Jesse Thomas Brown - ProfilesArchive

About Me

Hi folks, my nameâ€™s Jesse Thomas Brown. I was born April 23rd, 1979 in Prince Rupert, British Columbia, to Michael and Margene Brown. With my father in the forces, I spent much of my early life in Europe as well as various cities across Canada. When I was thirteen, I saw Elton John on a Muppet Show rerun, which inspired me to take up the piano. So, at fourteen, I started taking formal lessons from Eleanor Mahaffey, in High River, Alberta. At sixteen, I wrote my first piece for the piano, and a year or so later, began arranging accompaniments. I started taking voice lessons at fifteen with Helen Klassen, and later Pat Petersen. Iâ€™ve always had a great interest in language and storytelling, but it wasnâ€™t until I was nineteen that I really started writing lyrics. It was around the same time that I began performing live in bars. I learned quite a lot during that time, including how to play with other musicians. Since that time, Iâ€™ve played on stage with a few bands, as well as alone. As far as writing goes, my influences come from all over the musical map, and so my own style ends up being pretty varied as well. I love classical music, which is pretty evident in my work. As much as I adore the great European titans like Beethoven and Rachmaninoff, I have just as much love for the more modern American composers like Leonard Bernstein and Aaron Copland. As for jazz, no oneâ€™s been a greater influence than Dave Brubeck, whom I was so lucky to see in concert. No oneâ€™s surprised that I adore Elton John and Billy Joel, and that can be heard to some degree in most of what I do, especially in my more upbeat songs. When it comes to writing lyrics, Iâ€™m influenced very heavily by non-poetic writers like Mark Twain and George Carlin, but also by amazing lyricists like Leonard Cohen, Kris Kristofferson, Bernie Taupin, and Stephen Sondheim. In fact, as much as Sondheim influences my lyrics, heâ€™s just as strong an influence on my music. I canâ€™t think of an all-round songwriter whom I respect more. I donâ€™t really have a formula for the lyrics I write, and while I sometimes try to tackle social issues, or intricate stories on a big scale, I often like to write about intensely personal matters, or snapshots of daily life. The greatest joy I get is actually getting to perform for people; the energy thatâ€™s shared is pretty remarkable, and when all is said and done, my favorite thing is to please the audience. I currently live in Victoria, B.C., and my vocal coach is Catherine Lewis. Iâ€™ve written about sixty-five songs so far, and am in the process of recording two albums. So thatâ€™s me, what about you?

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Music:

Member Since: 11/4/2005
Influences: Leonard Bernstein, Elton John, Stephen Sondheim, Leonard Cohen, Dave Brubeck, Billy Joel, Mahler, Kris Kristofferson, Rachmaninoff, Bob Dylan, Debussy, Aaron Copland, Beethoven, George Gershwin, Tchaikovsky, Scott Joplin, Abba, No Doubt, Funk Brothers, Kurt Weill, John Williams, Paul Dukas, Beatles, Mussorgsky, Chopin, Samuel Barber, Len Cariou, Jerome Kern, Rufus Wainwright, Elaine Stritch, Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie
[Status] Single
[Shoe size] 12
[Parents still together] Yep
[Siblings] 3 brothers...I'm the youngest by 9 years
[Pets] My darling doggy Ainsley
FAVORITES
[Color] Green...blue...green I think
[Number] 4
[Animal] Dog...but I LUV bunnies too
[Drinks] White grape juice...try it
[Soda] I don't drink ACTUAL soda but I'm a Five Alive junkie
[Book] "Mysterious Stranger" By Mark Twain
[Flower] Hydrangea
DO YOU
[Color your hair?] Nope
[Twirl your hair?] When it gets long
[Have tattoos?] No...I think they're hot, but I've no idea what I'd pick. If I had a pic of Leonard Bernstein on my arm, I think people would just look at me funny
[Have Piercings?] No
[Cheat on tests/homework?] Never really did, that I can recall
[Drink/Smoke?] Both, on occasion
[Like roller coasters?] Not really my thing
[Wish you could live somewhere else?] I can think of lots of places I'd like to live
[Want more piercings?] Not really planning on it
[Like cleaning?] I like a clean bathroom...I don't particularily enjoy the cleaning part...I'm good at it though
[Write in cursive or print?] Both
[Own a web cam?] Haven't you seen my live masturbation show? :)
[Know how to drive?] Yes
[Own a cell phone?] No
[Ever get off the damn computer?] Sure
HAVE U EVER
[Been in a fist fight?] I don't recall ever punching anyone except in friendly boxing matches (ended those years ago folks)
[Considered a life of crime?] I'm too cautious by nature
[Considered being a hooker?] Aren't we all whores when it gets right down to it?
[Lied to someone?] Of course...sometimes the truth hurts too much
[Been in love?] Oh god yes
[Made out with JUST a friend?] Define friend
[Been in lust?] All day, everyday...we're just animals folks
[Used someone] Not that I was aware of...I'd still be sick with guilt
[Been used?] I'm afraid so
[Been cheated on?] How should I know?
[Kicked someone in the nuts?] Nooooooo
[Stolen anything?] I stole a Big Bird figure when I was 4, but I was so guilty I gave it back without anyone ever knowing
[Held a gun] I've shot a few...doesn't make me hate them any less
CURRENTS
[Current clothing] Jeans and a tshirt
[Current mood] Relaxed
[Current taste] I brushed my teeth a while ago
[What you currently smell like] It seems to be a blend of rather sweet fruity smells
[Current hair] Midlength I'd say...getting pretty curly
[Current thing I ought to be doing] Recording organ tracks for my album
[Current cd in stereo] "Unsung Sondheim"...I like "Sondheim at the Movies" better but I had "No Mary Ann" in my head all morning and wanted to hear it
[Last book you read] "Myths To Live By" By Joseph Campbell
[Last movie you saw] "1408"...first half is good and creepy...loses a bit of steam though
[Last thing you ate] Grilled Cheeze...I use olive oil baby
[Last person you talked to on the phone] My cousin
[Do drugs?] Pot sometimes, but never when I'm working...My attention span's not the greatest when I'm stoned
[Believe there is life on other planets?] I hope there is
Remember your first love?] I do
[Still love him/her?] She's got that special spot in my memory
[Read the newspaper?] Bits and pieces
[Have any gay or lesbian friends?] Yep
[Believe in miracles?] No...sorry
[Do well in school?] I did quite well in school
[Wear hats] Never
[Hate yourself?] Wow...that's personal...I'm afraid to say that I do sometimes, yes
[Have an obsession?] That would define my personality
[Collect anything?] Music, movies, books, and a fairly substantial collection of porn
[Have a best friend?] Yes, but I like the idea of multiple best friends
[Close friends?] Yep
[Like your handwriting?] It's gotten a little messier over the years, but nothing like a doctor's
[Care about looks] I do, but you'd often be surprised by what I find beautiful
LOVE LIFE
[First crush] I wish I could remember her name; it was in Kindergarten
[First kiss] Musn't kiss and tell...we were 7 or 8
[Do you believe in love at first sight?] I really couldn't say
[Do you believe in "the one?"] I think there are any number of "the one"s
[Are you a tease?] I don't think terribly
[Too shy to make the first move?] Fuck yes
ARE YOU A
[Daydreamer] Ever since I was a child...haven't changed in that way
[Bitch/Asshole] I'm very rarely a bitch...but when tiredness sets in, even the most pleasant people can be insufferable
[sarcastic] I would say so, but not in a nasty way
[Angel] A fairly raunchy angel perhaps
[Devil] Maybe just a little devil
[Shy] Very much so, but I overcompensate with foolishness
[Talkative] I'll talk your ear off if you give me the chance

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My Blog

NEW ROUGH PIANO/VOCAL MIXES

Hi everyone, I've just posted the rough piano/vocal mixes for a few of the songs that will ultimately make their way onto my first album. Over the next few weeks, we'll be doing additional&...
Posted by Jesse Thomas Brown on Sun, 07 Oct 2007 09:45:00 PST