Journey through the captivating music of Jasmine McMorran as she shares her inspiring stories and artistic evolution, touching hearts and minds with her soul-stirring compositions. Explore her upcoming projects and dreams for the future.
Jasmine McMorran © 2023
Today we have the pleasure to have Jasmine on Gothead !
GH: Hi Jasmine, Welcome! What inspired you to start writing music at a young age?
Jasmine: First, thank you so much for taking the time to discuss my music with me. I can remember asking my parents for a tie-dye guitar I found in a local store when I was around 8 years old. Before that, I had been learning the piano and violin since I was 4 years old. Music was a part of me for as long as I can remember. There were countless nights I would be in the backseat while my parents drove me and my sister around town and to airports, and I can remember bands like U2 and Moby booming on the stereo. A lot of my music influences come from that time period — I credit my parents for not only listening to the mainstream, but my family also being fascinated with the underground music scene. When I began to write music shortly after receiving my first guitar, the small tie-dye novelty, I had also been navigating through a lot of early hardships. Turning to music was the greatest therapy. Being able to put all the emotions and recollections to chords and lyrics on a piece of printer paper was electrifying. It is in times when you have a difficult time talking about certain experiences, in which the music speaks for you, and others. As I navigated through my teen years, music became an even greater part of myself as both an artist and person. I later began to gain experience in performing live with a cover band. Times collaborating and sharing music certainly helped me to feel a sense of belonging and direction in life. From the moment I picked up my guitar, I knew this was what I wanted to do. Ever since, I’ve been inspired to continue writing and releasing music, such as my latest single, “For You.”
GH: Can you tell us more about your experience performing live at gigs and open mics during your college years?
Jasmine: When I first began college, that was another turning point for myself as an artist. As I began to perform solo as a singer/songwriter, I would have to overcome a lot of hurdles, such as stage fright and setting up equipment as a one gal band. In sharing my demos with fellow students, I realized that there was a place for me in the music industry. I was told during these times that it would be important to work on my brand as an artist: who would be my audience? Navigating through music and my studies at college was a delicate balance, in which I would often record my demos in the laundry room in my residence hall. There were times students would walk in to pick up their laundry, and I would step outside into the hallway to finish my vocals. My first song, “A Final Prayer (Left Behind),” was recorded in this very space, and it gained around 200 plays in the first year. I took it down the following year when I recorded the song professionally in Los Angeles. For me, college was a stepping stone when it came to independence, and planning out my dream career. When I transferred to another college closer to NYC, I would join songwriting clubs and perform live sets at the university’s coffee shop. In beginning to present my songs, there was a budding confidence and reassurance that I was capable of being an artist. The question would be, how could I one day perform at Madison Square Garden? As I continue to practice my craft and evolve as an artist, I remain motivated and determined to one day have that dream become a reality.
GH: How did you land a meeting at a record label, and what impact did it have on your career?
Jasmine: It was in my first year of college, while I was working on demos and performing live with fellow students, that I had the idea to create a page on Instagram to share covers of my favorite songs. I would make 1-minute videos of my spin on hits such as “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac, “Bellyache” by Billie Eilish, “Linger” by the Cranberries, “Breaking Down” by Florence + the Machine, among other legendary artists. One afternoon after class, I received a notification on my phone that someone had direct messaged me on Instagram. Shawn Campbell, a producer who had scouted Cody Simpson, had miraculously found one of my covers and was interested in learning more about myself as an artist, as well as whether I had any upcoming music. Campbell became my mentor, and by the summer, we came up with a plan. I would fly to Los Angeles and meet him at Clear Lake Recording Studios to bring my demos, such as "A Final Prayer," to life. I had flown to Utah in the months prior and began to prepare by sending guitar stems, lyrics, and vocal ideas via email. In late July of 2019, Shawn also informed me that he got in touch with the A&R team at Warner Music Group, and they were interested in meeting with me. As I touched down in LAX, I had tears clouding my vision. Against all odds, I was facing a once-in-a-million opportunity. I would work 8+ hours in the studio during that week, putting together three demos to present. On August 13th, 2019, I woke up and said a prayer before breakfast. Whatever happened, I was grateful for the chance. Back then, I’m not sure I could ever process how momentous that opportunity was, and it went by in a flash. After I met with Shawn to record last-minute vocals, I hopped into the taxi towards Hollywood. In arriving at WMG, I had to enter through a garage and then went up a snazzy elevator to the office floor. There was a signature couch, gold and platinum records on the wall, as well as songwriters and producers going in and out of studio rooms in the fast-pace of a Tuesday morning. I met with the Vice President A&R of Warner that day. As I sat in the A&R’s office, I was both elated and nervous. I knew at the time that I hadn’t released many records, and I had no fanbase at the time. I was just beginning my journey as a professional artist, and I knew deep down, that I wasn’t quite ready. Although the demos were phenomenally produced, polished, and radio-friendly, it wasn’t the right time. Initially, it was devastating to have not received a record deal. I could have called it quits, and leave behind my endeavors as a singer/songwriter, but I picked myself back up and continued writing. Shawn would continue to mentor me, and I slowly but surely began to learn about who I was as an artist. From initially lost and unsure of myself, as the years went by, I found my sound. After releasing “All I Feel” in 2020, I began to focus more on the alternative/singer-songwriter genre. I also practiced improving my voice, and ditched the cigarettes. Through every obstacle and setback, I grew as an artist and person. Looking back on my meeting at Warner Music Group, I am so thankful that I had that experience, and at that time. Some may look at it as failure, but I see it as one of the greatest lessons of my career that jumpstarted a period of evolvement and growth. Although it may have not been the right time, it helped me to keep motivated and continue pursuing my career in the present. After a lot of trial and error, I feel a lot more sure of myself as an artist, and my music has started to reflect that as well. Yet, I remain inspired to continue on in my metamorphosis as an artist, including with working on upcoming collaborations with other professionals in the industry.
GH: What motivates you to create music and bring awareness to different situations through your songs?
Jasmine: In looking back on my life and hardships that transformed into art, I would say that one of my biggest motivations in creating is for my listeners. It is difficult to struggle in life, and not feel understood or heard. When I write about different situations, I hope to bring both awareness and a voice to what a lot of people encounter. Similarly to how music had been such a therapeutic and healing experience for me, I hope to bring that element for my audience as well. Songs such “All I Feel” bring important topics into the discussion, in ways that do not glorify these hardships, but rather bring the realities of these situations, and how they affect the person as well as people surrounding them. For one of my recent songs, “Serenity,” I hoped to also inspire my listeners not to give up, and to keep the faith that there will be better times ahead, beyond the stormy shores. For each song I write, I hope to capture something symbolic, and meaningful for my audience. With my latest track, “For You” released on July 19th, I tried to bring a certain irony in the lyrics, in what matters more: a person’s character, and who they are on the inside, or expectations by others to be “cool.”
GH: Could you share some insights into your next projects?
Jasmine: This upcoming summer and fall, I am excited to announce four upcoming tracks. Along with “For You,” I also have scheduled, “Moonlight,” on Aug. 8th, “Moonlight (Remix)” on Aug. 18th, “Crossroads” on Sept. 1st, and “A Matter of Love (Feat. GrimesAI)” on Oct. 10th. In continuing to progress and evolve as an artist, I’m especially looking forward to seeing what my budding fanbase thinks of “A Matter of Love (Feat. GrimesAI)” — I was overjoyed to have my submission approved, in which GrimesAI (an initiative by Grimes and the GrimesAI team) is featured on my track. It is very much a different genre that I experimented with, in which I added electronic elements with my usual 12-string/singer-songwriter style. Similarly, “Moonlight (Remix)” will have new elements from different genres such as Hip/Hop and Deep House/Electronica as a spin from the original rock version. I am overall so excited for these upcoming projects, and will continue to brainstorm and write more music for the upcoming New Year as well. It is with my hope, that listeners around the world, may one day enjoy these tunes. Additionally, I continue to hold onto that dream of entering Madison Square Garden, with my fans right there beside me, finding a certain refuge in my music shared. Many thanks to Frank Carrozzo and Goathead for taking the time to ask me these questions and sharing my journey as an artist.
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