has served to bolster a sense of not being a victim to life. Re-contextualizing pain and trauma has ultimately been an empowering tool that has helped me access deep places inside myself, and find strength through art.

Naturally, this way of approaching my creative life has been a great companion to my spiritual journey, which I believe we are all on whether or not we are aware of it. It’s given me great compassion for the human experience, and has allowed me to confront many of my own judgements, and work on releasing them. The toil then becomes a really joyful process. For example, as an actor I get to take a walk in someone else’s shoes and apply who I authentically am to a parallel experience. I get to explore motivations I might not understand on a surface level, and peel away the layers of the onion – which can be endless, and that’s what makes it so fun!

I have a mantra: “Better out than in,” and that’s how I approach my creativity. Shining a light on my shadow is the way through to the other side – which is inevitably, Freedom. And then, to get to perform once I’ve taken the time to go within and have a real release -it’s extremely powerful medicine. If you can stomach it, I highly recommend it.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

What matters most to me is integrity – to tell the truth, and to inspire and touch others whom I may never meet. The power to unlock emotions and simply feel is fundamental to the human experience. In such polarizing times, I believe that music and film have the power to wake us up, even if it’s a shake-up, and expand the way we relate to ourselves and others. Hopefully, in the end, returning us to the greater universal truth of the power of love and compassion.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Jhemma.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jhemmaziegler
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/jhemma
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JhemmaZ
• Other: SPOTIFY: https://music.jhemma.com
  IMDB: https://imdb.me/jhemma

Image Credits

Jonathan Mark Hedrick, Embry Lopez, Tim Denin