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Meet Jess Clark

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Jess Clark.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Jess. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Wow, it’s hard to really know where to start! I grew up mostly in Pasadena, CA and from a very early age, music was my passion. My mom was always an amazing singer herself, and from the time I was a baby, she introduced me to music from artists like Carole King, Jewel and Alanis Morissette (basically all the most amazing female songwriters). She would play their records in the car on my way to preschool, and I’d sing along from the back seat!

I really started singing when I was just a toddler, and I think it was clear from a very early point in my life that I wanted to be a performer. I was also very close with my grandfather, who was a musician himself. My grandparents used to babysit me while my parents went to work and he would sing and dance with me to Frank Sinatra. He always encouraged me to perform for the family at holidays and family get-togethers.

In elementary school, I was heavily involved in musical theatre and choir. I loved acting just as much as I loved to sing, actually. I got my first role in the musical “Annie” when I was nine years old, and I think that’s when I truly fell in love with being on stage and performing in front of an audience. I continued to always stay in choir all the way through middle and high school.

Once I started going to college, I took more performance classes and actually became a wedding singer as one of my first jobs. I sang at weddings, parties, etc. for about three years, all while trying to pursue my own music career. Although I am a singer, I’ve always considered myself a songwriter first. It’s always been my dream to write and perform my own music.

From age 18, I really immersed myself in all different kind of musical ventures. I was in different girl groups, I wrote for other artists… I really tried a little bit of everything. In 2015, I auditioned for the show American Idol (Season 15), and I ended up becoming a contestant on the show and making it to the Top 50.

Everything about that experience taught me so much about myself and what I truly wanted. I realized that at the end of the day, all I really want is to be myself (as cliché as that sounds) and do what ultimately feels right. Throughout the years, I’ve worked with different producers and managers.

Although I’m incredibly grateful for those experiences, they definitely taught me that at the end of the day, you have to do what feels right for YOU. As an artist, it’s so easy to get caught up in the idea of “making it” and what you have to do to get there. In August 2017, I really had an epiphany.

I just wanted to write songs that came from my own experience, reflected who I was as not just an artist, but a person, and I wanted to do it on my own terms. So, I reached out to a dear friend of mine, Jamien Pride, who happens to be a phenomenal producer and engineer. I told him my vision on the phone, and we got to work. He brought another producer and another songwriter on to our team, Brandon McPhatter, and Thomas Vonjo.

The four of us became a family almost instantly, and in January of 2018, I released my first EP, Roses. It’s such a passion project. So much blood, sweat, and tears went in to the project itself, and every time I listen to it, I’m so proud. As of now, I’m starting to brainstorm and map out the next EP, and I am very, very excited. This is my favorite part — the creative process.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I would say that my journey has definitely not been an easy one. I’ve stared in to the eyes of failure many, many times. Growing up, I dealt with being bullied. It’s something that I am actually thankful for now, but at the time, it was incredibly hard.

Fortunately for me, I had a family that I could talk to and come to for comfort and guidance. Without them, I don’t know what I would’ve done. I consider myself so lucky because I know that not all kids have a safe place to go like I did. Although it was an extremely painful time in my life, I believe it made me stronger, and in this business, having thick skin is both important and valuable.

My grandfather also passed when I was eight years old. I was very close to him and like I said, he’s one of the main reasons I’m performing today. He never got to see me perform on a stage, but I feel him with me every time I’m up there. Also, having involved myself in many different musical ventures over the years, you can bet there was bound to be a little chaos.

When working with so many different people, you definitely come across those who have bad intentions and are only looking out for themselves. While I was a member of a girl group, we had a manager who ended up trying to sue us for 10,000 dollars. Can you imagine being just 22 years old and being sued by a much older, intimidating man for that much money?! We were terrified.

We ended up going to court and winning the case, but the stress that that caused was unimaginable… as if trying to make it in this career wasn’t hard enough. Aside from the turmoil that happened on the business side throughout the years, obviously being an artist can be emotionally draining and challenging and I think that can be more stressful than anything else.

There is so much pressure to be relatable, successful and relevant in this business. You have to be authentic, but you have to be marketable. You have to be yourself, but you have to please everyone. It can feel close to impossible sometimes.

That is why I am so grateful for the people around me who have believed in me from the beginning, have supported everything I’ve done and have loved me and the art that I create regardless of how many changes I’ve gone through. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them.

We’d love to hear more about what you do.
At the end of the day, I am an artist. I don’t consider myself just a singer or a vocalist. I think singing is just the way I’ve always chosen to express myself. I’ve always loved creating stories, concepts, and ideas more than anything else.

I’ve always been obsessed with music videos. When I sit down to write a song, the first thing I do is think about how I’d want the music video to look and feel. Some might call that a little backwards, but that’s how I work. I’m a very visual person. I love the conceptual, visual aspect of music.

Once I have a concept or theme in mind, I’m able to create freely. I think I’ve also always had a little bit of the “rebel” mentality. I like taking risks. I like shocking people. I like doing what no one would expect from me.

What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was incredibly independent. I was an only child until age 10, and I always knew how to keep myself occupied and entertained. My family always taught me to be strong and confident in myself. They taught me to believe anything is possible, as long as you work hard and believe in yourself.

My main interests were definitely singing, acting and dancing. I was involved in musical theatre at the time. I used to dance and sing in my room for HOURS. I also loved reading books and writing short stories.

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Image Credit:
c.1988, Milah Renee, Legend

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