1 00:00:00,440 --> 00:00:01,400 Speaker 1: Music Saved Me. 2 00:00:01,560 --> 00:00:04,280 Speaker 2: You just have to show people. You have to show 3 00:00:04,320 --> 00:00:07,000 Speaker 2: them what you're capable of. Nobody is ever going to 4 00:00:07,520 --> 00:00:09,559 Speaker 2: believe in you as much as you believe in yourself, 5 00:00:09,640 --> 00:00:11,600 Speaker 2: and nobody is ever going to do as much for 6 00:00:11,640 --> 00:00:14,680 Speaker 2: you as you're going to do for yourself. And being 7 00:00:14,720 --> 00:00:16,280 Speaker 2: different is your greatest asset. 8 00:00:16,400 --> 00:00:19,840 Speaker 3: I'm Lynn Hoffman, and welcome to this episode of Music 9 00:00:19,880 --> 00:00:22,280 Speaker 3: Saved Me, where we delve deep into the stories from 10 00:00:22,360 --> 00:00:28,440 Speaker 3: musicians about their inside story, their passion and resilience, overcoming adversity, 11 00:00:28,480 --> 00:00:31,800 Speaker 3: and creating for their community. And today I'm so excited 12 00:00:31,840 --> 00:00:36,639 Speaker 3: I welcome country music singer songwriter Jessica Lynn. She has 13 00:00:36,680 --> 00:00:39,200 Speaker 3: a new music out now and has her own personal 14 00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:42,720 Speaker 3: story to share about how she almost lost everything in 15 00:00:42,760 --> 00:00:45,479 Speaker 3: her career and needed her deep connection to music to 16 00:00:45,520 --> 00:00:48,240 Speaker 3: get through those dark times and to find the light. 17 00:00:48,920 --> 00:00:50,519 Speaker 3: Welcome Jessica Lynn to. 18 00:00:50,600 --> 00:00:51,400 Speaker 2: Music Save Me. 19 00:00:51,920 --> 00:00:53,360 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for having me. 20 00:00:53,680 --> 00:00:56,040 Speaker 3: It's so great to have you on the show this morning, 21 00:00:56,360 --> 00:01:01,440 Speaker 3: or today or in the ether you're listening. We're so 22 00:01:01,520 --> 00:01:04,919 Speaker 3: grateful you're listening. Can you first start off this conversation 23 00:01:05,040 --> 00:01:09,160 Speaker 3: by telling us about yourself, who you are and share 24 00:01:09,200 --> 00:01:11,440 Speaker 3: your story about how music saved you. 25 00:01:12,480 --> 00:01:12,920 Speaker 1: Sure. 26 00:01:13,360 --> 00:01:17,400 Speaker 2: So everyone always asked me when did you decide to 27 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:20,600 Speaker 2: do music? And I never have an answer for that, 28 00:01:20,720 --> 00:01:23,520 Speaker 2: because I never made that decision. It was just all 29 00:01:23,560 --> 00:01:27,600 Speaker 2: I ever did. There was never a choice. I always 30 00:01:27,560 --> 00:01:29,920 Speaker 2: say I didn't choose it. It chose me, and that 31 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:32,600 Speaker 2: was very clear. From a very young age. My parents 32 00:01:32,640 --> 00:01:35,600 Speaker 2: said I was too three years old. As soon as 33 00:01:35,600 --> 00:01:39,880 Speaker 2: I could mumble words, I was humming and singing, and 34 00:01:40,040 --> 00:01:42,760 Speaker 2: so I started my first band when I was thirteen. 35 00:01:43,440 --> 00:01:45,880 Speaker 2: I was just a kid playing all of the huge 36 00:01:46,520 --> 00:01:50,280 Speaker 2: night rock and roll nightclubs in Manhattan, and my friends 37 00:01:50,320 --> 00:01:52,640 Speaker 2: couldn't even come see me play because nobody under age 38 00:01:52,760 --> 00:01:59,760 Speaker 2: was allowed. And I just always had this driving passion 39 00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:03,240 Speaker 2: for it. And I was playing rock and roll music 40 00:02:03,240 --> 00:02:05,440 Speaker 2: and writing rock and roll music very much like no 41 00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:07,280 Speaker 2: doubt my high school band. 42 00:02:07,160 --> 00:02:09,560 Speaker 1: Was, and we did a lot of really cool stuff. 43 00:02:09,639 --> 00:02:14,600 Speaker 2: And then when I was about nineteen, I always loved 44 00:02:14,600 --> 00:02:17,520 Speaker 2: country music. I really fell in love with the stories 45 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:20,560 Speaker 2: that country music could tell. And my dad, despite being 46 00:02:20,639 --> 00:02:24,959 Speaker 2: a New York Italian street cop, always loved country music. 47 00:02:25,440 --> 00:02:26,360 Speaker 2: So I grew up. 48 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:27,519 Speaker 1: With it on in my house. 49 00:02:28,320 --> 00:02:31,320 Speaker 2: And my earliest memory of music ever was actually Glenn 50 00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:35,440 Speaker 2: Campbell's Ryan Stone Cowboy, and so I said, you know, 51 00:02:35,639 --> 00:02:38,200 Speaker 2: my heart is telling me to do country. I really 52 00:02:38,400 --> 00:02:40,160 Speaker 2: want to make that switch. And I want to be 53 00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:43,440 Speaker 2: a solo artist because in my high school band I 54 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:45,480 Speaker 2: was writing all the music. My parents are helping me 55 00:02:45,520 --> 00:02:48,440 Speaker 2: do everything. It was really just me behind the scenes. 56 00:02:49,360 --> 00:02:53,000 Speaker 2: But it's difficult working with so many different personalities, and 57 00:02:53,200 --> 00:02:56,600 Speaker 2: they were kids that didn't have that same professionalism and 58 00:02:56,720 --> 00:03:01,079 Speaker 2: drive that I had inside of me. Well, I said 59 00:03:01,120 --> 00:03:04,120 Speaker 2: to my dad, you know, let's can you help me 60 00:03:04,160 --> 00:03:06,920 Speaker 2: record a demo? I really want to push this country 61 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:09,960 Speaker 2: music I've been writing. And he said, and he loves 62 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:14,120 Speaker 2: when I admit that. He was right. Dads and daughters 63 00:03:14,120 --> 00:03:18,720 Speaker 2: out there you can relate probably, but you know, he said, 64 00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:21,600 Speaker 2: let's try something different. You're an Italian New Yorker that 65 00:03:21,639 --> 00:03:24,520 Speaker 2: wants to do country music. Let's record something for TV. 66 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:27,440 Speaker 2: Let's try to go you know, visual in audio instead 67 00:03:27,440 --> 00:03:29,080 Speaker 2: of just audio like everyone else. 68 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:31,040 Speaker 1: And I fought with him. 69 00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:35,960 Speaker 2: I said, who's ever going to air an unknown person's video? 70 00:03:36,480 --> 00:03:39,960 Speaker 2: He wanted to film a television special. So we was like, 71 00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:42,440 Speaker 2: worse comes to worse. You have, you know, a great 72 00:03:42,520 --> 00:03:45,120 Speaker 2: live video to push your new music with He was like, 73 00:03:45,280 --> 00:03:48,040 Speaker 2: all right, I guess what do I have to lose. 74 00:03:48,160 --> 00:03:52,200 Speaker 2: Really racked up every credit card I had to pay 75 00:03:52,240 --> 00:03:55,800 Speaker 2: for a camera crew, and we borrowed a venue. We 76 00:03:55,960 --> 00:03:59,200 Speaker 2: handmade the risers for the set. I mean, it was 77 00:03:59,320 --> 00:04:04,760 Speaker 2: really a do it yourself, low budget production, and we 78 00:04:04,840 --> 00:04:07,120 Speaker 2: filmed this television special of all my new music. 79 00:04:07,720 --> 00:04:10,520 Speaker 1: Had so many issues because of the do it. 80 00:04:10,480 --> 00:04:13,640 Speaker 2: Yourself method that it didn't wind up being completed until 81 00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:18,960 Speaker 2: two years after filming, which, as life would have it, 82 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:22,240 Speaker 2: was the year that all of these major country festivals 83 00:04:22,240 --> 00:04:27,520 Speaker 2: started popping up all over the East Coast. And timing 84 00:04:27,600 --> 00:04:30,200 Speaker 2: is everything, and there's always a bigger plan and we 85 00:04:30,200 --> 00:04:33,000 Speaker 2: don't know what it is, but it always reveals itself. 86 00:04:33,600 --> 00:04:36,720 Speaker 2: And it sure did that television special, which I was 87 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:39,440 Speaker 2: kind of heartbroken about because it I just thought it 88 00:04:39,480 --> 00:04:41,040 Speaker 2: wasn't going to do anything, and it wasn't going to 89 00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:41,520 Speaker 2: go anywhere. 90 00:04:41,560 --> 00:04:42,279 Speaker 1: It took so long. 91 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:46,040 Speaker 2: I didn't have money to promote it as an independent artist. 92 00:04:46,440 --> 00:04:51,839 Speaker 2: It went nationwide on PBS. I'll never forget. We signed 93 00:04:51,880 --> 00:04:56,320 Speaker 2: up for this report reporting thing and it was like Wyoming, Montana, 94 00:04:56,480 --> 00:04:57,520 Speaker 2: Virginia is playing it. 95 00:04:57,600 --> 00:04:58,640 Speaker 1: New York is playing it. 96 00:04:58,680 --> 00:05:01,280 Speaker 2: And it just kept going and we were covering over 97 00:05:01,320 --> 00:05:05,360 Speaker 2: eighty five percent of the market with this show, and 98 00:05:05,400 --> 00:05:08,560 Speaker 2: then we got called to do all of those big festivals. 99 00:05:08,760 --> 00:05:14,760 Speaker 2: I went on tour with major, major acts and it 100 00:05:14,800 --> 00:05:16,320 Speaker 2: was just a dream come true. 101 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:17,920 Speaker 1: And that was ten years ago. 102 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:20,120 Speaker 2: And ever since then, we've been on the road and 103 00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:23,000 Speaker 2: I've been living my dream and I feel incredibly lucky. 104 00:05:23,520 --> 00:05:27,000 Speaker 3: Wow, you're just on the tail end I think of 105 00:05:27,080 --> 00:05:31,039 Speaker 3: the or in the middle of your Classic Christmas Tour, 106 00:05:31,360 --> 00:05:32,960 Speaker 3: which kicked off in Foxborough. 107 00:05:33,040 --> 00:05:34,880 Speaker 1: I believe it did. 108 00:05:36,080 --> 00:05:38,240 Speaker 3: That's such a cool thing because you pull from the 109 00:05:38,279 --> 00:05:42,120 Speaker 3: local talent pool wherever you go, and that's such a 110 00:05:42,120 --> 00:05:44,280 Speaker 3: wonderful thing that you give back to those who are 111 00:05:44,279 --> 00:05:47,800 Speaker 3: also trying to come up through the ranks. 112 00:05:48,120 --> 00:05:52,320 Speaker 2: Thank you, so, the Very Merry Classic Christmas Tour is 113 00:05:52,360 --> 00:05:53,839 Speaker 2: truly the joy of my life. 114 00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:56,280 Speaker 1: It's such a special production. 115 00:05:57,080 --> 00:05:59,719 Speaker 2: Again, this kind of just revealed itself to me and 116 00:05:59,760 --> 00:06:02,160 Speaker 2: I listen and I always look for the signs about 117 00:06:02,200 --> 00:06:03,880 Speaker 2: you know which way to go in life, and it 118 00:06:04,120 --> 00:06:09,119 Speaker 2: always kept me on the right path. And eight years ago, 119 00:06:10,040 --> 00:06:12,400 Speaker 2: well nine years ago, I should say, in the beginning 120 00:06:12,480 --> 00:06:16,000 Speaker 2: of my career, I got asked to open acoustically at 121 00:06:16,040 --> 00:06:20,800 Speaker 2: my hometown theater for a John Denver Christmas tribute show. 122 00:06:21,880 --> 00:06:24,279 Speaker 2: So I was like, oh, we never played Christmas music before. 123 00:06:24,320 --> 00:06:26,960 Speaker 2: I guess it's yeah, that would be fun. Let's try it. 124 00:06:27,040 --> 00:06:29,360 Speaker 2: So it was like a twenty five minute set we learned, 125 00:06:29,400 --> 00:06:31,560 Speaker 2: you know, like rock around the Christmas Tree, kind of 126 00:06:31,560 --> 00:06:34,560 Speaker 2: the basic Christmas songs, and I had so much fun 127 00:06:34,600 --> 00:06:37,200 Speaker 2: doing it, so I was like, let's try to do 128 00:06:37,279 --> 00:06:37,680 Speaker 2: our own. 129 00:06:38,720 --> 00:06:41,040 Speaker 1: And ever since then, this is now. 130 00:06:40,880 --> 00:06:44,919 Speaker 2: Our eighth year, it has just spiraled into this monster. 131 00:06:45,400 --> 00:06:48,520 Speaker 2: And it also is a fundraiser for Toys for Tots. 132 00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:52,159 Speaker 2: Every single show doubles as a toy drive. We have 133 00:06:52,240 --> 00:06:54,960 Speaker 2: already done over a thousand toys on this tour and 134 00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:59,360 Speaker 2: we're not even halfway through yet. And yes, something really 135 00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:01,960 Speaker 2: special about the show is that we use local talent 136 00:07:02,040 --> 00:07:05,000 Speaker 2: and each and every city that we go to and 137 00:07:05,320 --> 00:07:07,960 Speaker 2: it's really amazing to meet and work with all of 138 00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:11,160 Speaker 2: these kids, and we have family now in every single 139 00:07:11,160 --> 00:07:14,800 Speaker 2: city that we visit every year, and it's just such 140 00:07:14,840 --> 00:07:17,840 Speaker 2: a special thing. The whole tour is almost sold out. 141 00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:21,560 Speaker 3: It is it's a thing. You have created a bona 142 00:07:21,560 --> 00:07:24,280 Speaker 3: fide thing. So that congratulations. That's a big deal. 143 00:07:24,800 --> 00:07:25,160 Speaker 1: Thank you. 144 00:07:25,240 --> 00:07:27,760 Speaker 3: If you had a theme song to your life, what 145 00:07:27,760 --> 00:07:28,320 Speaker 3: would it be? 146 00:07:29,680 --> 00:07:32,240 Speaker 1: Ooh, don't stop believing. 147 00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:38,480 Speaker 2: For real? I mean, I've had a hard road, totally 148 00:07:38,480 --> 00:07:41,920 Speaker 2: independent artists, never had an uncle that worked for Sony 149 00:07:42,040 --> 00:07:42,560 Speaker 2: Music or. 150 00:07:42,560 --> 00:07:43,320 Speaker 1: Anything like that. 151 00:07:43,520 --> 00:07:47,040 Speaker 2: You know, my family is a very regular, working class 152 00:07:47,160 --> 00:07:51,640 Speaker 2: American family. We've had to fight for everything that I've 153 00:07:51,640 --> 00:07:55,240 Speaker 2: ever accomplished and just worked really, really really hard and 154 00:07:55,480 --> 00:07:58,400 Speaker 2: never you could never give up hope. 155 00:07:58,720 --> 00:08:00,880 Speaker 3: Very true, very true. And your family also, I read 156 00:08:00,920 --> 00:08:03,360 Speaker 3: plays with you in the band, your husband, your mom, 157 00:08:03,480 --> 00:08:06,120 Speaker 3: and your dad, which is amazing. 158 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:07,880 Speaker 2: It explains a lot. 159 00:08:07,760 --> 00:08:11,400 Speaker 3: About who you are and what you do. It's very special. 160 00:08:11,920 --> 00:08:12,280 Speaker 1: Thank you. 161 00:08:30,120 --> 00:08:32,679 Speaker 2: The last few years really, twenty twenty, I would say 162 00:08:32,679 --> 00:08:34,800 Speaker 2: it was a big turning point for me where I 163 00:08:34,880 --> 00:08:38,920 Speaker 2: decided to stop thinking when I was writing, and only 164 00:08:38,960 --> 00:08:44,160 Speaker 2: feel prior to that, every writing session that I had 165 00:08:44,320 --> 00:08:47,120 Speaker 2: was you know, I always tried like, Okay, I need 166 00:08:47,120 --> 00:08:49,160 Speaker 2: to write this that's going to be good on a 167 00:08:49,160 --> 00:08:52,720 Speaker 2: festival stage, or this is too long for country radio, 168 00:08:52,840 --> 00:08:55,800 Speaker 2: or this is too slow for country radio. And I 169 00:08:55,840 --> 00:08:58,360 Speaker 2: felt like I was really stifling myself. But I was 170 00:08:58,400 --> 00:09:02,320 Speaker 2: trying to fit in. And I think when I stopped 171 00:09:02,440 --> 00:09:05,800 Speaker 2: trying to fit in. That's when my career really took off. 172 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:11,200 Speaker 2: And I learned that because in the winter of twenty twenty, 173 00:09:11,400 --> 00:09:13,120 Speaker 2: since we're so busy on the road all year, I 174 00:09:13,200 --> 00:09:15,520 Speaker 2: usually take the first few months of the year to 175 00:09:15,679 --> 00:09:18,160 Speaker 2: just write. We're not on the road, I just be creative, 176 00:09:18,679 --> 00:09:21,439 Speaker 2: because it's very hard to be creative when you're running around. 177 00:09:21,440 --> 00:09:23,960 Speaker 2: I mean, we've been on three hours sleep a night 178 00:09:24,160 --> 00:09:27,880 Speaker 2: for weeks. You just don't have time to get into 179 00:09:27,880 --> 00:09:32,280 Speaker 2: that headspace. And so I started writing in a lot 180 00:09:32,320 --> 00:09:35,400 Speaker 2: of The first song I wrote was this song called 181 00:09:35,480 --> 00:09:38,720 Speaker 2: run Too, and it was basically like bon Jovi with 182 00:09:38,840 --> 00:09:44,360 Speaker 2: a country ish twist, and I remembered I had almost stopped. 183 00:09:44,000 --> 00:09:45,839 Speaker 1: Myself, like what am I going to do with this? 184 00:09:47,280 --> 00:09:49,520 Speaker 2: And then I was like, you know what, No, Like 185 00:09:49,640 --> 00:09:50,439 Speaker 2: this is really good. 186 00:09:50,480 --> 00:09:51,360 Speaker 1: I'm going to keep going. 187 00:09:51,880 --> 00:09:55,040 Speaker 2: And that was the first song that I decided to 188 00:09:55,080 --> 00:10:00,480 Speaker 2: release during the pandemic, and we made a muse video 189 00:10:00,520 --> 00:10:02,319 Speaker 2: for it that it was just me and the band. 190 00:10:02,400 --> 00:10:05,720 Speaker 2: We couldn't have anybody on set or anything like that, obviously, 191 00:10:06,240 --> 00:10:09,760 Speaker 2: and I remember loading it into the distribution company to 192 00:10:09,840 --> 00:10:13,640 Speaker 2: go out as my single for that year, and I 193 00:10:13,840 --> 00:10:15,000 Speaker 2: panicked after I. 194 00:10:15,080 --> 00:10:16,080 Speaker 1: Was like, what am I doing? 195 00:10:16,160 --> 00:10:19,000 Speaker 2: This is not country, Like, I don't know, I just 196 00:10:19,040 --> 00:10:22,600 Speaker 2: make such a huge mistake. What a weird song to choose. 197 00:10:23,320 --> 00:10:25,280 Speaker 2: But I kind of had this gut feeling about it, 198 00:10:25,760 --> 00:10:30,000 Speaker 2: and that song really changed my career. It was highlighted 199 00:10:30,040 --> 00:10:35,520 Speaker 2: by Billboard, CMT, I mean Dream Publications and Partners, and 200 00:10:35,640 --> 00:10:38,800 Speaker 2: it charted around the world and I really learned a lesson, 201 00:10:38,920 --> 00:10:41,720 Speaker 2: you know, like music is music, music that connects with people, 202 00:10:41,880 --> 00:10:44,720 Speaker 2: connects with people because it's genuine, not because you sat 203 00:10:44,760 --> 00:10:47,440 Speaker 2: there and thought about every single aspect of it. So 204 00:10:47,559 --> 00:10:50,920 Speaker 2: ever since then, Run two was really my turning point. 205 00:10:51,760 --> 00:10:55,000 Speaker 3: How did you learn to listen to your instinct? 206 00:10:55,800 --> 00:10:58,160 Speaker 1: You know? I think experience. 207 00:10:58,800 --> 00:11:01,120 Speaker 2: There were so many times start my career, in the 208 00:11:01,160 --> 00:11:03,520 Speaker 2: beginning where I didn't listen to that gut feeling or 209 00:11:03,559 --> 00:11:06,040 Speaker 2: that little voice inside about a person maybe that I 210 00:11:06,120 --> 00:11:08,440 Speaker 2: was working with, or somebody that made my stomach not 211 00:11:08,520 --> 00:11:09,600 Speaker 2: quite feel right. 212 00:11:09,480 --> 00:11:10,839 Speaker 1: When I was around them. 213 00:11:11,240 --> 00:11:15,040 Speaker 2: And I am a very intuitive person, and I think 214 00:11:15,080 --> 00:11:18,720 Speaker 2: I've learned that's never steered me wrong ever in my 215 00:11:18,760 --> 00:11:22,319 Speaker 2: whole life. So I think now I just even if 216 00:11:22,400 --> 00:11:24,400 Speaker 2: my head is saying no, no, no, that's silly or 217 00:11:24,440 --> 00:11:27,120 Speaker 2: don't do that. I don't listen. I just listen to 218 00:11:27,160 --> 00:11:28,080 Speaker 2: that feeling inside. 219 00:11:29,720 --> 00:11:33,160 Speaker 3: That's an important message for those who are paying attention 220 00:11:33,400 --> 00:11:36,880 Speaker 3: and listening to this, because I truly believe that we 221 00:11:36,920 --> 00:11:39,800 Speaker 3: all have that within us, but we can't. And I 222 00:11:39,800 --> 00:11:44,680 Speaker 3: think music has a lot brings it out just from 223 00:11:44,679 --> 00:11:48,719 Speaker 3: personal experiences. But as an independent artist that you are, 224 00:11:48,760 --> 00:11:51,880 Speaker 3: what are some of the struggles that you've faced, like 225 00:11:51,920 --> 00:11:55,240 Speaker 3: what we just discussed, and how did you overcome them? 226 00:11:55,520 --> 00:11:59,440 Speaker 2: As an independent artist's finances are always hard. Everything that 227 00:11:59,480 --> 00:12:01,920 Speaker 2: I spend, everything that I do, it all comes out 228 00:12:01,920 --> 00:12:03,880 Speaker 2: of me. I don't have some die in office somewhere 229 00:12:03,920 --> 00:12:05,680 Speaker 2: that's like you need to do a music video, Here 230 00:12:05,679 --> 00:12:08,560 Speaker 2: you go. You's ten thousand dollars, you know. But it's 231 00:12:08,679 --> 00:12:11,839 Speaker 2: kept me very driven, and it also makes me feel 232 00:12:11,920 --> 00:12:15,600 Speaker 2: very grateful and very proud because I know that I 233 00:12:15,679 --> 00:12:19,559 Speaker 2: really had to work hard for everything that we do. 234 00:12:20,720 --> 00:12:23,599 Speaker 3: It's true. Now, let me ask you this is a 235 00:12:24,160 --> 00:12:27,200 Speaker 3: rather personal question, and you can answer if you want 236 00:12:27,280 --> 00:12:29,800 Speaker 3: or not, But was I correct in reading that you 237 00:12:29,920 --> 00:12:34,720 Speaker 3: had a very serious health issue that almost took you out? 238 00:12:34,760 --> 00:12:37,520 Speaker 3: And feel free to speak as much or as little 239 00:12:37,559 --> 00:12:39,560 Speaker 3: about that as you feel comfortable with. But I just 240 00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:42,560 Speaker 3: I find it fascinating because you are forced to be 241 00:12:42,679 --> 00:12:47,000 Speaker 3: reckon with. I've seen you perform on stage. You're incredible. 242 00:12:47,080 --> 00:12:50,880 Speaker 3: People have compared you to a modern Dationia Twain, like 243 00:12:51,360 --> 00:12:54,600 Speaker 3: to the Tenth Power. I don't typically like to compare 244 00:12:54,640 --> 00:12:57,560 Speaker 3: people to other artists, but it's a pretty high compliment 245 00:12:57,600 --> 00:12:59,959 Speaker 3: because I love Shanaiah give me too. 246 00:13:07,160 --> 00:13:14,079 Speaker 2: Yeah, this was a very hard year for me physically. 247 00:13:15,080 --> 00:13:18,120 Speaker 2: So what a lot of people don't know is that 248 00:13:18,160 --> 00:13:23,040 Speaker 2: for years I was chronically ill with really bad sinus condition. 249 00:13:24,520 --> 00:13:28,600 Speaker 2: I mean, I don't think in the last probably seven 250 00:13:28,679 --> 00:13:31,880 Speaker 2: years I was on a tour that I wasn't seriously sick. 251 00:13:33,240 --> 00:13:34,400 Speaker 1: And performing. 252 00:13:34,480 --> 00:13:37,480 Speaker 2: It's funny people that do know now are like, oh 253 00:13:37,520 --> 00:13:39,600 Speaker 2: my gosh, I never would have known. I just got 254 00:13:39,679 --> 00:13:45,000 Speaker 2: so good at hiding my pain and pushing through that 255 00:13:45,080 --> 00:13:47,480 Speaker 2: nobody would have ever known but me. But it was 256 00:13:48,480 --> 00:13:51,400 Speaker 2: it was hard, and I was very afraid to do 257 00:13:51,440 --> 00:13:55,960 Speaker 2: the surgery that I needed because obviously my voice, like 258 00:13:56,000 --> 00:13:59,120 Speaker 2: in my whole life, it's very close to your brain 259 00:13:59,520 --> 00:14:05,600 Speaker 2: and you're the surgery. So it's quite a big risk 260 00:14:04,200 --> 00:14:09,160 Speaker 2: to go for for anyone, not just for a singer. 261 00:14:10,040 --> 00:14:13,040 Speaker 2: So I decided in January after a year of being 262 00:14:13,080 --> 00:14:16,120 Speaker 2: on antibiotics like every other month. 263 00:14:16,200 --> 00:14:18,840 Speaker 1: That also was destroying my stomach, my skin. 264 00:14:19,080 --> 00:14:22,760 Speaker 2: I mean, I always felt sick, wound up in the 265 00:14:22,800 --> 00:14:26,680 Speaker 2: hospital from the antibiotics. One time, I mean, I really 266 00:14:26,680 --> 00:14:28,200 Speaker 2: went through it. So I said, I have to do 267 00:14:28,240 --> 00:14:30,400 Speaker 2: the surgery. If I want to try to live healthier, 268 00:14:31,320 --> 00:14:34,320 Speaker 2: I need to go for it. So I did in January, 269 00:14:34,360 --> 00:14:36,800 Speaker 2: and it was not an easy recovery because it was 270 00:14:36,840 --> 00:14:40,680 Speaker 2: a major surgery. Actually all of my upper sinuses were 271 00:14:40,760 --> 00:14:45,880 Speaker 2: totally blocked. They were not even functional, so it was 272 00:14:45,960 --> 00:14:49,920 Speaker 2: just really hard to live like that. And so I 273 00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:54,720 Speaker 2: had the surgery a day before my birthday in January, 274 00:14:54,800 --> 00:14:58,520 Speaker 2: and then my first live performance is March first, which 275 00:14:58,840 --> 00:15:01,240 Speaker 2: technically should have been an I supposed like a three 276 00:15:01,280 --> 00:15:04,080 Speaker 2: month recovery, and that was on live TV for a 277 00:15:04,120 --> 00:15:10,880 Speaker 2: major news outlet, which was extremely stressful. So it's hard 278 00:15:10,920 --> 00:15:13,680 Speaker 2: to know exactly what happened because we think it was 279 00:15:13,760 --> 00:15:17,280 Speaker 2: kind of just a perfect storm of many different elements. 280 00:15:17,720 --> 00:15:19,960 Speaker 2: But when I started to sing and warm up my 281 00:15:20,080 --> 00:15:26,320 Speaker 2: voice for those performances, it just something wasn't right and 282 00:15:27,280 --> 00:15:29,600 Speaker 2: it was very scary for me. But at first I 283 00:15:29,880 --> 00:15:31,800 Speaker 2: wasn't so nervous because I'm like, I've been sung in 284 00:15:31,840 --> 00:15:36,480 Speaker 2: three months. Of course I'm going to feel weird. However, 285 00:15:36,520 --> 00:15:38,120 Speaker 2: when I would do my warm ups, I would notice 286 00:15:38,160 --> 00:15:41,000 Speaker 2: there was always a chunk missing, so I'd like da 287 00:15:41,120 --> 00:15:45,800 Speaker 2: da da da da dah like I couldn't. And I thought, Okay, 288 00:15:46,040 --> 00:15:47,680 Speaker 2: it's a muscle, you know. It's like you're a runner 289 00:15:47,720 --> 00:15:49,320 Speaker 2: and you haven't run in three months, and then you 290 00:15:49,400 --> 00:15:51,760 Speaker 2: start trying to sprint. It's not going to feel like 291 00:15:51,960 --> 00:15:55,200 Speaker 2: it normally does. So at first I didn't think anything 292 00:15:55,240 --> 00:15:59,440 Speaker 2: of it. And then I started feeling a lot of pain, 293 00:16:01,240 --> 00:16:06,080 Speaker 2: and I started losing my voice, like really losing my 294 00:16:06,160 --> 00:16:13,720 Speaker 2: voice and having such bad like spasms and tension where 295 00:16:13,720 --> 00:16:18,840 Speaker 2: I couldn't move my neck and something's wrong. And we 296 00:16:18,920 --> 00:16:22,280 Speaker 2: had a major tour starting in May. We were going 297 00:16:22,560 --> 00:16:25,600 Speaker 2: all over Europe, Asia, I was going on tour with 298 00:16:25,680 --> 00:16:30,400 Speaker 2: Jody Messina, a huge USA tour. We're going overseas with 299 00:16:30,440 --> 00:16:33,760 Speaker 2: the military. I had our biggest Christmas tour ever booked, 300 00:16:33,880 --> 00:16:37,240 Speaker 2: and I was panicking, and the first time I knew 301 00:16:37,240 --> 00:16:40,800 Speaker 2: something was really wrong. I was recording funny Enough, a 302 00:16:40,880 --> 00:16:43,320 Speaker 2: track off the record called I Never Said It Be 303 00:16:43,360 --> 00:16:48,760 Speaker 2: Easy and I finished that session, and during the session 304 00:16:48,840 --> 00:16:52,240 Speaker 2: I felt really bad pain in my throat, and after 305 00:16:52,280 --> 00:16:57,000 Speaker 2: I couldn't speak, and I went to the doctor and 306 00:16:57,040 --> 00:17:01,560 Speaker 2: I got diagnosed with muscle tension dysphonia, which is basically 307 00:17:01,600 --> 00:17:05,560 Speaker 2: called squeezed where. Funny enough, it's what Shanaia Twain had 308 00:17:05,600 --> 00:17:11,760 Speaker 2: when she lost her voice, and yes, and hers was 309 00:17:11,760 --> 00:17:15,240 Speaker 2: coupled with lime disease, which I also wound up having 310 00:17:15,480 --> 00:17:21,600 Speaker 2: earlier this year. So just very strange. But basically the 311 00:17:21,720 --> 00:17:25,840 Speaker 2: muscles around your voice box are squeezing so the sound 312 00:17:25,960 --> 00:17:30,400 Speaker 2: can't really come out. So this was mid March, and 313 00:17:30,960 --> 00:17:36,800 Speaker 2: I immediately went into healing mode. I thought everything is 314 00:17:36,840 --> 00:17:40,400 Speaker 2: going to get canceled. That's maybe not something that ever 315 00:17:40,680 --> 00:17:43,639 Speaker 2: totally totally goes away or can get read. Once your 316 00:17:43,680 --> 00:17:46,440 Speaker 2: muscles are kind of trained to do that, it could 317 00:17:46,520 --> 00:17:50,520 Speaker 2: always happen again. I was in voice therapy three times 318 00:17:50,560 --> 00:17:54,400 Speaker 2: a week, I was in acupuncture twice a week, chiropractic care. 319 00:17:54,680 --> 00:17:57,160 Speaker 2: I had to heat my neck. I had therapy five 320 00:17:57,240 --> 00:18:00,160 Speaker 2: times a day every day from March until. 321 00:18:01,040 --> 00:18:04,480 Speaker 1: May, and it was hard. 322 00:18:04,920 --> 00:18:07,639 Speaker 2: I really had to recover my voice from almost nothing, 323 00:18:07,760 --> 00:18:10,760 Speaker 2: all while keeping it totally hidden. I was doing interviews 324 00:18:11,280 --> 00:18:13,640 Speaker 2: like this, and right before it had heat. 325 00:18:13,440 --> 00:18:13,920 Speaker 1: On my neck. 326 00:18:13,960 --> 00:18:16,760 Speaker 2: I'm nebulizing, I'm putting steam. And then immediately after I 327 00:18:16,760 --> 00:18:19,439 Speaker 2: had no voice. I'm have to like recover. But I 328 00:18:19,440 --> 00:18:21,840 Speaker 2: didn't want anyone to know. I didn't want shows to 329 00:18:21,880 --> 00:18:25,080 Speaker 2: get canceled and didn't want to panic people. But inside 330 00:18:25,160 --> 00:18:30,000 Speaker 2: I was dying and I had to record my half 331 00:18:30,040 --> 00:18:30,360 Speaker 2: of my. 332 00:18:30,400 --> 00:18:35,159 Speaker 4: Record like that. It was a fight to the finish. 333 00:18:35,280 --> 00:18:37,879 Speaker 4: It really was how did you? How did you get through? 334 00:18:38,440 --> 00:18:40,640 Speaker 4: Did was music? Did music play a role? 335 00:18:42,080 --> 00:18:44,639 Speaker 2: Of course? To me, it was like, I've worked my 336 00:18:44,840 --> 00:18:47,280 Speaker 2: entire life for this career. I'm not going to let 337 00:18:47,280 --> 00:18:50,840 Speaker 2: this take me out. And I honestly again, it could 338 00:18:50,840 --> 00:18:53,200 Speaker 2: have been I was on very heavy steroids, which can 339 00:18:53,200 --> 00:18:57,960 Speaker 2: affect your muscles from the surgery long term steroids. Could 340 00:18:58,000 --> 00:19:00,840 Speaker 2: have been something with the intubation. It could have been 341 00:19:02,000 --> 00:19:06,640 Speaker 2: the runner not running and then sprinting and just pulling things. 342 00:19:07,680 --> 00:19:10,399 Speaker 2: It was a whole again, a combination of things that 343 00:19:10,440 --> 00:19:14,680 Speaker 2: we'll never really know. But music kept me going. He said, 344 00:19:14,680 --> 00:19:16,879 Speaker 2: I have all this stuff. I worked so hard for 345 00:19:16,960 --> 00:19:19,639 Speaker 2: all of these tour dates, all of this. I can't 346 00:19:19,680 --> 00:19:24,280 Speaker 2: lose this. I literally dedicated myself for two months to 347 00:19:24,560 --> 00:19:27,280 Speaker 2: healing in my body and my mind. And believe me, 348 00:19:27,320 --> 00:19:29,720 Speaker 2: those first shows were like is it going to be there? 349 00:19:30,640 --> 00:19:33,800 Speaker 2: But it was kind of sink or swim right? 350 00:19:33,840 --> 00:19:36,159 Speaker 3: And who was by your side during this time? This 351 00:19:36,240 --> 00:19:38,919 Speaker 3: must have been an incredibly dark time which was supposed 352 00:19:38,960 --> 00:19:41,440 Speaker 3: to be such an exciting, amazing time at the same 353 00:19:41,480 --> 00:19:42,800 Speaker 3: time it was I. 354 00:19:42,760 --> 00:19:44,959 Speaker 2: Would be posting my tour dates and would be crying 355 00:19:45,720 --> 00:19:48,600 Speaker 2: because and normally like see how I get teary talking 356 00:19:48,600 --> 00:19:55,040 Speaker 2: about it, But yeah, I wanted to be so excited. 357 00:19:56,119 --> 00:19:56,879 Speaker 1: I just couldn't be. 358 00:19:58,000 --> 00:20:02,480 Speaker 3: Well, you're persevering through the amazingly, and I'm sure a 359 00:20:02,480 --> 00:20:04,280 Speaker 3: lot of people who are fans of yours right now 360 00:20:04,280 --> 00:20:07,879 Speaker 3: are completely shocked that this is what they're hearing what 361 00:20:07,920 --> 00:20:10,600 Speaker 3: you went through, and they would never have known watching 362 00:20:10,600 --> 00:20:12,520 Speaker 3: you get out there and give it. You're all like that, 363 00:20:12,720 --> 00:20:16,120 Speaker 3: So kudos to you for figuring that out were there. 364 00:20:17,920 --> 00:20:20,600 Speaker 3: I don't even know many people that could have gone on. 365 00:20:21,960 --> 00:20:22,800 Speaker 1: Thanks. 366 00:20:22,600 --> 00:20:25,760 Speaker 2: It was a hard road, but again, my family was 367 00:20:25,800 --> 00:20:29,320 Speaker 2: so great, My husband was awesome. It was just a 368 00:20:29,359 --> 00:20:33,440 Speaker 2: lot of also mental strength even over physical like kind 369 00:20:33,520 --> 00:20:36,280 Speaker 2: of knowing like it's okay, this is not like a 370 00:20:36,359 --> 00:20:40,439 Speaker 2: permanent damage. This is just a reaction to something that 371 00:20:40,480 --> 00:20:42,159 Speaker 2: you have to get through. It was kind of like 372 00:20:42,800 --> 00:20:45,959 Speaker 2: trying to change my whole mindset into knowing that it 373 00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:48,640 Speaker 2: was going to be okay, which was also difficult because yes, 374 00:20:48,720 --> 00:20:50,639 Speaker 2: it was a very dark time and I felt like 375 00:20:50,680 --> 00:20:53,760 Speaker 2: I was so in the hole, and as the weeks 376 00:20:53,840 --> 00:20:57,160 Speaker 2: kept getting closer, it was just pure panic, which makes 377 00:20:57,160 --> 00:21:00,960 Speaker 2: you tense more tense, and it's a muscle tense disorder. 378 00:21:01,520 --> 00:21:04,080 Speaker 2: So it was just like such a hard thing to 379 00:21:04,119 --> 00:21:07,400 Speaker 2: go through and recording the record, I thought we were 380 00:21:07,400 --> 00:21:13,440 Speaker 2: going to have an entire two months to record my vocals. 381 00:21:14,040 --> 00:21:15,440 Speaker 1: I wound up having. 382 00:21:15,160 --> 00:21:19,320 Speaker 2: Two weeks before we left for the tour. I was 383 00:21:19,400 --> 00:21:22,120 Speaker 2: up till three o'clock in the morning every night because 384 00:21:22,160 --> 00:21:24,520 Speaker 2: I could only sing in short bursts, and then I 385 00:21:24,560 --> 00:21:27,080 Speaker 2: would have to heat and do steam and all this stuff. 386 00:21:27,560 --> 00:21:30,119 Speaker 2: Normally when we're in the studio I get to like 387 00:21:30,160 --> 00:21:33,960 Speaker 2: play around with the melodies, and I only had so 388 00:21:34,080 --> 00:21:37,480 Speaker 2: much voice to work with, so it was literally like 389 00:21:37,600 --> 00:21:40,520 Speaker 2: five times through the song, give it everything. 390 00:21:40,040 --> 00:21:42,320 Speaker 1: You got, and then that's it. 391 00:21:43,240 --> 00:21:46,239 Speaker 2: So I'm really proud of this record because it was 392 00:21:46,359 --> 00:21:50,879 Speaker 2: such It was such a journey making it, and I 393 00:21:50,920 --> 00:21:55,600 Speaker 2: think you can hear in my vocal how much I 394 00:21:55,640 --> 00:21:58,520 Speaker 2: gave it, you know, I really That's was also why 395 00:21:58,560 --> 00:22:01,840 Speaker 2: I decided to name the record All I Own, because 396 00:22:01,840 --> 00:22:04,560 Speaker 2: it was literally like all I had that went into it. 397 00:22:04,960 --> 00:22:09,040 Speaker 3: You gave everything. Do you believe music has healing powers? 398 00:22:09,760 --> 00:22:09,920 Speaker 1: Oh? 399 00:22:10,000 --> 00:22:13,159 Speaker 2: One hundred percent. Music has healed me. It's I always say, 400 00:22:13,200 --> 00:22:15,679 Speaker 2: it's been my best friend my darkest times and my 401 00:22:15,920 --> 00:22:21,040 Speaker 2: happiest times. And it's such an incredible connector. We've play 402 00:22:21,160 --> 00:22:24,720 Speaker 2: so many countries. I've torn over fifteen countries, and you 403 00:22:24,800 --> 00:22:27,280 Speaker 2: connect with people that don't even speak the same language 404 00:22:27,640 --> 00:22:32,040 Speaker 2: through music. It's just the most incredible healing. I've gotten 405 00:22:32,200 --> 00:22:36,879 Speaker 2: such beautiful comments and messages after shows about really personal, 406 00:22:37,000 --> 00:22:40,680 Speaker 2: like deep personal things about how much my concert has 407 00:22:40,720 --> 00:22:43,800 Speaker 2: saved them or healed them, or this particular song is 408 00:22:43,880 --> 00:22:45,120 Speaker 2: really what they needed to hear. 409 00:22:45,560 --> 00:22:47,720 Speaker 1: There's nothing like music in the entire world. 410 00:22:48,119 --> 00:22:50,639 Speaker 3: How does that make you feel when when your music 411 00:22:50,720 --> 00:22:53,720 Speaker 3: touches people in that visceral type of way. 412 00:22:53,800 --> 00:22:58,040 Speaker 1: That's so that's why I do it. It's you know, 413 00:22:58,080 --> 00:22:58,600 Speaker 1: why do the. 414 00:22:58,640 --> 00:23:01,639 Speaker 2: Christmas tour too? Being with the kids, seeing their excitement, 415 00:23:03,240 --> 00:23:05,840 Speaker 2: it's amazing. I see you thirteen year old me and 416 00:23:05,880 --> 00:23:08,080 Speaker 2: every one of those thirteen year old girls that come 417 00:23:08,119 --> 00:23:11,480 Speaker 2: on stage like that excitement and that love for performing, 418 00:23:11,600 --> 00:23:14,200 Speaker 2: and it's just the most amazing thing ever. 419 00:23:14,480 --> 00:23:16,960 Speaker 1: I'm so lucky to do what I do well. 420 00:23:17,080 --> 00:23:20,840 Speaker 3: Jessica Lynn, you have just made this one of my 421 00:23:20,920 --> 00:23:23,840 Speaker 3: luckiest days doing music. Save me for coming and sharing 422 00:23:23,880 --> 00:23:26,760 Speaker 3: your story and talking about your music and the things 423 00:23:26,760 --> 00:23:29,119 Speaker 3: that you went through. And I have to ask, is 424 00:23:29,720 --> 00:23:33,880 Speaker 3: there any message that you would give to those who 425 00:23:33,960 --> 00:23:37,000 Speaker 3: are seeking to follow in your footsteps in the industry. 426 00:23:37,040 --> 00:23:39,479 Speaker 3: I know that probably a lot of musicians and artists 427 00:23:39,480 --> 00:23:42,680 Speaker 3: get this question a lot, but more on a level 428 00:23:42,720 --> 00:23:46,199 Speaker 3: of if they face adversity, what should they do or 429 00:23:46,240 --> 00:23:48,000 Speaker 3: what would you tell them? 430 00:23:48,280 --> 00:23:53,200 Speaker 2: This sounds very cliche, but always keep going and always 431 00:23:53,280 --> 00:23:56,440 Speaker 2: be you. In the beginning, especially because I was so different, 432 00:23:57,960 --> 00:24:00,560 Speaker 2: I had so many doors, like people laughing in my 433 00:24:00,600 --> 00:24:04,159 Speaker 2: face like okay, New Yorker, Italian, no thanks, you know, 434 00:24:05,280 --> 00:24:08,200 Speaker 2: And I think you just have to show people. You 435 00:24:08,280 --> 00:24:10,679 Speaker 2: have to show them what you're capable of. Nobody is 436 00:24:10,760 --> 00:24:13,200 Speaker 2: ever going to believe in you as much as you 437 00:24:13,240 --> 00:24:15,600 Speaker 2: believe in yourself, and nobody is ever going to do 438 00:24:15,640 --> 00:24:17,080 Speaker 2: as much for you as you're going to do for 439 00:24:17,119 --> 00:24:23,399 Speaker 2: yourself and being different is your greatest asset and having 440 00:24:23,440 --> 00:24:26,040 Speaker 2: the ability to do. How many talented singers there are 441 00:24:26,119 --> 00:24:28,640 Speaker 2: out there, how many beautiful women there are out there, 442 00:24:28,720 --> 00:24:31,080 Speaker 2: that's saying, how many people that are much better singers 443 00:24:31,080 --> 00:24:34,880 Speaker 2: than I am out there, but they don't have the drive. 444 00:24:34,720 --> 00:24:37,840 Speaker 1: That I have. It's all about that. 445 00:24:37,920 --> 00:24:40,520 Speaker 2: It's about being able to get up off the ground 446 00:24:40,560 --> 00:24:42,879 Speaker 2: and you've been kicked down, brush yourself off, and be 447 00:24:42,960 --> 00:24:46,200 Speaker 2: willing to try again. That is a skill that probably 448 00:24:47,119 --> 00:24:50,760 Speaker 2: one percent of the population has truly mastered. And those 449 00:24:50,800 --> 00:24:55,200 Speaker 2: are the people that get separated from the pact. 450 00:24:55,920 --> 00:24:59,440 Speaker 3: Well, those are beautiful words from a beautiful woman, And 451 00:24:59,760 --> 00:25:02,800 Speaker 3: I'm so grateful that you inside and out. You just 452 00:25:03,200 --> 00:25:05,040 Speaker 3: and it's obvious that you spend a lot of time 453 00:25:05,080 --> 00:25:08,880 Speaker 3: with family because they keep you grounded and they do 454 00:25:09,800 --> 00:25:12,400 Speaker 3: help you to get through things. But I can't thank 455 00:25:12,440 --> 00:25:14,520 Speaker 3: you enough for sharing this time with us on music 456 00:25:14,560 --> 00:25:18,160 Speaker 3: Save Me? And what's your latest single out that people 457 00:25:18,200 --> 00:25:20,840 Speaker 3: can go listen to right now? Oh? 458 00:25:21,000 --> 00:25:24,000 Speaker 1: So, Well, the record comes out January seventeenth, which I'm 459 00:25:24,040 --> 00:25:25,080 Speaker 1: really excited about. 460 00:25:25,200 --> 00:25:29,280 Speaker 2: It's called YEP, so that's also off the record, and 461 00:25:29,840 --> 00:25:32,160 Speaker 2: the music video for Something about You is out now 462 00:25:32,680 --> 00:25:36,320 Speaker 2: and it's a tour compilation music video too that you 463 00:25:36,320 --> 00:25:38,720 Speaker 2: can see on YouTube of our euro tour this year. 464 00:25:39,680 --> 00:25:42,400 Speaker 3: Excellent. Well, thank you so much. Her name is Jessica Lynn. 465 00:25:43,160 --> 00:25:46,640 Speaker 3: Go see her, check out her music, and please come 466 00:25:46,640 --> 00:25:49,600 Speaker 3: back and see us again. And congratulations on everything that 467 00:25:49,600 --> 00:25:50,960 Speaker 3: you've achieved and overcome. 468 00:25:51,720 --> 00:25:53,439 Speaker 1: Thanks so much, thanks for having me