http://www.rock-is-life.com/2008fivequestions/alyssajacey.ht
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5 Questions with...ALYSSA JACEY
1. If I knew absolutely nothing about Alyssa Jacey, how would you describe your music to me?
-- It's the kind of music that lifts your spirits when you're feeling down. It gives you hope after heartbreak. Applicable to both genders, I sing about love, life and loss. It's not really one genre, I believe it's a fusion of many, such as FolkRock, Pop, Soul and a hint of Country here and there. What ever moves me, I write about it and the lyrics and melodies hit me at the same time. Also, if it were a color, it would be blue:)
2. If I were to buy your new EP The Soul (2006), what songs should I pay particular attention to and why?
-- That is my favorite part about this career. I LOVE to write and each song has something to say, something to give you. This EP is special b/c it's packed with some of my favorite songs I've ever written. Currently, I'm re-recording 3 out of the 5 songs to make my new 3-song Demo. I would say 'Integrity' and 'Prove Me Wrong' are my favorites, 'Sunset Blue' is a close 2nd to those because they have it all, the lyrics, melodies, everything in my opinion. 'Understand?' is a song that lyrically I would want you to pay attention to.
3. Where do you hail from and when did you decide a career in music was best for you?
-- I was born and raised here in San Diego. I moved to Nor Cal for my freshman year of college to Sonoma Sate University, and moved back to SD to focus more on my dance career. 2 years later I stopped going to school and moved to LA for 9 months to pursue dancing more seriously and that's when I started doing kareoke, that was in 2004. I moved back to SD in late 2004, continued singing at kareoke bars, started back at school full time in 2005 at Cal Sate University San Marcos (now graduated with a BA in Communications) and recorded my first two albums that year. So, I knew music was right for me after a year of being told, "You should do something with your voice," and my entire life of being told, "You should do something with your writing." Luckily, the two go hand in hand. If I were to be told I should do something with my voice and with my underwater basket weaving, pet psychic or numb-chuck skills, I'd be screwed.
4. What was your worst on stage experience? What was your best?
My worst stage experience is always the same one. I'm VERY hard on myself, and even when people think I do/did a great job, I might think I was horrible. So nights when I don't think I sound good, vocally or on guitar are always bad experiences for me. I have forgotten lyrics before but I was able to make something up on the spot so that wasn't so bad. My best experiences happen more frequently, thank goodness. I would say my BEST experience was my very first show in LA at the Room 5 Lounge in March of 2007. I made up a comedy/a'capella song while I was driving around looking for parking before my set, and got up on stage, sang it as my introduction, and people ate it up! The room was packed, about 50 people can fit in there and there were probably between 40-50 that night. I sang my first 3 songs, and when it was time for my last one, after feeling out the crowd and how chill they were, I sang my acoustic comedy song, 'If I Were a Rapper,' and by the end of my set, people were singing back with me, cheering, laughing and clapping! I got off stage and got on-cored, standing ovations, the whole 9, it was so incredible.
There was even a line that formed backstage, people waiting to meet me and tell me how much they loved the show. The woman who booked me said, "That was an amazing set. You are welcome to be one of our resident artists if you'd like, we'd love to have you back each month." And since then, I've been performing there all the time, it's my favorite spot in LA. It was the BEST music experience I have EVER had.
5. Do you think that the Internet (whether it be Internet radio, legal downloading, MySpace, streaming audio, etc.) is a good tool for musicians or is it a bad thing because it hinders profits?
-- Personally, for me right now, I think it is absolutely amazing. Myspace has done nothing but awesome things for me, I owe so much to it. It's how Poet Roni Girl from the Room 5 Lounge found me and with out it I might never have had my BEST experience at that venue! It does hinder profits, for sure, but for someone like me who isn't signed and needs all the publicity they can get, it's okay right now. I don't plan to be unsigned for long though;)
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http://www.sandiegomagazine.com/media/San-Diego-Magazine/Apr
il-2008/Parking-Art-and-Packing/
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/bands/alyssa-jacey/
LOCAL BANDS/PERFORMERS
Alyssa Jacey
The Skinny
Genres: Acoustic, Blues / Soul, Pop
RIYL: Jewel, Michelle Branch, LeAnn Rimes, Sarah McLachlan, Amy Lee (Evanescence), Tracy Chapman
From: Carlsbad
History
"I never focused on the music scene until a few years ago," says Alyssa Jacey. "I always listened to music and appreciated everyone who was on the radio, selling out shows, but ever since I decided to pursue music instead of a dance career -- such as a choreographer for someone like Usher or one of JT's backup dancers -- I have been paying more attention to acoustic artists and local talent, not so much bands."
Jacey was born in La Jolla, and raised in Rancho Santa Fe and Del Mar. She attended Torrey Pines High School, went to Sonoma State her freshman year of college, then attended Mira Costa (Junior College) for a couple years part time and decided to take a break. She took 2.5 years off, to follow her life long dream to become a dancer (touring with Usher as a back up dancer and/or choreograph for artists such as him). She taught hip-hop classes in gyms and colleges and danced with professional, traveling teams.
During this period, she left San Diego a few times for college and a stint in L.A. for nine months. "I am about to have to make the decision at some point in early 2008 to either move to L.A. or stay in S.D.," she says, "and I'm just not sure I can leave here again."
Before pursuing music, she had many unrelated gigs, including "Nannying three kids -- all under 9 years old -- when I was 17. While living in L.A., one of my three jobs was talent scouting for child actors and models. It sucked. [And] working for Victoria's Secret during the holiday season -- you haven't experienced mayhem until you've been around hundreds of women fighting over bras, panties, and dressing rooms."
Jacey was given a guitar by world famous classical guitarist and very close family friend, Pepe Romero in October of 2005. She took one lesson from him that day and she's been self taught ever since.
She's currently in the recording studio for her first full-length album, playing guitar on every song. "I've been working on it for about one and a half years now and have to start from scratch -- long story. But it's all good since I've become better at recording in this time -- more experience, and I have newer, fresher, better material and a professional studio and musicians to work with. I'm so excited! It will be out this year."
Check out the first 4 videos from my show @ the ROXY THEATRE on 3/27/08!
More videos at www.youtube.com search: Alyssa Jacey
ABOUT ME: Please email any questions you'd like to know the answers to about me, my music (like how I got inspired for what ever song, who it's about, etc.), my favorite ? (book, food, hair color, song, movie, musician, jeans, etc.), to
[email protected] so I can put together my first video log! Ask me anything! (Won't necessarily answer everything;) but I'm sure most I will!) Looking forward to hearing your questions! 4/08
NEW BIO!
San Diego native Alyssa Jacey is a professional dancer/choreographer turned one of today's most talented and promising singer/songwriters. Her music career, which she now refers to as, "A fusion of folk rock, pop and soul," began just a few short years ago in January of 2005, when she decided to record her first EP out of no where. Jacey had no vocal or songwriting training, "Just a couple decades of writing poetry as my favorite hobby." Her self entitled EP, 'Alyssa Jacey,' opened doors for her first performances on stage as a singer at venues such as the San Diego County Fair, local coffee houses and bars. Surprised by the siege of compliments she got from friends and audience members, Alyssa began vocal lessons and went directly back into the studio to record, 'Closed eyes… …open Heart,' a 7-song LP that was released 3 months later, this time adding some acoustic tracks to her already pop/country style.
That October, Alyssa was forced to stop her vocal training because she lacked the funds to continue them. To lift her spirits and encourage her growth as a musician, she was given a classical guitar from world famous classical guitarist, as well as close family friend, Pepe Romero. He also gave Alyssa her first lesson and she has been self-taught ever since. In less than a year Jacey had performed at almost every acoustic venue in San Diego at least once, as well as celebrated her 100th gig in August of 2006, 7 months after 'The Soul,' EP was released, this time calling her genre, "pop/soul." By the end of 2007, Alyssa had accomplished a lot; a live CD was put out in November ('AJ Live!'), her music in constant rotation on multiple Internet radio stations throughout the US, European countries were purchasing her albums off her website, she had performances and interviews lined up on local TV stations and had gigged up and down the coast of CA and even out of state.
Currently she is in the studio recording her first full-length album (RELAXATION LANE) while simultaneously recording a new 3-song Demo (TURNING POINTS), both to be released later this year. Stop by this page regularly to check her California show dates and times!
Topics: "I write about what ever moves me. It could be falling in love, heartbreak, the loss of life or friendship, maybe a complete stranger's life or even something as simple as nature. A drive along the coast on beautiful day can be very inspiring at times, so I always have a digital recorder in the car just in case, because that's where most of my songs are written. Writing has been my passion since I can remember learning the alphabet and my family's words have always rang in my ears…"You should DO something with your writing!" Now I finally am and I couldn't be happier."
