Meet the artist: Jessie Louise
Jessica Barnes, otherwise known as Jessie Louise, is a local San Diego artist and California native who recently released her first EP, "So Dreamy."
Where are you from? What is your background?
“I grew up in Marin, a county in Northern California, and spent most of my childhood there. I am also the middle child of three kids and grew up with my two brothers. At eighteen, I moved to San Diego for college. I am currently a San Diego State University senior graduating in May 2024 with a degree in Business.”
How did you start your music journey? How long have you been creating music?
“I started taking piano lessons when I was in third grade. I always loved being able to play around on the piano and was inspired by other people in my life who wrote songs. At eleven, I wrote my first song. I loved the whole process of writing music and continued to write throughout high school. I joined the Aztec Music Group club during my sophomore year and met my producer, Derek Chan, at one of the club meetings. It wasn't until I met Star, a family friend, that I was pushed to write and record an album. I am now 21 and released my first EP this year.“
As a San Diego local, what is your favorite part about the San Diego music scene?
“Since I moved here only three years ago, I am new to the San Diego music scene. I love that there are always concerts or music events going on. It can be in an intimate setting in a bar or a large crowd in an arena. It's always something different but exciting to be part of. I also love having conversations with artists after performances because I learn so much about their artistry and why they create. There is a lot of inspiration when seeing live performances. Amplified Studios was the first place I performed at an open mic in San Diego since moving here and it was so much fun! “
What was the recording process like for your latest release, "So Dreamy"? What has been your favorite part of creating this EP?
“So Dreamy is the first EP I ever released. I was lucky to find a great producer who understood what I wanted for my sound on this album. I wrote all the songs from the keyboard on my bedroom floor and would send the voice memos over to my producer, Derek Chan. He would then make the songs come alive in the studio, and I would record my vocals. My favorite part of creating this EP was that I could be part of every step, from writing a song on my bedroom floor to being in the studio and deciding how to track the song. Seeing how my voice memos became songs I could share was very exciting.”
What has been the most challenging part of creating this EP?
“The most challenging part of creating this EP was that I was working on it during my junior year at SDSU. Balancing college life with writing and recording a five-song EP was a bit challenging. But when the timing is right, things will come together the way they are meant to, and that was exactly what happened with my EP. I found myself writing these songs, and it all came together even though I was incredibly busy with college.”
Do you have a favorite song on your EP? If so, can you tell us a bit about it?
“My favorite song on the album is Someday / Dreamy. I wrote this song after a period in my life where not everything was happy and great. I wanted to write lyrics and have the song's sound be mundane in order to explain the feelings I went through. Although this song was meant to be about a darker period in my life, I did not want the songs to be sad. So, I wrote the lyric, "So tell me, it will be alright someday," to sprinkle in that bit of hope. The whole meaning of the song is that no matter what hard times someone is going through, someday it will be better. I wrote the "So Dreamy" interlude a couple of weeks after I recorded "Someday." The song fit with Someday and allowed me to explain the feeling of being dazed during that period.”
What has inspired or influenced you as an artist the most?
“I am most inspired by all the moments in my life. We go through so much with every life experience that it is hard for me not to write about it. I pull inspiration from the different moments I have gone through in my songs. Whether those be times of happiness or pain, it is cool that I have an outlet to write songs that touch on those times. “
If you could describe your new EP in three words, what would they be and why?
“Dreamy is the first word I would use to describe So Dreamy. This album had a dream-like feel when I recorded it, and I wanted the album's name to be obvious to the listener. It is also feel-good. Most of the songs are upbeat and meant to put someone in a good mood, even if it means just bringing some hope into their life. The last word I would use to describe So Dreamy is transporting. After I finished the album, I realized that listening to it transports you into a dream. This was not my intention when writing this album, but I think, in a way, it feels like that when you are listening.”
Outside of music, what are some of your hobbies or favorite things to do? What do you want people to know about you outside of your music career?
“Outside of music, I love going to pilates. It has been my go-to workout in recent years. I have also taken up golfing, but I could be better at it. It has been something I want to get more into so I can play it in the future. I also love spending time with friends and going to the beach. College takes up a lot of my time, especially now that I am interning at a tech startup this semester. However, I always find the time to do all the things I love.“