Amos) with a songwriter who has been called "striking and daring, lyrically and literally"
(KGPR 89.9 FM). Jess's theatrical storytelling, musical complexities and dancer driven rhythms lets you in on a personal journey so vivid you blend her past with your own. Breaking personal and musical boundaries, “Reveal is a distinctive record made all the more interesting by its biting observations.” (Nashville Scene)
Insightful and intelligent lyrics “with rapid fire phrasing... not commonplace in the least”
(Guitargirls.com). Strong driving melodies, “funky rhythms... complex subtle instrumentation” (Kweevak.com). A power house voice that “rip up any stage” (Splendid e-zine) with “dark chords, throaty vocals and the kind of lyrics that come from lots of philosophical pondering and very little reality-TV watching.” (Mountain Xpress)
Jess comes from a pair of highly artistic and independent thinking parents. Her mother, Jo, is a skilled writer, who taught that financial independence equals artistic independence. Jess says, “Mama’s focus on the horizon gave me the strength to dream large and see the big picture.” Her father, Bill, was a founding member of the ‘70’s Capricorn Records’ folk-rock band, Cowboy. “Dad plays every instrument you throw at him. I started learning to play as a child, but with a musician that good in the house, I found it hard to fight my nature to move. I had to dance along,” Jess explains.
Dance became her focus as she learned to communicate through movement and body language. Jess’s choreography caught the eye of the theatre community, where she learned how to add dialogue to the dance. With these two languages, she began directing and choreographing professionally across the country, from Fringe festivals to Off Broadway. She’s now co-founder of Creatively Independent, an int’l touring physical theatre company teaching 3,500+ students a year with performing arts workshops and original shows.
But at a young age, Jess found herself in a personal drama that put her in the chaos of change. “Throughout the confusion, all I could focus on was a song. It was so clear I was sure I had heard it somewhere, like on the radio, a show... somewhere. But it wasn't outside me. It my own voice, my story I was hearing and it pushed me to learn a new language so I could understand it.” She moved back home and started to learn how to interpret the songs that were now free-flowing. In a mad rush to get the songs out of her head, Jess experimented with jazz chords, rock chords, alternate tunings. “I didn’t know the rules, I just knew what the sound needed to be... which ironically goes against everything I teach and everything I’ve been taught. ‘Know the rules before you break them.’ But here, it was necessity, I had to get them out. Ignoring these stories and emotions was literally driving me crazy,” Jess admits.
After a few months of open mikes and shows, high demand lead Jess and Bill to start their own label of alt. americana artists, Road Worm Music. The label released her next three albums: Promo, Slightly Skewed, and Reveal. Dan Phelps, producer of “Reveal”, brought Jess to Seattle where, with the help of industry heavyweights - Matt Chamberlain and Viktor Krauss, folktronica was born.
With the help of Lujo Records, Allegro/Nail Distribution, and a solid schedule of touring, Jess continues to reach new ears and new minds. “Reveal” blends her multi-angled view to create an original musical language: precise lyrics, an exciting and unpredictable rhythmic landscape, honest storytelling, and an overall sound that is simultaneously innovative and accessible.
For more visit jesspillmore.com
