Alyssa Jacey
Interview conducted on April 11, 2022
By Dan Locke
Alyssa Jacey is a multi-genre, award-winning singer/songwriter, inspirational career coach, and professional dancer/choreographer. Her other love affairs like motivational speaking, acting, modelling, improv musical comedy, and TV Hosting became more than just part-time passions after moving to Nashville over a decade ago from her hometown San Diego, California. Her infectious personality, easy-going music, and smooth vocals make Jacey a deeply original artist. With her many fans, including legendary artist manager, Doc McGhee (Bon Jovi, Kiss, Motley Crue, Darius Rucker), and Ron Delsener (President of Live Nation, NYC) this quintuple threat cannot be overlooked! Jacey was just shy of turning 24 when she learned she could sing for the first time. The stage had always been her second home from spending the previous 20 years as ballet, jazz, and hip-hop dancer/instructor. Before becoming an artist, she had unknowingly been greatly influenced over the years by the vocal stylings of Sarah McLachlan, Christina Aguilera, Joss Stone, Amy Grant, Alanis Morrissette, and Jewel, which fans later would credit for her honey-like tone. Many vocal comparisons have been made to Norah Jones, Sheryl Crow, and Alison Krauss, as well as Joan Baez and Joni Mitchell. However, when you take a listen to her catalogue of over 400 songs (more than a quarter of them released), you’ll notice she only sounds like one person…herself.
You are a singer songwriter, guitarist, acting, modeling, and TV hosting work. What is your upbringing?
Hi! Yes! First, thank you so much for inviting me to this interview, I’m honored! So, yes, I’m a singer/songwriter, self-taught guitarist, percussionist and drummer, inspirational career coach (www.IAUM.live) dancer/choreographer, TV host, model and actress. My upbringing was comprised of school, a LOT of dance classes, dance recitals and dance everything, and sports. I graduated with a BA in Communications. My upbringing never had anything to do with music outside of dancing to it J
How did you discover music?
Music discovered me, actually! Friends heard me singing to myself at work (around 23 or 24 years old), convinced me to try karaoke and that is how my entire music career started! I went from singing karaoke for a year once a week, to a full-fledged career in the years ahead. Every karaoke performance, I’d hear the same words and get the same reactions from people who heard me, such as, “Where can we see your next show,” and “Where can we buy a CD” and after 100’s of those in a year, you kind of have to take a step back and listen to what the universe is trying to tell you. So, in late December of 2004, I called the only producer I knew and said, “I know you know me as Alyssa Jacey the dancer/choreographer. But I think I’m supposed to…sing? Can you record me?” He said, “Sure, do you have any songs?” I said, “Oh, yeah. That’s like, a part of that, isn’t it,” and we laughed. I was so green! Anyway, I went to work and within a week or so, had three songs written and within a month or so had my first demo recorded.
You have wrote over 400 songs. How did you start to write music?
I have written over 400 songs, yes. Probably over another 100 on top of that, if you include co-writing. Writing, to me, all came naturally, nearly over night. It was instant. Like, the second I decided I was going to be a singer, that same moment, songs came pouring out of me and never stopped since!
How did you get your first guitar, and do you still have it?
My first guitar was gifted to me by world famous classical guitarist Pepe Romero of the Romero Brothers who are in their 70’s and just celebrated 60 years of touring the world together. Pepe is one of my dad’s best friends and when he heard I was going to pursue music, he gave me this beautiful classical guitar which I do still have, and he gave me a lesson. It was the first and last guitar lesson I ever had.
What is your guitar of choice now? Year, make and model?
Martin, D35. Hands down. I think the year I received my custom-made Martin was 2016. February, if I recall correctly.
Are you asking how it was custom-made?
I got my name on the fret board because I am a Martin guitarist model and Musician. I am represented by Martin Guitar 🙂 they made that specifically just for me 🙂
Tell me about the Honda generator commercialyou were in?
I acted in the commercial
Describe your music.
Very eclectic. I write in many genres: Pop, pop/soul, pop/country, pop/rap, singer/songwriter, Americana, country, country/blues, blues, soul, RnB, pop/punk, pop/rock, Indie and reggae. Most of my songs are mid-tempo with a smaller mix of upbeat and ballads. Most are very rhythmic, as I play my guitar as though it is percussion instrument. I developed that on my own; being self-taught, I suppose you kind of just do what comes naturally and playing rhythmically as I do, I think comes from the dancer in me!
What was your first performance at like?
My first actual, real “show” was me singing and playing guitar, 3 weeks after I began teaching myself, at a café on the San Diego State campus. I’ll never forget it. I loved every second!
You have opened up for the likes of Bruno Mars, Andy Grammar, Shawn Colvin. Did anyone give you any words of wisdom about the music business?
No one gave me advice other than to NOT get into the music business because it’s so cutthroat. Which only fired me up and inspired me more to work harder and make a name for myself a DIY who has never had a team. I’ve never had a manager, never had a booking agent, never had a PR team, never had a road manager…everything you read about online, I’ve done on my own with the love, support and encouragement of family, friends and had core Blue Crew fans!
Royalties never appear like magic. Royalties are only sent to you through work undertaken by a PRO to ensure that their members are getting paid. If you’re not yet signed up to a Performing Right Organization like ASCAP, BMI or SESAC, you may not be receiving all the royalties you deserve.
Do you belong to any to songwriters’ organizations like the International singer-songwriter association, SESAC, BMI or ASCAP ?
ASCAP now for 17 years, my entire career.
How did it feel to be the #1 on the singer songwriter charts?
Felt and still feels amazing! I’m still number one across the local, national, regional and global board as of today, April 6th, 2022. That’s twice in a two-week period. I hope I stay here! BEYOND my wildest dreams and I’m SO GRATEFUL!
How was it to be part of the 2003 Pre Game Show Beyonce Santana Celine Dion Sting there was also No Doubt, Shania Twain, The Dixie Chicks, and Michelle Branch San Diego
I was a part of and danced in it all: The national anthem, the star-spangled banner, pre-game and half-time shows. One of the biggest highlights of my career and a memory I will hold near/dear to my heart forever. This footage can be seen here:
What makes a good songwriter?
An honest person, for one. Someone who knows how to take real life experiences and turn them into melodic connections in a real, authentic way.
You won the NBC San Diego The Voice Competition?
Yes
What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?
“Prove Me Wrong” and I recorded 4 versions of it lol but you can only hear these versions by purchasing them directly off my website, AlyssaJacey.com, as I’ve taken all versions down from the net. But you can hear an (old) live version, here:
What is the process of writing your music?
Music, lyrics and melodies all hit me at the same time, always. So, I’m always writing full songs, right in the moment.
How was it to sing the National Anthem for the Lingerie Football League?
I get goosebumps whenever I listen back. It was in front of 5,000 INCREDIBLY enthusiastic, cheering people, which was AWESOME. They far out-cheered the crowd of 15,000 when I sang the anthem for the San Diego Padres. But both were SO EXCITING and I LOVE singing the anthem. That video can be seen here
On your song “See Me Cry”, why is the Rap part your favorite part?
I’m only 3-4 years into writing raps and this is by far the fastest as well as has 10 hidden messages in it. I love the melody, the quickness, and for someone who’s brand new into writing raps, I couldn’t be prouder. The performance of the rap came out exactly as I would have hoped. I’m just like, pinching myself that I’m getting blessed with not only writing these new styles of songs but getting to release them. I’m still a ways away from reaching my financial goal for recording so if anyone wants to donate to the recording process, I need to raise another 10k in the next couple months! You can go here https://alyssajacey.com/10th-album/ 24/7 and contribute! I would be MOST grateful, as I’m dying to be able to record the rest of these songs to share with you!
Tell me about ‘Sha La La Love”?
It’s about turning a dark, depressing, heartbreaking, soul-tearing experience into a positive, upbeat, cheerful, hopeful message. No matter what, we have a choice; we can choose to wallow in our sorrows or make the best out of whatever that situation was and we chose the latter. It’s an admission of hurting someone you didn’t mean to hurt and asking for forgiveness as well as standing your ground. Reminding the both of you that you’re both strong and your love for each other can and will keep shinning on!
How was it to work with Tolan Shaw?
Super easy, we work really well together. I really only co-write with just him, and one other person, Christie Huff. When you’ve lived in Nashville for as long as I have (over 10 years) you learn who you click with in a writing room and who you don’t. Who is there to work and be professional, and actually wants to write a great song, and who is there to waste time. These two are easy going, fun, positive, EXTREMELY talented artists who have become good friends of mine and I’m just lucky to have found them! Tolan has written with Jason Mraz, has a lot of his songs in commercials and TV shows. He’s also an insanely talented producer. Christie is on like every Spotify playlist imaginable, plays huge country festivals and is just a ball of energy and light, and can write a beautiful, catchy vocal melody like no one’s business. They’re my favorite co-writers!
Are working on your new album tell me about it?
Y’all are going to have to follow www.facebook.com/alyssajaceymusic, @AlyssaJaceyOfficial (on IG) and sign up (for free) to be a part of my Blue Crew Newsletter to find out more! www.reverbnation.com/alyssajacey And you can always donate to the process (which is MUCH needed write now, 24/7 via this link https://alyssajacey.com/10th-album/ )
You are using Go Fund. How is that working out for you?
I used GoFundMe for 6 weeks earlier this year and it worked great! I raised about 1/3 of what I needed to complete this album, which, is a bummer but also super amazing. To raise anything right after Christmas, during a pandemic, and before tax season? Not the smartest timing choice but my fans still pulled through quite a bit and for that, I am utterly grateful. Again, your generosity would be GRATELY appreciated! Donate anytime, via this link! https://alyssajacey.com/10th-album/
What is your favorite track on your album?
See Me Cry, Choosing Boys, Sha La La Love, Man of God, It’s Gonna Be Fine and Showing Up (Hustle Pie) are some of the top faves.
What are you’re feeling about streaming music?
We might as well give our music out for free. Streaming is an evil necessity but necessary for indie artists. It has been crazy seeing my streaming numbers grow and monthly listeners go from in the 60’s a couple years ago, to maybe 100-something last year to 733 a few days ago to well over 1,000 now. It’s like a surge of new plays and followers is happening and it’s amazing!
Digital vs. vinyl?
I’ve never been into vinyl but it’s coming back and has been for years. I’m more of a digital, even still a CD girl, myself. Hell, if cassette tapes came back, I’d be all for it!
What song from the past is in your mind right now? Moreover, what is the meaning that song means to you?
I’m answering these questions at 7am on a Thursday, so my brain is more like…coffee? Food? Lol No song from the past on the brain at the moment!
If “Video Killed the Radio Star” do you think that the Covid-19 virus has killed live music? Do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?
I think the music business has affected the music business and has been for years. I think streaming changed a lot of that. I think bro-country changed some of it. I think DIY’s taking over, recording from home changed a lot of it. The industry is rapidly changing before our eyes and Covid has been a recent large blip on that ever-changing radar.
Do you think that Covid-19 has been a plus to an artist career?
That depends on who you ask. For most people I know, the answer is no. For very few, the answer is yes.
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
Songwriting a LOT. Playing live shows online, both ticketed and free. I also still performed live at my main local venue I’ve been at for 12 years, The Listening Room Café. I was the only person they hired to sing happy hour throughout the pandemic (off and on).
I taught myself how to use iMovie a lot more so I’ve been able to make music videos and promo videos for myself and other artists. I got into photography and editing both the videos and images. And wrote some more.
How do you stay healthy during the lockdown?
I walked on my treadmill a lot. Read books. Binge watched shows and movies. Worked a TON on bettering myself through therapy and self-care, as I was also going through a divorce (finally ending this month, in fact).
How is your photography coming along?
It’s more been videography and editing than photos, but I have enjoyed the two photo shoots I’ve taken of myself and two artists I’ve shot and hope to do much more of both!
Do you think you will make it into the Guinness World Record?
I have never been in a Guinness book of world records as of yet although I’m trying because of being the number one artist in the world that has performed original music acoustically so many times at 35,000 feet, without having a booking agent or manager who set it up. Everyone else that has performed for a Live at 35 has done it either once, maybe twice, I did it 24 times. And they had to have a manager, booking agents and a team of people set it up through their label and I didn’t. What I would love to get into the Guinness book of world records for, would be performing at 35,000 feet more often than anyone else in the world has, and by a landslide. And without any help from a team like a booking agent or manager and such 🙂
Recently the virus has come back with the Delta outbreak, then you Omicron, which as cause many people in the industry to worry about the future of live music.
How would you like live shows to be held and still keep you and fans safe
.
Keep doing what we’re doing. Wear masks if you want, or don’t. Get vaccinated. Wash your hands (which everyone should be doing regularly, anyway). Don’t share food or drinks. Don’t go out if you feel sick. To me, it’s as simple as all of that.
Is pay to play still a thing? Now pay to play also means thinks like playlist on the internet and opening slots for a major band on tour.
Not for me it’s not and it never has been. I know back in my early days, a lot of venues in LA wanted you to do that and I never said yes. And somehow, I still played The Roxy, House of Blues, Viper Room, Knitting Factory, Hotel Café and many others. You just have to be careful who is booking you and what their intentions are. That’s just one of the many reasons why hiring me to be your inspirational career coach (mainly focusing on artist development but I work with all ages and careers) is important! So, I can teach you these things! www.IAUM.live
The show Star Trek introduced people to the holodeck: an immersive, realistic 3D holographic projection of a complete environment that you could interact with.
Today holograms are already being used in a variety of way, such as medical systems, education, art, security and defense
Performers like Tupac, Michael Jackson, Roy Orbison, Frank Zappa, Elvis Presley, Amy Winehouse, Buddy Holly, Ronnie James Dio, Marylin Monroe, and Whitney Houston have done it already. The band ABBA just announced that they will be doing a comeback together after nearly 40 years as holograms on their next tour. With ABBA it was with the help of George Lucas .
If the cost was down to the point you could do it also, would you be willing to do Holographic concerts in our living room?
I would do it if nothing came out of pocket from me, then yes, I’d absolutely do it! I’d need to be compensated just as I would for any other gig, as putting on shows is my lively hood. It’s how I make a living.
In the past if a musician stop doing music they find a new career. For example David Lee Roth from Van Halen became a licensed EMT in NY for 6 years, San Spitz (guitarist for Anthrax) became a master watchmaker, Dee Snider (Twister Sister) voice over work for SpongeBob SquarePants.. If you can’t do music what would you like to be doing?
Inspirational Career Coaching www.IAUM.live !
What is your happy place?
Inspiring others J Donating to the Alzheimer’s Association J Wearing Blue J Performing at The Listening Room Café J Spending time with my closest friends and family J Hawaii J
Red Hot Chili Peppers are about to sell their entire song catalog for $140 Million. In the past year a lot of musicians such as Stevie Nicks ($100 Million) , Bob Dylan (over $400 Million), Taylor Swift, Journey, Def Leppard, K.T. Tunstall, John Legend, ZZ Top and Shakira have sold their catalog rights within the last year. Bob Dylan sold his entire catalog for a reported $300 million. Neil Young song 50 percent of his worldwide copyright and income interest in his 1,180 song catalogue to Hipnosis Songs Fund limited . Once you get to the age of about 70. Publishing is far more lucrative then the mechanical royalties paid to artist based on sales, airplay and streams. A good example of this is Michael Jackson brought the rights to the Beatles catalog in 1985. And in the late 80’s the Beatles Revolution appeared in a Nike commercial.
The lump sums being offering by publishing firms are more tax friendly concerning estate planning.
On January 19, 2021 Hipgnosis Song Management acquired 80% of Kenny Chesney’s recorded music royalties, covering the country superstar’s discography from his 1994 debut In My Wildest Dreams through 2017’s Live in No Shoes Nation.
Someone who was totally against selling his rights was David Crosby. He did not want to sell his publishing rights. In addition, it was not an easy thing for him to do. However, by making a deal with Irving Azoff’s Iconic Artists Group, it took a big weight off his shoulders. He could pay off his house and cover other bills. Now he does not have to work for a living. It should be noted that David is battling tendinitis in his hands, which hurts his ability to play guitar.
Do you think you would be willing to sale your back catalog if someone like Universal is will to buy everything, such as all the rights to all your songs?
Absolutely.
There are many platforms out there that allow artists to get their music heard. Artist Republik, DistroKid, Tunecore & plenty others offer distribution services. These services enable independent artists to put their music on some of the most popular streaming services globally, from Spotify to Apple Music & everything in between. If you’ve been in any part of the music industry in recent years, you probably know someone that has distributed a song.
Spotify reports that in 2021 there are about 8 million artists on the platform. Of those 8 million artists, about 57,000 are raking in a whopping 90% of the total revenue from streams. That means that .71% of the artists on Spotify are making good money. In 2020, there was a total of around $5 billion paid out to artists on the Spotify platform alone.
Therefore it’s reasonable to assume that, by the end of 2021, SPOT will be home to over 90 million tracks. And that in the early part of next year, it will surpass a catalog of 100 million for the first time.
What do you think what that could mean to independent artist?
There’s a lot of me that wants to take down all of my music from all streaming platforms and sell it as I am on my website, which I’ve already done for the first half of my catalog. I took so many of my earlier catalog offline. Visit https://alyssajacey.com/music/# pick which song you want (especially if it’s older and you can’t download or stream it anywhere, contact me directly on the contact page https://alyssajacey.com/contact/ specify which songs you want, I’ll give you a price per song (they’ll range from 99 cents to $1.29, depending), and I’ll just directly email you the .mp3’s! So, everyone has the opportunity, should they desire, to have every single song I’ve ever released, even if they can’t find them anywhere online.
Over half a billion active users around the world share their favorite music on TikTok either with something like a dance challenges and lip-sync videos or creating a funny skit or candid camera moment.
TikTok has became a great platform for music promotion, sharing songs, and finding new listeners. In which it has become a place for music artist to earn revenue when people use their music. Which in many cases the daily promotion on TikTok has led to hug boosts on other platforms like Spotify, Facebook and YouTube.
TikTok does this with the the algorithmically generates a feed of content for each user, which you see as the displaying of #. The more a user engages with content, the smarter TikTok gets at guessing what kind of videos the viewer wants to watch.
Because a song can go viral because of this.
Sony Music and Warner Music Group- , The ByteDance-owned video app revealed that it has struck an “expanded” global licensing agreement with Universal Music Group. Now that TikTok is now fully licensed by all three major record companies, will you start using TikTok more?
When you’ve been self-managing, self-booking, self-promoting, self-releasing, writing, performing, marketing, etc. your entire career as I have for the last 17 years, adding on yet another social platform to worry about posting on all the time is so daunting. When you think about it, us indies don’t have just 1 platform of each. For example, I have 3 Instagram accounts. Three Facebook pages. 1 Twitter account (I used to have two and may still but who knows lol). I had four YouTube accounts which I’ve narrowed down to two. I was on Periscope and Snapchat, both of which I stopped using years ago. I have my monthly newsletter I send out to my “Blue Crew” fan base, a booking email I use strictly for booking shows and tours, another music email as sort of a catch-all for anyone who wants to contact me, and a personal email account for family. I’m on Reverbnation, which I post on and update regularly. I have two websites www.AlyssaJacey.com and www.IAUM.live that I have to update regularly. Contact pages on both which lead to their own email accounts I have to watch and keep track of. Comments on all social sites from fans to engage with (which I love since I LOVE my fan base and they’re awesome to connect with), constant messages or replies to stories I post on IG and FB. And that’s just day to day. Add on a tour. Add on recording a new album and how much work goes into THOSE two things, on top of all of the above. And now, there’s TikTok and I have two accounts for those but I’m extremely inconsistent because it’s just tough to juggle it all as one human being. But y’all are welcome to follow me on TikTok under @AlyssaJaceyOfficial. I’m trying to be better about itJ I’m ALWAYS on FB and IG. IG @AlyssaJaceyOfficial. FB/AlyssaJaceyMusic. Join the blue crew for free at www.Reverbnation.com/AlyssaJacey!
Breaking news: TikTok is launching TikTok Radio, a full-time SiriusXM music channel going live this summer.The station will be available in vehicles and as a streaming channel on the SiriusXM App, desktop, and all connected devices.
Some of the on TikTok include Cassyette, YukoEXE, Ashinikko, Palaye Royale, Josh Dun (Twenty One Pilots), Yungblud, Morrissey, Ozzy Osbourne, Joan Jett, Gene Simmons, and Mick Jagger.
The station will be part of a new TikTok collaboration with SiriusXM and its subsidiary,Pandora, to jointly promote emerging talent. Do you think this platform could became a force in the future of streaming music?
I believe so because TikTok is growing at lightning speed. But so are NFT’s and NFT’s could put ALL of the above to shame in the coming year or two. That’s what I foresee, anyway.
Anything you would like to say in closing.
Thank you again for having me and I hope everyone will follow my 10th album journey! You can do so by joining my newsletter for free, on www.reverbnation.com/alyssajacey. For booking (I do private concerts for bdays, weddings, corporate events, house concerts, hotels, tickets shows, national anthem performances and resorts, you can contact me directly right off the contact page of my website https://alyssajacey.com/contact/ . Please follow me in Instagram under @AlyssaJaceyOfficial and @AJLiveat35 (so you can see me perform up/down the isles of Southwest Airlines at 35k feet!) and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/alyssajaceymusic . Please follow me on Spotify and add your favorite songs to your favorite playlists! https://open.spotify.com/artist/0uPavnE6kPuB1tmT7osFwx?si=sfBHQQofQcKnEKRqtReLTg And Apple music is https://music.apple.com/us/artist/alyssa-jacey/295171062 www.YouTube.com/AlyssaJacey give it a subscribe and thumbs up your favorite videos! Google the rest, I’m everywhere! Thank you so much for your time, I appreciate it SO MUCH! #LivingWithGratitude #YouNeverKnow
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