Jamie Jean – finds a Lighthearted Kind of Love
Interview conducted March 30, 2020
by Dan Locke
Jamie Jean is a Nashville based artist finding her sound in the pop world with a dreamy sound and danc-ey beats. She wants to make music that’s fun and light, despite the heaviness of the world.
Dan Locke: What is your upbringing?
Jamie Jean: I was raised mostly in Wisconsin in a smaller town called Hartland. Then I moved to Nashville, TN to go to college and pursue a music career, and since I have been finding my voice as an artist.
How did you discover music?
I’ve been a singer for as long as I can remember. My mom was a singer so she always encouraged it for me and I just knew ever since I was little that it was what I really wanted to pursue.
Your grandmother was a music binder for you. Can you tell me a bit more about that?
She had this super torn up, old school binder with hundreds of classic songs with really corny but catchy titles and phrases. When I’m having writer’s block, I’ll just pick a title or string of words from one of the songs and let it inspire me.
Why did you pick your name, Jamie Jean?
Jean is my middle name and Jamie is my first name. I would never put people through having to spell my actual last name, which is Kawasaki.
How did you get your first guitar and do you still have it?
I got my first guitar for my 16th birthday. In the middle of the night, I stepped on the neck of the guitar and totally broke it, haha. But it was a good excuse to get a new one, which is the guitar I’ve kept since. It’s a Taylor named Ella and I love her.
What was the first song you wrote?
The first song I wrote was to the melody of “Desperado” I had only heard the Eagles version of the song and I loved the melody so I kept the melody and wrote about something very very lame like a love note. I think a quarter was involved in the lyrics? I don’t know, I was like 10 years old.
What was your first gig like?
Jamie Jean It was playing at a coffee shop named Milwaukee Street Traders every Saturday in high school where I played for 3 hours in the corner of an adorable, small room with a fireplace. It was really good practice and I got to connect with a lot of people through live music for the first time.
You did an internship at Rounder Records. What were your duties?
I worked as a “tours” intern, so I did a lot with the organization of their artist’s tours. That means sending out posters/merch and making excel spreadsheets with venues, dates, etc…
How much about the music business did you learn while at Rounder records?
I learned a lot. I interned at a print publishing company a year earlier which was involved with music but it still felt really detached, were working at the record label really allowed me to connect the music and the business and see how much goes on behind the scenes.
How did you get Roger Cook to accompany you on his original song, “I Believe in You, “originally recorded by Don William?
That was incredible, he has so much success and experience under his belt, I was so so lucky. My producer on my last record, Jim Reiley, happened to know his daughter and she said that Roger was going to be in town for a bit and willing to come in and join on the track.
You played both the Milwaukee Summerfest and the Elbo Room in Chicago. How was your time in the Midwest? And since the Elbo Room just closed can you tell me how they treated you during your performance?
I love the Midwest. I’m from there so of course I’m bias. But people are really supportive of music in the Midwest so playing shows has always been fun. I played the Elbo Room acoustic lounge so it was a more intimate show, but it was great! I had a few local Chicago artists, Leche Malo and Just Jax on the bill with me that killed it as well. The venue was great! We had a good turn out so all was good.
You’re single, “I Can Dream, Can’t I?”. Comes out on April 3. What are your dreams?
I want music to be my full-time job, whether it be writing, playing or both. It has taken me longer than I expected to be confident in that, but better late than never!
What song will be the next to be released as a single?
The next single I’ll be releasing is called “Powerless”. It’s a song about feeling like someone has a sense of control over you. I like taking a heavier topic and addressing it in a lighter way. I think Powerless does that, it has a light, vibey, airy feel.
What was the Treehouse Session?
It’s alive, usually acoustic recording. I reached out to Adam Dobkin who started it in his house because I saw some artist friends do it and I liked the quality and intimacy, so I went in to record a session and it was a great experience!
Digital vs. vinyl?
Both! I like the fact that music is so accessible now, you don’t necessarily need the best quality to appreciate a truly great song, but vinyl is definitely a different experience. My first mentor/guitar teacher used to own like seven record stores, closed them all and kept all the records himself, so he introduced me to vinyl. I wish my collection was larger but it isn’t terrible.
How do you feel that the Coronavirus is going to affect the music world?
That’s a good question. I think the fear that has stemmed from this has led a lot of people to a new appreciation for the things that really matter, and music is one of those things in my mind. I think that music is very healing at a time like this.
What song from the past is in your mind right now? And what is the meaning that song means to you?
Haha, probably “Rich Girl” by Hall and Oates. It makes life feel lighter and easier. Everyone needs that right now.
How do you see yourself in the next five years?
I don’t know! I’ve always been a planner and more of a perfectionist so that is a challenge to not know, but it feels good to let go a little, and hope for the best.
UNRATED Jamie Jean Anything you would like to say in closing?
I hope people listen to this single and can remember to dream and chill out a little bit! We need all of the good energy we can get right now.
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