A life filled with music

JESSICA LORRAINE’S LOVE OF MUSIC BEGAN GROWING UP ON A DAIRY FARM NEAR NATHALIA, WHERE SHE WAS ONE OF 10 SIBLINGS AND FOUND PLENTY OF FREEDOM TO EXPLORE HER CREATIVITY.

From teaching herself guitar at 13 to building a career as an independent musician, Jessica has turned that early passion into a life centred around writing, performing and recording.

Her journey has taken her from nervous first gigs to opening for Australian music legends, with plenty more music on the horizon.

Betty & Don magazine editor Kelly Lucas-Carmody caught up with the singer to chat about her musical journey, the moments that have shaped her career and what’s next.

You grew up on a dairy farm near Nathalia and were home schooled. How did that upbringing shape you and your love of music?

Growing up in the Goulburn Valley gave me a lovely childhood with lots of creative opportunity, I grew up on a dairy farm about 10 minutes from the beautiful town of Nathalia on the Broken Creek.

I’m one of 10 siblings and was home educated, so life was very full and fun.

I grew up playing netball and soccer, lots of singing and dancing with my siblings around the house, and helping my parents around the farm.

As I got older and started out in music, I found so many great opportunities to get involved in music around the GV, most memorable was the Freeza Battle of the Bands and the Kool Skools studio program through which I recorded in a professional studio for the first time.

These are part of my earliest career memories and were great experiences that gave me a taste of what was possible with my music.

Do you remember the moment you realised music could become more than just something you enjoyed, and that you could actually pursue it as a career?

My Dad would say he always knew I could hold a tune, but it took time for me to find confidence in my own voice and to confidently say that I was a singer/musician.

My vocal tone has really developed over the years, playing as many gigs as I have has definitely shaped my voice into what it is today.

I think the first moments of realising this was something I could pursue were at my earliest gigs, realising that my voice could connect with people and resonate with them in a way that felt bigger than me somehow.

I always felt at home behind the microphone.

You’ve spoken about being nervous when you started performing. How did you overcome those nerves and find your confidence as a performer?

I had a lot of performance nerves when I started out, I would sing a song for my siblings at home and my hands would be shaking.

To get around having to play in front of people, I decided to post some covers on YouTube, which ended up getting me my first gig invite at the local bakery I worked at.

I remember being very nervous, but saying yes anyway, only knowing a few songs off by heart to sing.

I ended up playing those few songs multiple times throughout the night and felt surprisingly comfortable behind the microphone in front of a bigger audience.

I definitely had to work through those nerves as I went forward, but the desire from there to perform and pursue music was always stronger than the fear, so I pushed on and said yes to every opportunity I could from there, and that has grown into the business I have today.

Opening for Bernard Fanning and Paul Dempsey at the Ulumbarra Theatre was a huge career moment. What did that experience mean to you?

Opening for Bernard Fanning and Paul Dempsey’s collaboration project, Fanning Dempsey National Park, at the Ulumburra Theatre in Bendigo last year was a huge moment for me.

To be acknowledged by two of Australia’s most iconic songwriters, ones I grew up listening to, was definitely a stand-out moment, and it was also my first show in a theatre.

I definitely hope to play more rooms like that soon.

Who have been the people who have believed in you most along the way?

My parents have always been my biggest supporters, my Mum was my first ‘roadie’ and helped me decide what music gear to invest in when I was starting out. M Dad has also been very involved over the years wearing all kinds of hats behind-the-scenes, managing support, roadie, driver, lighting, security.

I really learned how to run my music as a business from my Dad, he was always encouraging in that my music had value and potential to make a living and to be confident in that.

My siblings are also hugely supportive, I’m lucky to have very talented sisters who offer their creativity to my projects, my sister Rachael does all my graphic design, and my sister Rebekah has helped me out many a time with videography, photos and creative vision for different songs and projects along the way.

You’ve recently released The Passenger Seat and have a new EP coming. What’s ahead for you, and what would your dream musical life look like?

The Passenger Seat is a tribute to my parents and family for all their support towards my music over the years.

It’s a country-folk song and it’s out now across all the usual streaming platforms.

My future definitely involves me continuing to make and release music.

I’ve written and recorded a new EP this year which I’m so excited to get released sometime in the new year.

With no limitations, my dream career would be writing, recording and touring my original music on a balanced schedule that allows time to breathe and live life in between, to have a loyal audience who enjoys my art and wants to be part of the journey.

Having a life full of music, family, travelling and enjoying the places I’m touring to with loved ones would be the ultimate dream.

If you could sit down with the young Jessica growing up around Nathalia who was just discovering her love of singing, what would you tell her now?

I would tell her that she has a lot of hard work ahead of her, but that it’s going to be a lot of fun and to keep going, it’ll go by so quickly.

Say no to a gig occasionally and don’t forget to enjoy life outside of music, too.

Write as much as you can and put it out there even if you’re scared. It’s okay to not be good yet (or realise you’re good yet), that’s part of the process and you should create and share it anyway.

Oh, and wear a little less eyeliner, you really don’t need it.