Jessie Munro
Canadian singer/songwriter Jessie Munro introduced her debut single “Under Fire” on June 22nd.
Inspired by the likes of Charlotte Day Wilson, Daniel Caesar, and Carole King, Munro unveils her Soulful R&B Pop/Rock sound through the stunning record “Under Fire”.
The debut single focuses on the pressures of social expectations and choosing our own happiness despite everything. “The intent of the lyric is brought to life with a melody that evokes that same emotion”, explains Munro.
The Los Angeles-based artist will be revealing her debut EP entitled “On My Own”, due for release summer 2018.
“Under Fire” is now available on all major streaming platforms.
Introduce yourself.
Hi! My name is Jessie Munro - I’m a 23 yr old artist from Toronto, CA.
What’s your story?
Canadian singer/songwriter living in the USA. The rest I guess is TBA.
Tell us a little bit about your childhood. What got you into music? What is your first musical memory?
A large amount of my childhood memories include music. My family listen to a lot of different artists and they have always had a big influence on my musical taste. I used to sing around the house when I was a kid, my parents put me in voice lessons early on (thanks mum and dad!). I remember I used to get them to sit on the couch before work and perform my version of a Spice Girls concert for them.
What did you grow up listening to?
My dad listens to a lot of classic rock and folk and that was always playing in the car or at home. He introduced me to bands like Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin and The Eagles. My dad and his sister are both big fans of Neil Young and Carole King, who’s songwriting I have always admired and loved.
What is the first album you’ve ever bought?
The first album I ever bought with my own money was a Good Charlotte CD “The Young and the Hopeless”. Was a game changer of an album for me, I was a big Britney, Backstreet Boys, NSYNC fan and Good Charlotte was punk rock. I remember my dad being pretty excited about it haha.
You studied music at Berklee. What did you learn from these years?
Berklee taught me a lot. It is a really interesting place, it’s like a music industry incubator. I was very fortunate to have some teachers at Berklee that made a huge stamp on my life. The classes are great but what I learned while there was how to put myself out there and advocate for myself. Some of the classes are audition based and a lot of the bands and groups that I worked with were outside of class. I think one of the really cool things about Berklee is the amount of work you put into getting involved the more you learn and grow within the community. Since moving to LA I’ve realized how many alumni are out here working and how amazing the community and the connections it builds really are.
When did you start writing songs? Do you remember the first song you’ve ever written?
I used to sing to myself a lot as a kid and write little songs to myself, but I didn’t really start writing songs and shaping the ideas until the end of high school.
You recently released your debut single “Under Fire”. What’s the story behind this single?
It’s a song about feeling social pressures to be a certain way or act a certain way and deciding to trust yourself and not sacrifice your own happiness.
I was going through a break up and was feeling like everyone around me had an idea of how I should be dealing with it and I wanted to do it my own way. I felt like I was “Under Fire”.
How does it feel to release music for the first time?
Really good! I’m really excited to finally be getting it out there and being able to share it with people is really special.
What can you tell us about your upcoming album “On My Own”? How would you describe the sound of it? What’s the message behind this record?
“On My Own” is my debut EP. It is centered around a breakup that I was going through at the time and all of the ups and downs that came along with it. The sound of the EP is made up of a few different influences but is grounded in Pop, Rock and R&B. I really wanted the foundation of the sound to be real instruments with some electronic elements. I love the sound of a full band and paired with the melodies and lyrics it felt right.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
For the most part I find inspiration from things around me or personal situations. I have a notes page on my phone that’s full of little phrases or ideas, things that happen in day to day life.
Who are your biggest musical influences?
I love this question because I feel like my answers are always changing. Right now I am really inspired by artists like Maggie Rogers and Daniel Caesar. Carole King is an artist and songwriter who I have looked up to since I was a kid and she is my biggest musical influence. I think she is an incredible songwriter and storyteller.
What appeals you the most about songwriting?
I love how relatable it is. I think it can be really easy to feel alone in a world this big and fast paced and songwriting allows people to connect with each other. It’s my favourite thing about this job.
Why do you make music? What keeps you going?
There has never been anything that compared. It has been a huge part of my life since I was a kid and there never really has been another option. I love what I do and I guess that is what motivates me to keep doing what I’m doing.
In your opinion, what would make the world a better place?
Big question, with a lot of answers. Large scale I would love to see equality in women’s and minority rights and generally equal opportunity progress. Smaller scale I think things like avoiding cell phones at dinner, opening a door for a stranger and keeping an open mind go a really long way.
What’s your purpose?
I’m still trying to figure that one out, I’ll keep you posted.
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