Overview

Hello world! My name is Jessye, and I'm a singer-songwriter here in the beautiful city of Boston, Massachusetts.

I've been making music since I sat down for my first piano lesson at age 5. I grew up singing and playing in my father's church, and in my adolescence I began writing and performing as a way to heal and reconcile with my own queerness and gender identity. Growing up queer in a conservative church was often isolating, but I found that lyrically rich and intimate music by artists like Stevie Nicks, Joni Mitchell, and Tori Amos helped me to feel less alone, and to know myself better. In college, I turned to classical music, and lost my own creative drive for songwriting for some time, but I've "come back home" in recent years and have been writing and performing my original songs in venues around the greater Boston area. I can't wait to share these new songs, which deal with themes of mental health, personal growth, and identity, with all of you!

The material is ready, the musicians are waiting--this crowdfunding campaign is the final step toward creating my first ever professionally produced studio album.

This campaign is raising funds for my professionally recorded album with Bryan Fennelly, a Boston-based producer and engineer working with both established and up-and-coming musicians. Together, Bryan and I are digging into my original material, writing arrangements, and reaching out to local musicians to bring the songs to life.

I’ve been able to cover the costs of recording and producing one song, which is ready for you to check out right here on this page. This first song is called “Worry,” and you can check it out below!

While I’ve been able to fund the recording process for "Worry" on my own, to create an album of songs of this quality, studio costs add up quickly. With that said, this campaign can give us a unique opportunity to collaborate and make great art together. Your donation will cover following costs of my project:

1. Pre-Production: This is where everything starts. Bryan and I will start crafting the arrangements for each of the songs that will go on the album. We’ll hold rehearsals to fine-tune the songs and arrangements and talk through new and exciting ideas for how to approach the recording process.

2. Recording: This is when we enter the studio and start capturing the music. It’s where the songs become what you'll hear on this album. This campaign will play a huge role in making sure we have enough time to capture great performances for every musician. 

3. Mixing & Mastering: Each track will get mixed to create the right balance between instruments, texture, and color that make up a track. As a final step, the album will be mastered from beginning to end so the listening experience is cohesive and carefully choreographed from start to finish.

And what will you get for your generosity and support? So many awesome things!

I’m so appreciative and grateful for any support you can lend to this campaign. In exchange for your generosity, I've put together some really exciting gifts that are available exclusively through your participation in this campaign.

Check out some examples below! Click on the full list to the right for a full description.

It's hard to express how much this project would change my life.

Music has always helped me to feel less alone. My favorite songwriters use their music to share their incredibly specific stories and points of view, and despite how unique they are, I've been able to see my own story reflected back. At its best, I think music has the power to help us know ourselves better and I am finally penning songs I feel proud enough of to share them with my community.

For me, music a reflection of my community--fellow musicians have inspired me to better hone my craft, my family and childhood friends supported my earliest performances and introduced me to diverse artists and musical styles, my brilliant and wonderful fiancé has taught my heart to sing and listened to all of my songs through their various awkward stages of evolution. Music is about connection and empathy, and I've shared musical experiences with so many people in my life. Now it is my hope to not only share this music with the people I love, but to reach a wider audience and in so doing, expand the boundaries of my community.

Since my time studying music in college and graduate school, I've dedicated my professional life to working with students to help them find their voices as singing actors. I believe that we have to feed ourselves to feed others, and songwriting feeds me in a way nothing else can. I've worked hard to create the kind of music I want to hear and to tell the stories that are important to me, and I can't wait to create something beautiful with your help.

If you're ready to contribute, just click the "Back This Project" button on the top right of this page! Every little bit counts, and I’m so grateful for all your support.

If you have folks in your network that would be interested in supporting me, please feel free to share with page with them.

Thank you so much for checking out my campaign page. I can't wait to share this music with you.