Help Jessye make an album about radical JOY!

Donate at https://gofund.me/0283ce50

Hi friends! I’m Jessye DeSilva (she/they), a queer singer-songwriter, currently based in Boston, MA.

I’m asking for your help to record an album that celebrates the radical power of joy.

The project:
In 2023, I had the privilege of performing at City Winery Nashville with Jason Isbell, The Kentucky Gentlemen, Brittney Spencer, and a whole host of incredible artists to raise funds for gun control and awareness. After the show, I was reflecting with one of the coordinators of the event, Holly G (founder of Black Opry ), who said, “The powers that be can take a lot from us, but they can’t take away our joy.”

My last album “Renovations ” told the story of my own journey of self-actualization through songs about religious trauma, gender dysphoria, and identity struggles. I released the album as a form of catharsis during a time of heightened targeting of LGBTQ folks through bigoted state laws across the US.

Unfortunately, 2023/24 has only seen more of this sort of scapegoating of queer folks, and the Trans community in particular. As we continue to engage in activism for justice and liberation for all marginalized communities, we also must hold space for our grief and anger. I’ve been thinking a lot about how the joy of marginalized people - LGBTQ people, BIPOC communities, folks with disabilities, and more - is such a precious and essential act of rebellion. Since coming out as a Trans Femme, and beginning hormone replacement therapy, joy as resistance has taken on even more meaning for me.

This new album is full of songs that meditate on the idea of joy. How do we nurture and cultivate joy in the face of injustice? How do we protect our joy? What does it mean to remain present in the here and now, while holding both our joy and our grief? The album isn’t about escapism or toxic positivity, but rather, it is an ode to the fiercely-protected and mighty joy of those who resist.

I am really excited about the musical and stylistic direction these songs have taken as I’ve been collaborating with Grammy-nominated singer songwriter Aaron Lee Tasjan, who will also produce the album. As individual artists, we’ve both cut our teeth in the Americana scene, but we also passionately explore other musical influences, like glam rock, 90s alternative music, 70s folk rock, and more. My community and my joy are tapestries, and the musical landscape of this album will be no different. There will also be songs written solo, as well as collaborations with my friend Alex Calabrese (Old Tom & The Lookouts), and a song Aaron and I wrote with producer and Sheryl Crow collaborator Jeff Trott.

We will be working with some of the finest musicians in Nashville to cut this record, and plan to record live over 3 days at The Cabin Studio (Matty Alger, East Nashville).

I’ve worked really hard over the past few years to build a beautiful community of listeners and musical collaborators. As a fully independent musician with no record label, manager, or agent, I really believe that this next album can be a breakout, and potentially draw the attention of some record labels. However, the music industry these days is such that artists need to bring a label a finished album in order to be signed and backed, and I could really use the help of my community to make this music come to life.

The budget:
Now for the nuts and bolts. Where will your money go?

3 days studio rental (~$1800)
studio musicians (~$1800)
Producer (~$5000)
Mixing (~$3000)
Gofundme fees (~$350)

A call to action:
I’ve played a lot of these new songs live on the road these past few months, and I get multiple questions every night about where folks can listen to songs like “Fringe”, “Comrades in Arms”, “Eldritch”, and “Glitter Up The Dark.” I know from audience response that these are my best songs yet, and they really seem to resonate with you, so please help me record and release them into the world!

Over the next 4 weeks, I’ll be sharing some of the songs on social media, and doing some fun live concerts and Q&As, and who knows, maybe I’ll even do some cover song requests!

Join me in amplifying queer joy and resilience through music. Together, we can create an album that empowers, uplifts, and helps us thrive in the face of adversity. If 12,000 people gave me ONE DOLLAR, we could do this thing! Donate now and spread the word to help us reach our goal!

About me :
I blend theatrical pop elements with roots and Americana music to form what I like to call “Glam Folk” music. I infuse hope into songs about religious trauma, mental health, and social justice to create a uniquely queer and unholy ruckus. I’ve toured and collaborated with artists like Adeem the Artist and Lizzie No, and have had singles from my previous album “Renovations” featured in The Boot, NPR Music, and Rolling Stone.

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