You Gotta Listen to Jessarae
Back in June, Arielle and I went to Los Angeles for our annual “Best Friends Trip” - the one we go on to attend a benefit for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (and to eat spaghetti and meatballs at Kate Mantilini, our favorite restaurant). The night after the event, my friend Stacia invited us over for dinner with her family. As a bonus, her son Jesse (aka “Jessarae”), a 14 year old singer/songwriter, was going to perform for us. Arielle and I had eaten at Kate Mantilini the previous two nights, and while it would’ve been just like us to go out for spaghetti and meatballs for a third night in a row, we decided to go to Stacia’s.
We got there and Stacia had us sit down in the living room. I had my camera in my lap because I am always the person that takes pictures. Jesse was at the front of the room with his guitar. He's gorgeous, by the way - blond, blue eyed, perfect skin. He looks like a California boy. Standing there, he just had the most remarkable stage presence. He looked so at ease. I was sort of studying him, because whenever I’ve tried to read passages from my books in front of my parents, I end up scrunching up my face, feeling awkward and weird. Then I mess up and get annoyed.
Jesse introduced his first song, called “Uh-Oh.” He told us to snap to the beat, which was very challenging for me, because I’m not the best snapper and I have NO rhythm (of course, Arielle is good at both of those things). Then he started singing. I sat forward, on the edge of my seat. I forgot all about my camera. Jesse was so good. He was beyond good: his voice was amazing, and he never wavered. It made me cry, even though “Uh-Oh” is very upbeat and not at all sad. Jesse sang about six or seven songs, and each one was better than the last. Arielle and I kept turning to each other, our eyes wide with wonder. We were certain Jesse was going to be the next big thing. Afterwards, we told Stacia that we would always remember it, and that we'd soon be bragging about getting a private concert by Jessarae.
Stacia and Jesse are in New York this week. Jesse is doing this thing for the next 20 weeks, posting a new video on YouTube every Tuesday. I turned my 14 year old niece, Nicki, onto Jesse's music, and I've been sending her the videos. Yesterday he recorded the video for week 2, and I got to watch. It looks like he’s in a studio, but really he was just sitting on the couch in their hotel room. He did a cover of D’yer Mak’er, and I think it’s the best version I’ve ever heard -- but you don't have to take my word for it; you can watch it here. (And this is the video for week 1 - a Jack Johnson song.)
Of course I had my camera with me, and after Jesse finished, I made him and Stacia pose for pictures. Here we are, Stacia, Jesse and me.
You heard it here first: this kid is going to be way famous. If you want to hear more from Jessarae, you can visit his website.
We got there and Stacia had us sit down in the living room. I had my camera in my lap because I am always the person that takes pictures. Jesse was at the front of the room with his guitar. He's gorgeous, by the way - blond, blue eyed, perfect skin. He looks like a California boy. Standing there, he just had the most remarkable stage presence. He looked so at ease. I was sort of studying him, because whenever I’ve tried to read passages from my books in front of my parents, I end up scrunching up my face, feeling awkward and weird. Then I mess up and get annoyed.
Jesse introduced his first song, called “Uh-Oh.” He told us to snap to the beat, which was very challenging for me, because I’m not the best snapper and I have NO rhythm (of course, Arielle is good at both of those things). Then he started singing. I sat forward, on the edge of my seat. I forgot all about my camera. Jesse was so good. He was beyond good: his voice was amazing, and he never wavered. It made me cry, even though “Uh-Oh” is very upbeat and not at all sad. Jesse sang about six or seven songs, and each one was better than the last. Arielle and I kept turning to each other, our eyes wide with wonder. We were certain Jesse was going to be the next big thing. Afterwards, we told Stacia that we would always remember it, and that we'd soon be bragging about getting a private concert by Jessarae.
Stacia and Jesse are in New York this week. Jesse is doing this thing for the next 20 weeks, posting a new video on YouTube every Tuesday. I turned my 14 year old niece, Nicki, onto Jesse's music, and I've been sending her the videos. Yesterday he recorded the video for week 2, and I got to watch. It looks like he’s in a studio, but really he was just sitting on the couch in their hotel room. He did a cover of D’yer Mak’er, and I think it’s the best version I’ve ever heard -- but you don't have to take my word for it; you can watch it here. (And this is the video for week 1 - a Jack Johnson song.)
Of course I had my camera with me, and after Jesse finished, I made him and Stacia pose for pictures. Here we are, Stacia, Jesse and me.
You heard it here first: this kid is going to be way famous. If you want to hear more from Jessarae, you can visit his website.