Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Gelinas.
Jessica, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’m a singer-songwriter born and raised in Montreal, Canada. I would say that I’ve always had an immense attraction to music; my earliest memory was at the age of four when I saw a family friend perform a piano piece in their living room. I remember thinking, “I want to be just like her.” I still have pictures of myself as a toddler holding my mother’s karaoke microphone, dancing and singing to the records she played in our house. Growing up, she and her siblings were always forced to learn to play the piano, and she vowed never to force her own children to partake in music education, as most Taiwanese parents would at the time. When it came to me, I remember having to beg her over and over again to let me play the piano, and she would always ask me, “Are you really sure that’s what you want?” From then on, it’s like I always knew music was my calling. Then high school began, and I joined the wind orchestra, playing the bass clarinet. We would travel every year to the States to compete against other schools, and I just LOVED being surrounded by so many instruments that, when played together, performed such magical pieces. We played at Carnegie Hall, and the acoustics of the hall amazed me. It was eerie how even the slightest breath into the clarinet would create such an impact in the entire hall; it gave me goosebumps. I spent many years playing classical pieces, but a part of me was always curious about the genres of pop and R&B. The groove in D’Angelo, Musiq Soulchild, and PJ Morton’s records just felt so right. I started trying to replicate those sounds, adding my own French lyrics to them. And when I started studying at Berklee College of Music, an entire new world of music unveiled before me. I discovered new sounds from Snoh Aalegra, Sabrina Claudio, and Jorja Smith. I was very lucky to have had mentors who really took the time to refine my personal projects with me. I would spend hours and hours attending their office hours just to explore beyond my knowledge of music and maybe learn a secret or two from their experiences in the industry.
I released my debut single, “Let’s Race to the Ocean,” in 2019, which was followed by seven consecutive singles, ultimately culminating in my debut album, “RSVP.” One of the songs, “Astronaut,” was featured on New Music Friday Canada, and I was so thrilled! Within the next year, I found refuge in the studio day and night, writing and recording the next nine singles I would then release. I was just so excited to share the new sounds I had discovered and fallen in love with the audience that was starting to show interest in my stories.
After graduating, I ventured a little bit into Japanese advertisement and movies (shoutout to my professor Yuki Kanesaka for bringing me onto those projects!). One particular moment that stood out was my contribution to the Jujutsu Kaisen 0 Movie opening soundtrack, “Greatest Strength.” It was such an experience, exploring a different side of music I had never really known before, especially in the anime world. I remember watching the movie in the cinema and hearing my voice at the start; it was such an exciting and memorable moment! That led to a few more gigs in the anime world, such as Dr. Stone and Ninja Kamui, as well as a whole new audience I could converse with.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I would say that it has, for the most part! I was sixteen when I left my family, my friends, and my hometown—basically, everything I’ve known—behind to pursue my passion for music. It was a little scary at first, but previously I had always been fortunate enough to kind of have my path planned out with the help of my parents, who really supported me. I always knew what the next step was and where I was heading; it was very similar in college as well. Then came graduation in the middle of the pandemic, and the whole world kind of came to a stop, and we were all freaking out. For the first time in my life, I didn’t know what I was doing or what the next step I should take was. I moved to New York City, and for a whole year, I felt like I was floating in time, that whatever I found myself venturing into was a waste of time; I was slowly starting to realize that this wasn’t the right place for me, but thankfully a few songs were born from that feeling! In that perfect moment of realization, my boyfriend and I packed our bags and our cat, flew down to LA, oblivious to what we would find in this new city. In a week’s time, we found a place and started anew, and that’s when everything started feeling right again. I took a small break from releasing music, trying to get into the rhythm of this new city, but I’ve been working on a few songs, had some cool collaborations, and I’m excited to start sharing my music again! Look out for new releases coming up!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Having worked on a few soundtracks for film, I sometimes had to write lyrics fitting a certain character or scenario that wasn’t fully developed just yet; I had to work around a few keywords that were provided to me, and those are the moments where I can really get creative with my imagination. Other times, I found myself in situations where there were clear instructions on how to deliver the project. I realized how different lyric writing can be for film versus for a record. There are unwritten rules and boxes, preferences, and expectations that come with different writing purposes. When it comes to my own personal music, I don’t like to enclose myself within a box or a genre. I try to polish every idea I might have, and even if they might seem like total opposites, I just love merging them together; whether it’s a groove change in the middle of the song or the most unexpected lyrical twist!
What would you say has been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
I guess the key is not to be afraid to take the leap! I remember my mother always sharing quotes such as “There’s ten years of practice off stage, and a minute of shine on stage,” or “Opportunities come to those who are ready.” I often found myself being my harshest critic, always afraid that my music wasn’t “good enough,” constantly seeking perfection. Additionally, I have immense stage fright, and perhaps over the years, perfecting my craft has become an excuse for avoiding confronting my fear of performing. Ironically, whenever I have found myself on stage, I always remember having such a great time. The bond I built with the audience was amazing, and the adrenaline rush as I kicked off the first song of the set is something I still dream about yet fear so deeply. This year, I want to challenge myself to step out of my comfort zone and push myself to reach for that one minute of shine because deep down, I know that I’m ready for it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jessicagelinas.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicagelinas_/?hl=en
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/25f1T8ftal0wbUsAYgP8ng?si=iyvV86TjRAmb6KujzOgQ6w
