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Hi Jesse, welcome to VENTS! How have you been?
Hi VENTS! Thanks for having me and thanks for supporting artists during this “holy-caboose-what-the-heck-is-happening” moment in time! You know, I’ve been hanging in there. To be honest, I have my good moments and my bad moments…like all of us I’m sure. I think we’re going to be unpacking this moment in time for a good long while.
Can you talk to us more about your latest single “Better Days”?
“Better Days” is my first single release as an independent artist since parting ways with my record label (which happened a couple of months ago). I was undergoing that process while simultaneously trying to stay afloat with the multiple pandemics we’re collectively experiencing. Needless to say, it has been a transitional and complex time in my life, but I am embracing this reset. I wrote the skeleton of the song over a Zoom cowrite with my new super talented friend, Jake Bass, who I just recently started collaborating with. The song poured out of me and I had an instinctual feeling to just put it out there without overthinking it (which is thee perk of being an independent artist in this current music business; the ability to just put something out there). The whole process was so natural and quick from conception to completion, and I really tried to just follow my gut. My primary quarantine goal was to strengthen my connection with my gut, so I spent a lot of time in quarantine trying to center myself, turn inwards, collect thoughts and feelings and trust the process. This song was conceptualized/written/produced/recorded/released from the confines of my 750 sq. foot apartment with the help of my collaborators, who all added their contributions in isolation. The song is an ode to this universal feeling of lockdown we’ve come to know this last year, and a testament to artists navigating their way through it.
Did any event in particular inspire you to write this song?
It was the end of summer, I had just parted my ways with my label, I was trying to get back on the saddle and put my pen to paper. I just remembered hearing the line “July didn’t bring the heat” in my head, like a whisper from the wind. I felt a nostalgia for the past days we could all be together. But things haven’t been right for a while, so more than that, I felt a longing and sense of optimism for brighter/better days to come.
Any plans to release any sort of video for the track?
A few thingy-dos in the works so stay tuned!
How was the recording and writing process? I understand the whole process was made through zoom?
Exactly! The whole thing was a bit of a learning curve for me. I’ve been using this shelter-in-place period to dial in my home recording setup and learn the ropes. I have a great copilot in Jake Bass, who is a standup guy and has a phenomenal attitude. He’s a great collaborator and he gives me the space and support to go through my crazy artistic process, which I still don’t completely understand after all of these years, but is definitely part of seeing the final idea through and can be a bit maniacal. The best moment for me was when I reached out to my amazingly talented musician friends (Ben Williams, Jeff Babko, Nick Mancini and Gene Coye) to see if they would be down to contribute to the track, and all of them were there for me in a way that was so empowering. I felt like a kid on Christmas every time I’d get those stems in my inbox. It all happened rather quickly, which felt important after coming out of a 2.5 year standstill before my previous project was released. I was like: I have this song that feels apropos to right now, I have the freedom artistically to see it through, I owe this to myself. It wasn’t a rush job, it was a naturally quick turnaround, but I also didn’t want to give myself a chance to talk myself out of releasing it (because I have many different irons in the fire right now it hasn’t been a small task to pick what the jumping off point is). I decided to go out on a wing and a prayer with this offering, which feels a bit like a musical hug to all of the people who have supported all the seasons of my musical journey.
After the major reception from your previous musical work – did you feel any pressure while putting this new song together or rather the opposite?
I felt nothing but excitement during the creation process because it felt entirely like I was doing this primarily as an exercise for myself, and I was really grateful to feel inspired again. There was a little bit of pressure when I had to take care of all of the admin stuff and I realized “oh crap, I’m my own record label now, all of this copywriting and registering and photoshoot conceptualizing and rollout planning and marketing falls entirely on me (though I’ve had a lot of help from Jake)”. I have done a lot of work on myself to both put and keep it all in perspective. It’s a fun song, it was written from an honest place, and it’s a piece of my heart at one specific moment. There will be other songs. That helped take the pressure off.
As you seek for a new direction and evolution of your music – has this proven to be an easy task or have you found any challenges?
The work for me has been in strengthening my relationship with my intuitive self. I started working with an amazing depth hypnotist, Melanie Robins, and it has been life changing. I also am sure to stay on top of therapy as well, so I try to get in touch with what I really want at my very core. It’s a work in progress. I’ve had people try to place me in a box and encourage me to be one thing my entire career. I get it, because I am a lot of different things; a singer-songwriter AND a jazz vocalist AND a composer AND my songwriting is eclectic… but I’m honestly here for all of it! I feel most fulfilled artistically when I’m in a position to allow all of these facets of my artistic pursuits to be fulfilled.
Speaking of challenges, how has the current situation with the pandemic influenced your music?
Well, I have no gigs for the foreseeable future, and thus no income. The music business is hurting, artists are hurting. It’s hard to feel inspired to create in the midst of this chaos, and sometimes it doesn’t even feel appropriate…so there’s that. But I got to the place where I felt that creating music is my way of being of service. It’s a positive contribution and it has the ability to heal and give voice to the voiceless. Again, I don’t have total clarity on anything that is happening yet. But the music started pouring out of me and I embrace the purpose I feel from doing this work.
What role does Michigan play in your music?
You can take the gal out of Detroit, but you can’t take the Detroit out of the gal. I have been immeasurably influenced by so many Detroit artists. Particularly, I wouldn’t be who I am today as a musician without all of the brilliant black Detroit musicians who have paved the way for me, mentored me, guided me and who I strive to honor.
Does the new single mean we can expect a new material – how’s that coming along?
I’ve been writing a lil’ bit 😉 It’s a weird time to release music. I don’t have a plan, I’m running on instinct here. There’s a lot of music in the can, I won’t lie.
Any tentative release date or title in mind?
All I can say is stay tuned. Follow me at @jessepalter on instagram and facebook. I post lots of teasers there.
What else is happening next in Jesse Palter’s world?
Outside of songwriting, I’ve been focusing my efforts on listening, amplifying and supporting my black and brown brothers and sisters whose lives MORE THAN JUST MATTER, and making sure I VOTE. I hope you’ll do the same. We all need to exercise our right to make a change.
