Today we’d like to introduce you to Jesaiah Baer.
Jesaiah, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Where do I start! When I was just a little girl, I was making up songs before I could even read or write. My family and I would go on road trips to places like Yosemite, and we would play a game in the car to pass the time. My mom would pick up a random item like her coffee cup and say “Jesaiah! Make up a song about this cup!” and at just four years old, I would start singing the most elaborate song about the coffee cup on the spot! Writing music and singing is the only thing I have ever wanted to do in my life. The idea of ever working in a cubicle from 9 to 5 would be the most dreadful thing. When I was a baby, I had a rare condition called Pyloric Stenosis. So during the operation, they put a tube in my throat. In doing so, they damaged my vocal chords. And that’s why my voice has such a unique tone because they developed in a different way.
Even though I was raised in the bay area where there are a lot immigrants and major historical events for the Latino revolution… In the town that I lived in, there was still a fair amount of people who were prejudice against Latinos and thought that if you were Mexican, then you were less. So growing up as a Latina Jew, it was really hard to embrace my Latin culture. I felt pressured to hide in order to fit in, mostly because I was scared that people would think less of me.
In grade school, I was bullied because I had different interests than most kids and I was also always the tiniest girl in my class. Most kids would be listening to Britney Spears and Backstreet Boys, While I was jamming out to Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles. I didn’t have a lot of friends when I was little and remember mainly hanging out with the Native American yard duty during every lunch and singing to her Somewhere Over the Rainbow. I loved to scat when I sang, which ended up being really complimented by my raspy tone of voice and vibrato. I used to perform at a lot of jazz clubs, but going into high school I really wanted to be apart of something edgier. I joined a rock band called “Smith Alley” and we toured around the Bay Area for a couple of years. We won a lot of competitions and gained a lot of recognition in the area. But the music scene was small, so there was only so much we could do there.
I think one of the biggest obstacles I endured was at 16 years old. I got a private audition for American Idol and was scheduled to audition for the show for the celebrity judges in LA. But just three days before the audition, my crazy rebellious teen self got into a really bad ATV accident. I crashed into a cement mixer in the middle of the countryside, while my band was setting up for our show out there. I woke up in the hospital not knowing who I was or what was going on. It was terrifying. I eventually went home that night with 23 Staples in my skull, a swollen leg, and a really bad concussion. I was supposed to audition for American idol in two days! My mom said “honey we don’t have to go, you can audition next year” but I insisted that we go. Two days after I was released from the hospital, I was on the Queen Mary ship in Long Beach California auditioning for American Idol. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done. My concussion was so bad that I would pass out at random times in the day and someone would have to catch me from falling. So you can imagine waiting for hours on a hot ship deck to sing in front of the judges was a really big challenge. But it was so worth it… because I got my 4 “yes’s” and made it through to Hollywood!
American Idol gave me a lot of exposure, and I was having to travel back and forth to LA more often. So at just 17 years old, I moved to LA to pursue my dreams as an artist. Being that I was still in high school, I somehow managed to finesse the school system and get away with just faxing in my homework and doing my tests at my apartment! And thank you Lord I was able to work in LA and graduate at the same time! lol
Since then, I have been pursuing my music career and honing in on my songwriting skills. I went to songwriting school and even became a music Director/Event Coordinator for a couple of LA Festivals. I was recognized by Grammy award-winning writers and won a WWAHM Award for my song “Skin”. After that, things really took off. I won scholarships to private songwriting camps. And was given the opportunity to write with several Grammy Award-winning songwriters and producers! Life is a journey and I am just so grateful of where this world has taken my life to. My most recent song release was so special! UMPG and UMPG Latin recruited me and my partner Sonnemm to make the official Spanish version of the multi-platinum selling song “How Deep is Your Love” by the Beegees. Not only was this my first release with Universal Music but it’s my very first time releasing a song in Spanish and being able to embrace my Hispanic culture in my music! Working with UMPG and Sonnemm was Magical. Sonnemm is so talented and was the perfect Artist Producer to transform this massive hit into a romantic Spanish vibe! Like I said, Life is a crazy journey. We have to spread love and aim to make this world one big beautiful place.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I am an Artist and Songwriter. Not only do I write for my artist project, but I write for other artists and for TV/Sync. I also get hired to do features on other Artist Projects, Mostly in the world of EDM music and reggaeton! I actually just came back from performing on tour in China with an EDM artist, who had me come on board with his show.! 🙂
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I believe that in order to be successful in the music Industry, You have to be Resilient, Honest, Humble, Confident, and Empathetic. Leave your egos at home and embrace the moment with light and patience. 🙂 <3
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.jesaiah.com/
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jesaiah/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jesaiahbaer/
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