Hi, my name is Jessi and I'm an independent musician in the NYC area. I also write articles for Urban Folk magazine, design web pages, create fliers, and do various other music and technology related tasks. Please visit my Indie Music Resources blog for more. Meanwhile, Drawing Pretty Things is my big, giant archive for all things Jessi (in blog form).
This is the fourth week of my new recording project. I've finished two songs to my satisfaction, and that's a great feeling. In the past, I've started and abandoned many projects for various reasons. I lacked equipment, the expertise to use it, and the patience to perfect my work. I've been performing for over ten years, and I wanted to be in the moment, record a live performance, and be done. But that wasn't working. It sounded like poop (and not the virtual stuff I fling at you guys on FaceBook).
So I've started work on an album "Who We Are, What We Have Done". Although the guitar and vocal parts are often completed in one take, I'm working on taking my time with the songs, arranging, writing parts, experimenting with sound. I feel like something has clicked and I'm excited to see what's coming next.
The first two songs are called "Atlas Shrugged" and "Broken Thing". I wrote both last month and they can be streamed at www.myspace.com/jessirobertson and www.sonicbids.com/jessirobertson. I don't intend to record any old songs, with the exception of one I had previously called "Little Sister" but is now titled, "Papers and Magazines". The album title also came from that song. Most likely I won't stream any others until the album is finished. I've gotta keep a little mystery alive.
Meanwhile, I've decided to keep a blog of my experiences while trying to tackle the impossible and actually complete an album after ten years, and get it out on CD and iTunes. I've also got some cool ideas for bonus materials, but that's a secret too (imagine me sticking out my tongue, waving my arms around, and singing "na na na boo boo" here).
But seriously, I want to write about this experience which is a first for me, and I know is going to be magical. Even if no one reads this, I want to look back at this experience someday and remember the joy of being able to create music completely on my own terms, with no one else to help or hinder me.
On January 11th, 2008 Jessi Robertson, Joe Wilson, and Matt Singer will play at the American Folk Art Museum in Manhattan as part of Free Music Fridays. This showcase is presented by the Local Correspondents Community. Please come out on Friday between 5pm and 7:30pm to hear free music in a beautiful setting. The American Folk Art Museum is located at 45 W. 53rd St. between 5th and 6th Ave.
Come on out to Bar4 on Friday December 14th for a free show with me (Jessi) at 8pm, Tanya Buziak at 9pm, and No Lindsay at 10pm. This is the last night of our Electro-Acoustic residency and my last show for the lovely year of 2007. Bring on 2008!
Mark it down on your calendars folks! Friday November 9th is my birthday. You know, the first year I spent in NY I had the worst birthday ever. EVER! So to make up for it, I've been having bigger and awesomer (not a word, I know) parties every year, at my favorite drink oasis, Bar4. This year promises to be intense, entertaining, and EVEN AWESOMER!
Lots of my favorite artists will be sharing a few songs each, including:
The Ericksons Gemma Connell Matt Cranstoun Peter Inc Jeff Jacobson Sean Ellick Matt Singer Paul Basile Ivan Sandomire Sean Han No Lindsay Sami Akbari Joe Wilson Andy Mac Bryan Dunn Wakey! Wakey! Tanya Buziak Tarrah Reynolds Tom Hayes Paula Valstein
This is going to be the Best Party of 2007 (according to me) and it's FREE!!! Music starts around 6:30pm and goes until the AM so prepare yourself to last all night.
Electro Acoustic at Bar4 features Jessi Robertson, No Lindsay, and Tanya Buziak. The first show is Friday October 19th at 8:30pm sharp, featuring short sets from Jessi, Tanya, and No Lindsay. Future shows will feature longer sets.
Bar4 is at 444 7th Ave in Park Slope (Brooklyn, NY). Take the F train to 7th Ave. Exit at 7th Ave. and 9th St. Bar4 is just six short blocks up to 15th St. & 7th Ave. Visit Local Correspondents for more info.
I will be playing two 45 minute sets in lovely DUMBO this Wednesday October 10th at 8pm. Take the F train to York and walk two blocks to Water St. The venue is called 68 Jay St. Bar. This should be a great night of music! See you there!
This is all getting to confusing. There's all this Jessi Robertson stuff mixed in with my blog about Indie Music Resources. Weird. As of today, I am moving all the Resource posts over to their very own blog called... da da da daaaa INDIE MUSIC RESOURCES BLOG (yes, I am shouting in excitement)!
Please be patient while I get rid of old posts and move links, etc. And thanks for reading!
Released today, five "mini-albums" of my stuff. Four were recorded by me, in my apartment. "There's glass all over the floor" was recorded by Michael Kenneth. From time to time I have put out songs for download here and there. I still don't have a CD. But now I have collected some of the best stuff from the last couple of years, and I hope you enjoy it. Songs can also be purchased individually.
"A voice that commands attention from the first line." -Performing Songwriter Magazine.
Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter Jessi Robertson grew up in a tiny upstate New York town of under 1,000 people, but eventually moved to the big city and carved out a place for herself. Her first full band studio album, "Small Town Girls," to be released in February 2011, follows that journey.
Musically, Jessi lives on the divide between gutsy indie rockers such as PJ Harvey and gritty Americana artists like Lucinda Williams. Embracing this duality, her performances can feel as intimate as a conversation, or as deep and dark as an ocean.
RIYL: PJ Harvey, Tom Waits, Mazzy Star, Ryan Adams, Fiona Apple
