"Jess Jocoy : Nashville Singer-Songwriter on Finding Healing Through Music | Music Saved Me Replay

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Welcome to another episode of the Music Save Me podcast where the transformative power of music takes center stage. Today I am, well, let's first tell you I'm Lynn Hoffman, and today my guest is Nashville-based acclaimed singer-songwriter Jess Jacoy. Did I say that right? Perfect, nailed it. Okay, good. Jess creates music for those navigating lives in between spaces. I just love that. Blending cinematic storytelling with folk-rooted introspection, and it's shaped by over a decade of lost heartache and self-doubt. Now Jess's latest project has been making waves for its raw honesty and emotional depth, and it gives listeners really a front row seat to the healing process through melody and words. Whether it's her new album called The Sack Kid or her new single of the same name, Jess is proving that music isn't just a soundtrack, it is a lifeline. Get ready for a glimpse into her creative spark, how she fights against self-doubt, and the way her newest work is helping fans find hope in unexpected places. Jess Jacoy, welcome to Music Save Me. It is so nice to meet you. Oh, thank you. And likewise. I know the thing that popped out to me in that intro for you was the word self-doubt. And before we really get started, I feel like that is one of the biggest issues that holds people back. I feel like we all deal with self-doubt, and it's that kind of thing that keeps getting in the way of our own success. Yeah. You come up with excuses, and we do it to ourselves a lot, don't we? I think more so probably than the world does it to us. In a sense. I know there's going to be naysayers out there and people who say, like, oh, you should probably get a real job, you know, that kind of thing. But I think at least I can only speak for myself. I have stood in my way more times than not. That's just the honest truth. And I'm very, very blessed to have people around me, especially shout out to my mom, who's my best friend. She is really like my foundation and my roots in the earth to stay tethered and grounded and just say, hey, you know what? It's cool. You got this. And she does not hesitate to do that at any chance. So it's definitely a matter of who you get to be surrounded by or who you surround yourself with. But yeah, it's there. That self-doubt is it's always there, I think. At least it can be. It's always kind of something you're up against. But you, thanks to mom. Shout out to mom, like you said. It's huge. And like you said about people surrounding you, there are people that come into your life that you don't even realize are there to help you through things. So you have to sort of figure that out. And if you're fortunate enough to figure that out, then you move forward. For example, your story, which is pretty amazing. Oh, thank you. Yeah, no. I mean, I think even in there's music life and then I think for a lot of us, there's maybe the day job life or outside life. Even in that, I'm finding I think the older I get, you know, oh, this thing happened at work and this kind of was something I'm carrying with me in my life as a life lesson of how I can react going forward or how I can handle that situation going forward. So I think it comes with age and kind of learning to settle in and settle down a little bit in life. And I think that's kind of helped me at least is it's not perfect. You know, I feel like I'm heading in the right direction. Yes, that is that is the whole premise of this podcast is to share stories like that. So other people can see that we're more like than we're different and we can all plow through life together. I always look at it as like a rising tide lifts all boats. So if everybody helps everybody, which is kind of a really big wish, it's like world peace, but we all lift each other up. All right, we got to take a quick break and pay some bills. But when we come back, I want to ask Jess what Alan Jackson and Shania Twain had to do with the beginning of her career. But we'll be right back after this. Stick around. It's Music Saved Me. Music Saved Me. All right, well, we are back with Jess Jacoy. Let's talk about your musical journey and what first drew you to creating music. And like I said before the break, did Alan Jackson and Shania Twain have anything to do with it? You know, I think in some way the kind of foundation story for me is I've always been a singer. I've always sang since I was, you know, two years old, bringing home a baby bumblebee, you know, my first song by mom. The story she likes to tell is when she was pregnant with me, her and my dad would go fishing and she would sit for hours with just headphones over her belly, playing the dances with wolves soundtrack. And I joke and I'm like, that's probably why I love listening to like movie scores and instrumental music now. But I think that's kind of what was the earworm into the introduction for music because apart from some distant cousins, like I'm kind of the only musically, you know, leaning person in my family in this generation. I mean, the younger generations are starting to pick it up, which is cool. But it just kind of came out of nowhere. But I've always been a singer. But I think fundamentally my dad and I were super close growing up and he would drive me to school every morning and we I would make him listen faithfully to for a while. It was the up record by Shania Twain. It was like a double record because it was like a red CD and a green CD and Alan Jackson's drive for Daddy Jean like that record. And every day on the way to school, that was kind of our soundtrack. And as I got older, I remember being the Chris Daughtry record, but those are kind of like the three that really stand out in the memory. But, you know, it's kind of a little backwards. But country music, I think definitely came from my dad from a younger age. That's so cool that you threw a little doctrine in there. I mean, oh, we listen all kinds of kinds. You've got to give him the little love. I haven't heard his name in a while. It was refreshing to hear that from you. Was there a particular moment in your life just when you realized that music had the power to heal people and literally transform your life? You know, I think there's been moments before, but one moment that comes to mind almost immediately where it kind of sank in is not honestly that long ago. It was a few years back. I was playing a porch fest up in Owensboro, Kentucky. And I have one of my first songs on my record, such a long way is called Hope, such a long way. And I had played that song and I think it might have been the last song I played in the set. So I wrapped up and somebody, this young woman came up to me just like tears. She's like, I didn't know I needed to hear that song, but I needed to hear that song, you know? And it was like kind of gives me like two spuffs. Think about it just because it was like, wow, this is not just for me, you know? I think I'm I always say like I'm a steward of these songs and like I'm just here to kind of be the voice of them and pass them along. And, you know, they're not always my stories of like my personal experiences tip to toe. So finding people along the way who really resonate with them. I was like, wow, I think maybe that was written for you, you know, as serendipitous that we're getting to meet in person. So I think that was kind of a big moment for me. That is the first thing that comes to mind is seeing her and she wasn't sad, but it was just moved, you know? In a way that moved me. Yeah, she did. You touched her and she wasn't even expecting it. That's even more. Oh, the song at least. Amazing. First of all, Porch Fest, you mentioned in that I had to write it down. I had never heard of this before, but we have it here in the Northeast as well, because I've been invited the last couple of years. Yeah, it is the coolest thing ever. So if anyone listening hears about a Porch Fest coming to a town near you, go. It is so fun. Can you kind of explain what that's like? Yeah, it's so cool. I my real experience has been in Owensboro, Kentucky. So shout out. And what's so cool is you kind of build. I don't want to say report because it's not like a hoity, toyy thing. But like I played the first year on Mr. Floyd Tapp's porch, the Tapp family. It was just so kind to me. And it's so funny because they're sitting on their porch. Oh, and then you've got people out in their yard and people passing by and, you know, you look down the street. It's usually like a historic street. And people are just gathered at these different porches. Music is going on. It's really cool. And like listening to a bunch of radio stations at once. And what was so cool is like I played the next year and the Tapp family had requested me to come back to their porch. You know, so it was like, wow, that is so cool. Like just this kind of familial-esque bond that tends to come from those kinds of things from being, you know, just like a little town event that some of them are huge. I would argue that Owensboro is is pretty sizable. But I've also played in like Hendersonville, Tennessee, and they're all over. It's crazy. There are. There's one in Blackrock, Connecticut. I keep hearing a lot about that big, big, big. So if you're ever in the Northeast, you should check that out. All of them are free. So, you know, what can you ask for more of like free music and hanging out in a town? And a cool and a historic street. It's very cool. It reminds me of a radio station I used to work for in Boston. And every year we would do a free concert for the listeners in the city. And it was two days of nonstop main stage, second stage. You know, it was amazing and it was all free. That's awesome. I don't think anyone does that anymore, except Porch Fest now. Man, yeah, I don't know. And there's so much going on in Nashville all the time, but not. I can't think of anything where they like shut the town down or, you know, sometimes there will be pop up concerts on Broadway and then everybody's like, oh, the traffic. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You know, it's a given take. It is. Can I get a little serious with you for a minute and ask you if you can recall a time when music directly helped you through a difficult period? I know that you sort of picked up and left the west side of the country and moved all the way east to Nashville. Did that have anything to do with it? Not in the sense of like the loss. I mean, my my dad passed away when I was 19 from lung cancer. And that was a pretty tumultuous time just because from the time he was diagnosed to the time we lost him was about six months. So it was all pretty fast and very, very unexpected. So I wasn't in a sense. I think I was and I wasn't kind of running away from that. I had always wanted to live in Nashville. My grandparents lived in Kentucky and we would go and see them. And they're about two hours from Nashville. So at first it was go to see the grandparents and make a stop in Nashville. And then over the years it was go to Nashville and then make sure to go see Grandma and Grandpa. And it's always with this building dream that music city was where I would I would end up. Then God's honest truth, like my dad passing gave me like a bigger reason to go. And honestly, like it was a bunch of doors opening at once. So if I got accepted into Belmont University maybe a year later, not even a year later. So I had a reason to move as well to go study songwriting there in Nashville. But as for music at that time, I do remember, you know, being in the hospital with him. And there was a few songs that I would just play on repeat. One was Come Now Found by Kings Kaleidoscope, that version. Another one was Oh God by Citizens. And there was like a YouTube version I had found that was maybe not the recorded version. So it's kind of like leaning leaning on my faith a whole lot. And then the other one was Tomorrow Will Be Kinder by The Secret Sisters. Just played like I remember one night being kind of on the last night. And just playing those three songs like over and over and over in my headphones. Stretch out on, you know, three chairs put together for a bed. Yeah, it was those were probably the three songs that got me through most, especially Tomorrow Will Be Kinder. Like that song, I still will probably weep. I don't I don't listen to it as much just because I think it will get me choked up. But it's one of those songs that I think I needed. And I think it's a good comfort song. I hear you getting a little choked up now, even just recalling the story. And I just want to let you know that the exact same thing happened to me back in 2011, six months from diagnosis. And I sat with him like you and it's hard not to. Yeah, it's get that little feeling of, you know, you know. So I totally and I'm going to guess there's a lot of people listening right now that can relate to that. So too many. Yeah, too many. And it's one of the things that I don't think that we're ever prepared for in life, especially when it's a parent or a sibling, you know, very close. Yeah, it's hard. And it was it was pretty shocking. But, you know, God is good no matter what. And I don't know where people sit on their faith, but this is where I stand. And God is good. Yeah. And you have to end. Absolutely. When you know that there's something larger than us, there's sort of a comfort level in that for whatever it is to you. So I totally agree with you. Gosh, I didn't need to make you feel. I just want to lighten it up a little. Let me ask you what role does vulnerability play in your music, not just for yourself, but for your fans? And how how much do you have to be open? I think. I think there's a line. I mean, obviously, you don't want to you don't want to spill all your, you know, all your stuff in a song. But I think I'm coming to find there's a balance in that. If you keep it real, there's so many, especially with like budding technologies of AI and all this and that, where an Instagram and filters and just all of that, where it's like, you don't really know. What's real, real, you know, anymore? It's it's getting harder and harder to tell. I think if you are able to hone into maybe those little details or the harder moments, I think it's necessary. But also I've kind of found like in my past records, those were pretty vulnerable. And I tried my intention was to like have those raw moments, but keep it abstract enough that people could find their own meaning in those lyrics. Yeah. But sometimes, you know, it can get lost too. And that's fair. So I think there is definitely a line. But I don't necessarily know that I always know where it's at. Does that makes that's totally fair? And nor should you. I mean, really, if that were the case, then everyone would write hit songs. Yeah. Everyone would know what everyone was thinking and they would be able to gear it towards towards them. I think there's something special and very scary at the same time. When you're writing a song, for instance, like your own personal struggles, when you're really honing in on something that really is close to you and your emotions through those songwriting, through that songwriting, I should say that you have to let it go out there into the world to be judged. And I would imagine that obviously it's an amazing feeling when you've like that woman you described how she didn't realize that you did this song and it spoke to her like it was a personal thing directed right at her. There's something about letting it go. How do you deal with just making something art and then putting it out there to be judged? There's definitely a you have to have a strong will to be able to do that. Yeah, you know, I think for a long time, I kind of have an interesting, you know, history in the sense that I went to school and got a degree in songwriting and like learned how to commercial songwriting. But also I was, you know, I wanted to be this abstract artist and like two artists that I was really listening to a lot of at the time was Jason Isbell and Gregory Allen Isikoff, who still love those artists. I just saw Gregory Allen Isikoff and I for last at Red Rocks, you know, like he's still my favorite, but very, you know, he's very abstract and poetic in his lyricism and Isbell has that ability. Somehow he's honed in a way to make it conversational to which I that was what I was wanting to do in my lyrics. So I kind of focused more on that and not so much of how it would be received. And it wasn't until it was released listening back now, I'm like, yeah, that was probably a little out there. That was that probably didn't make sense to anybody because this is something that is so a part of me songwriting. I don't necessarily think how it's going to be received or judged. Is at the forefront of my mind. It's mostly like, well, I've been playing this song out a lot since I wrote it and I really like it, so it's going to go on a record. And hey, it's kind of in the same vein as this other song I've been working on and this one and this one. So let's just put them all on one record and, you know, put that out there. It's not until you get to like hiring the publicist or, you know, kind of doing all the things that you start to go, I hope people like this. I hope this doesn't flop. And at the same time, it's like at the back of your mind, you kind of remember, like, at least you're doing it, you know, at least you're offering people something to listen to. Granted, there's a lot of us out there doing that. But, you know, here's here's how you saw the world in this moment. And here's what you had to say about it. You know, yeah, yeah, definitely. Well, I mean, it's a very strong will to be able to do that. Like I said, it's like you said, when you get all the people involved outside of the actual process of making the song, that's where things start to get questionable. And you're like, wait a minute, these people are in control of my image and my life. And yeah, we'll be right back with more of the music safety podcast. Let's go. Our I heard radio music awards are coming back Thursday, March 26th. Live on Fox. Watch as we honor the biggest stars from all genres of music that you love listening to all year long on your favorite I heart radio station and the I heart radio app hosted by Ludacris icon, award recipient John Mellen camp, innovator, award recipient Miley Cyrus with performances by Alex Warren, Kailani, Lainey Wilson, Ludacris, Ray, TLC, Salt and Pepper and invoke. Plus, Taylor Swift makes her first award show appearance this year. It's also gold medal, Olympian, Alyssa Liu, Nio, Nicole Scherzinger, Nikki Glaser, Sombra, Weiser and more. Watch live on Fox Thursday, March 26th, Teddy Seven Central and listen on I heart radio stations across America and the free I heart app. Hey, there, this is Josh from stuff you should know with a message that could change your life. The stuff you should know think spring podcast playlist is available now. Whether spring has sprung in your neck of the woods yet or not, the stuff you should know, think spring playlist will make you want to get your overalls on, get outside and get your hands in the dirt. You can get the stuff you should know, think spring playlist on the I heart radio app, Apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome back to the music, save me podcast. Are there any themes or topics that you find yourself sort of repeatedly drawn to in terms of writing? Absolutely. Hope is a big one. Hope was a common thread in my my first record, Silver Linings, which I think is essentially synonymous in my second record, Let There Be No Despair of like my goal of writing music, generally speaking, I've tried to find a balance in that too, but like I've kind of always leaned into like, if I'm going to punch you in the gut, I should give you a hug afterwards and, you know, write a gut punch of a song, but also like don't make it such a downer that there's no nothing to look forward to at the end. And even with the story songs on this new record, I've tried to include that thematically because what is life if you don't have something to look forward to and hope, you know? So even in the bad, there's going to be good. And if something I've taken to saying is like, I'm really a big fan of like the theme of Silver Linings, you know, it's like, you're going to have the great clouds, but the sun is up there somewhere, but you've got to work for it, you know, and you've got to you've got to look for it. So I would say those are one to two things that I keep coming back on repeatedly and will probably keep coming back on. Yeah, please do, because I don't think you can do that too much. I think the more that you let people know through music or even just words that obstacles are opportunities in disguise. Yeah. And you just you have to look for those Silver Linings because they'll explain everything. Yeah. And even if you find, you know, one word I've been kind of coming back to is serendipitous, which I really love is like, even if you're going through like this tough time and everything seems like it's going to pot, you know, you come out of it on the other end and you go, I needed that. Like I had a good takeaway from that experience, even if it's hard to find on the other end, like you're going to find it eventually, even if it's years down the road and, you know, that's life. That's it's all learning. So. Well, it's really it's an amazing three fold, you know, it helps you, I'm guessing, when you're writing and helps people listening to have hope. And it's just a good thing to put out there in general, doing good, because then, you know, when you lay down at night and put your head on the pillow, you know that you've done good and you've done the best you can and you've put good things out into the universe. And yeah, that's all I want. And I'm finding a new strength in my faith, too. And so one thing I keep, you know, a little prayer and the church I work at has kind of taught me this is, you know, Lord, when they see me, let them see you. And that's all I want. And and everything else aside, the the social media, the image, the branding, this, that and the other, like at the heart of everything, let there be music that speaks well to life. So like I said, it's all learning. We're not perfect, but, you know, we're we're giving it our best college go. Yes, but I think that's just such a beautiful sentiment. How does your connection with fans influence your creative direction? I mean, obviously, you want to give them hope and help them. Is there any influence on your writing once you meet people, talk to them or? Yes and no. I mean, a lot of my songs are written. They're kind of amalgamations of different conversations I've had or things that happen in my day. So, yes, in the sense that, you know, we could be talking, like chatting about something I've got, for instance, some really awesome fans over in the Netherlands who have just been so supportive since record one. And, you know, maybe it's a conversation I had with them or a sentiment from a conversation that, you know, it's like, yeah, let's let's kind of lean into that. But so often songs for me, they they kind of tend to pop out of nowhere. You know, I'll be thinking about something or thoughts driving. I have a lot of driving thoughts. And so the songs will kind of start from there. And then it's almost like it's something else takes over and you just start thinking of rhymes and without getting too into the weeds of it. You know, it's like next thing you know, you're like, what? We have something here. You know, let's kind of suss this out and and figure out what we're talking about. And then you can find on the review little hints of like, oh, yeah, we were just talking about that the other day. So yes. Yes. Except nowadays, it's a little hard because we have the AI, which you think is like reading your mind or something because you have a thought. And next thing you know, is someone calls you or you say a name of a friend. And next thing you know, you get a text from someone. It's it's a really it's getting more difficult to separate. Yeah, it's becoming a slippery slope, especially in the creative world of what's acceptable and what's not. Yeah. I don't I don't know. I don't know where I stand on it. I know a lot of people are like staunchly against it. I don't think you should use it personally. This is so boxed, but like, you know, write your own lyrics, that kind of thing. If you're not a musician, you know, instrumentally, like if you need it to help you kind of create a track to get your point across. OK. But I have this fear that I'm going to start using it so much for just like little things that I'm going to forget how to think critically for myself. So we're trying to, you know, find a balance in that. And I'll use it more as like a search engine these days. But it's funny because I just saw a thing recently where like one of the AI guys was like, people rely on this a little too much. Like it's going to be wrong and it's it's going to lie to you or, you know, this, that and the other. So yeah, it's not Saturday morning cartoons anymore that your parents go, you know, that's not real, right? They're cartoons. You're like, of course, I know it's a car. But this is a little, yeah. And it's crazy how fast it's getting there. Yeah. You know, like we've seen movies on this and stuff. And here it is kind of coming to fruition. And we're like, we're OK with it. I'm like, OK. Yeah. Well, you know what, though? It's why we're going to need artists like yourself more than ever to because there's going to be a whole new set of situations that people are going to relate to that we're going to that you're going to be singing about. I predict this and I'm not a. You're we'll see. We're just going to see. That's all it's like a day by day. And I think at the end of the day, keep doing you. You know, that's what I'm going to do is keep doing me and you know, trying to be happy along the way. Yeah, it's good advice. It really is. And I know a lot of people are thinking about it these days. So they're you know, it's good to hear from someone who is in the business talking about their thoughts. And I I agree with you 100 percent. What advice would you give to others who may be struggling, though, with, say, mental health and issues that are looking to hope through creativity? What kind of advice would you give? I think this is going to be a long-ended response. So bear with me. I think a lot of my personal mental exhaustion, anxiety at XYZ has come from the social aspect and the pressure and the reliance put on that. You know, I think it's so wonderful that we have the opportunity to connect with people from all over the world and get to the fact that there are people in the Netherlands who like my music, isn't saying to me. But I think the emphasis being placed on the importance of those numbers and streams and view counts in relation to the caliber of art that you're creating and putting out there is becoming a little bit off kilter. In my personal opinion, you know, you see all these these videos real or not of like people getting turned down by record labels on the phone because they need at least 10,000 followers or I just saw a video. I joked to my mom, I was like, I guess I'm not getting signed by a booking agent because they want this, you know, and it's like, well, I'm playing breweries and living my best life, you know, this, that and the other kind of keeping it low key. Does that impact the kind of music I'm creating? I don't think so. But because of that, it seems to be creating a roadblock for me to advance in the industry. And so that is a stressor, you know, like that will cause me anxiety. And I go back and forth and just like trying to find that balance. If I want to move up in the world and I want to advance and grow and share my music with more and more people. But at the rate I'm going, man, how is the industry going to care? And I just think in one thing I had been told over and over again is like, A, my mom, again, my mom, she's like, who made up all these rules? Who says you can't do this, this and this? I'm like, well, it's best practice. And she's like, well, that's silly, you know, figure out for yourself. And she has always said since college, filter in what you need and filter out what you don't. And I try really, really hard and I have to work really, really hard to remember that because it is so easy to get caught up in like, oh, well, I only have this amount of followers. I only have this many, you know, monthly listeners on Spotify and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. And it's like, OK, but at the end of the day, like those 3,000, you know, 3200 people who follow you on Instagram, they're real people. They are people you have met along the way from playing live music. You didn't pay for them. They are honest to goodness, salt of the earth people who have jumped on your bandwagon and like what you do. And if that doesn't mean anything, then that's a disrespect to them. So while you may not be where you want to be in the world, A, it's probably not where you're going to be forever, you know, even though it feels like it in the moment. B, you just kind of do what makes you happy. And that's something I struggled with for a long time over the last few years. I was just not happy creating music. I was doing it because I wanted to move up in the industry. And I felt like no one was taking me seriously in the industry. And it was just like this toilet bowl of nonsense. You just got to find a way to be happy in it. And at the end of the day, how you create music and how you present it online, like they're connected. But if you're thinking about how you're going to film it first as to, you know, what you're going to write, I don't know. I just think there has to be a balance. And I think we have to remember that the internet could go out tomorrow. I won't, but I could. And at the end of the day, you're still a real human making music. And people need music in their lives, you know, so do with that, what you will. But there has to be a balance in there. I think it's incredible advice. And I had no idea there was a threshold to be represented. I mean, it's gone that far. And I'm sure somebody can clap back and go, well, that's not true. That's not true. OK, great. You know, I'm I'm looking to play, you know, listening rooms and theaters. Nothing wrong with the breweries I'm playing. But if you all want to help me out there, that'd be great. Ticket sales stressed me out as an artist of this level. Whereas like playing a brewery, like I know I can meet honest to goodness people and share music with them and they're not getting super riled up and drunk. And I think breweries are like a sweet spot for for artists to share their craft. And I'd love to play like theaters and auditoriums one day. That's kind of my goal. There's some days it feels really far away and that's OK, you know, it's all good, no matter what. You're still smiling, which which says a lot. And that's a whole other minefield that was never there before that you have to now deal with. And that's just another part of that toilet bowl that you which I love. It's a bowl of nonsense. It is, which is why I stay far away from it as much as possible. Thank you for that advice. It's really good advice. And how do you hope that your music is going to continue to be a source of of light and healing for people? You know, for me, I just want to write songs that and I hope people understand, like I just want to be real. A phrase I've said for a long time is analog in a digital world. And I just want people to know that, you know, for all of the the putting on airs, if you will, that comes with this industry, they're honest to goodness people out there. Well, I don't want to fluff myself up, but, you know, just honest people who put their pants on the same way and and aren't shy to tell you that they do. And, you know, we're out here, we're making music. We have stuff to say. We we watch the world going on around us. We listen and we write it down and, you know, we sing about it. And we have stories to tell, even if they're not my exact story from start to finish of like this happened to me last Tuesday. I think that's really important because there's so much show to the business that sometimes you wonder is like, man, is there is there room for artists like me who aren't flashy, aren't trying to make headlines with something outrageous? And sometimes it feels like no, but I just want people to know, like, we're out here and we're making music and we have stuff to to share with you. And if we can get everyone back to a culture of where we're willing to slow down just a little bit, I think we can find ourselves in a really good spot. In a lot of ways, mentally, physically, emotionally. I think we all just need to slow down because the industry, the world, like everything is fast, fast, fast, you know. And now it's like, what, if you don't hook people in three seconds with your real, like you've lost them, they're going to scroll about like, really? Three seconds? But it's insane. So I just want people to know, like, it's OK to slow down. I'm trying to slow down too. You know, I'm not perfect and I get caught up in it as well. But yeah, there's we got to make room for that. We're going to be so much happier and fulfilled as a society. I think if we just find that balance a little bit more. Yeah, I think you're you're right. And I think it's coming. I mean, I did hear recently something about schools now starting to realize, gee, you think maybe there shouldn't be phones distracting people so they can learn things and the kids are loving it. You know, they're finding after a few days that all the kids are like, wow, we're talking to our friends again instead of these silent hallways, which would blow our minds if we walk down them today. Yeah, or like the kids who are going through withdrawals of like, I need my thumb, I need my phone. Yeah. What a place, you know, somewhere along the way, the collective we has let that happen. And it's the same with the industry. We've let it get to this point so we can we have just as much power to let it get back to the other point, you know, so it's all in how we choose to wield that power. Yes, it's true. And when you have it, you do have a responsibility and there's nothing worse than someone who has that responsibility witnessing those others that have that responsibility and squandering it. Yeah, there's nothing worse than. Yeah. Can you tell me what you think it is about music that is so healing? Is it the words? Is it the melody? Is it the person? I think it can be everything and only one thing, you know, all of those things and one thing. So certain songs that just like strike me to my core. I'm going to go back to my favorite artist, Gregoriel and Isaac off, who his whole record evening machine shout out. It's one of the best records I've ever heard in my life. Sonically, it's so well done. His voice is stunning. It's just velvet coming out of his mouth. And his words, it's like sometimes there are words that they're like I said, they're kind of abstract, they're super poetic, but you'll hone in on one line and you're like, wow. I think it's I don't think it's one thing. I think it's all the things and it's just different songs have that ability to strike you in different ways. So it could be the singer, it could be the line in the song or the story of the song itself or just the way the music came across. Like, if it, you know, as long as it's giving you goosebumps, it's good. That is so true. All right. Well, I want to keep you for another hour, but I know that you are on a press tour. First, I want to give a shout out to your people because it brought you here. So you're doing something right. Oh, man, you know, can I tell you a funny story? Yes, please. A real world story. So I have a day job. I'm a barista. And when I'm not, you know, I've toured more this year than I ever have in my entire life and I've loved it. But one thing I do love about being a barista and where I work is that I get to know our regulars who come in. And so shout out to Mike with Milestone. Mike would come in and become a regular and we start chatting. And I'm like, finally, you know, what do you do for work? Oh, I'm in the music industry. And oh, what does that mean? You know, and he would tell me. And so we kind of like started striking up these conversations and like building a relationship, you know, through that. And finally, I was just like, hey, I'm getting ready to put out this new record. Like, just listen to it. Let me know what you think. If it's something you guys would be interested in, you know, never with any intention of like, I used to say this when I worked at a record label, too, like I'm not here to like sneak in a backdoor. I just, you know, if we can, if I can share some music with you and you like it, great, you know, and he ended up liking it and wanting to work together and, you know, praise God, because that would have never come if I didn't have my day job. And I get down on having a day job sometimes. So it's all like cyclical. Listen, I have a day job, too. I do voice work on the side and anything else that someone needs help with, even if it's not in the entertainment industry. So I'm there's no doubt I love it that you have a side hustle. And now it also explains your energy level. Something has to do with maybe coffee. You know, I've only had like three quarters of a cup this morning. So we're definitely afterwards. But yeah, what's funny is one of the records or one of the songs on my new record coming out is called Above Ground. And that stemmed from, again, working the coffee job. And I usually work the opening shift. So I'm there at six, we open at 6.30. And some of our first customers are like older men who come in like doing Bible studies and you get like two two sides of a coin with them is like some of them are chipper and excited for the day. And some of them are not awake yet. Yeah, I'm I always tell people like I'm two cups in by then, two and a half cups deep of coffee. Like I'm ready to go. And then you go, hey, sir, how's it going? And you get this really gruff like, well, I'm above ground. You know, it's like, OK, great. That's so. Hey, I would tell you I worked at Dunkin Donuts when I was going to high school. So I know exactly what you're talking about because, you know, I would get stuff thrown at me, you know, like, why are you so happy? What's what's going on with, you know, and then the cup of coffee and then they turn into a human. Let me be honest, when I rolled up to shout out to city brew here in Bozeman, when I rolled up to city brew, I was like glasses on PJ's on. I was like, I need a blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, please. Is that like not awake at all? Bed head, good bed head going on. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Oh my God, Jess, it's been such a pleasure chatting with you. I have I have two quick rapid fire questions for you. What song do you put on when you need to shift your mood? And I suspect I may know this because you mentioned Gregory a couple of times, but if there's anyone else that pops up to your mind. Oh, I'm going to throw you a curveball. Don Williams. I love Don Williams version of I'm Just a Country Boy, but any Don Williams song will turn my mood right around. I love Don Williams so much. Awesome. And if your life were a soundtrack, what would be the title track? Oh, this one's a hard one. This is and I'm getting nervous because it's rapid fire. Don't get sorry. If I mean like a soundtrack, just try it. You know, at the end of the day, you just got to try it. So we'll say just try it and parentheses. Don't be scared. Don't be scared. Just try it. I love it. That's great. It's it's a perfect, perfect answer and a perfect ending to what I considered to be a perfect podcast. Just because you're just amazing and it was wonderful to get to share 45 minutes of your time. Oh, likewise. Thank you so much. Thanks. And a glimpse into your life. Again, I can't stress this, but there's just so much more that people have in common that they know. And if they would get off their devices and talk to each other, they would find that out. Yeah. Yeah. I'm a big proponent of that. And as somebody who is I sit there and I scroll and I'm like, why am I doing this? I should pick up a book and then I buy books and then I get sleepy. And, you know, it's just that I'm back on the phone and I'm like, this is dumb. Just Joe Coy, Jo Coy or Joe Coy. She'll answer to both. Just don't call her late for dinner or Jeff. People at work call me Jeff and I don't. That's a long story for another podcast. Oh yeah. Well, hopefully you'll come back and visit us again and and just keep lighting up the world with your beautiful music and and your incredible voice, by the way. Check her out. Jess, Joe Coy, thank you for coming on Music Save Me. Thank you so much for having me. And the I Heart Radio app hosted by Ludacris, Icon Award recipient John Mellencamp, Innovator Award recipient Miley Cyrus with performances by Alex Warren, Kailani, Lainey Wilson, Ludacris, Ray, TLC, Salt and Pepper and Invoke. Plus Taylor Swift makes her first award show appearance this year. Metal Olympian, Alyssa Liu, Neo, Nick Colesure Singer, Nikki Glaser, Sombra, Weiser and more. Watch live on Fox Thursday, March 26th, at 8, 7 central and listen on I Heart Radio stations across America and the free I Heart app. Hey there, this is Josh from Stuff You Should Know with a message that could change your life. The Stuff You Should Know ThinkSpring podcast playlist is available now. Whether Spring has sprung in your neck of the woods yet or not, the Stuff You Should Know ThinkSpring playlist will make you want to get your overalls on, get outside and get your hands in the dirt. You can get the Stuff You Should Know ThinkSpring playlist on the I Heart Radio app, Apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an I Heart podcast. Guaranteed human.