“Neon Nobody” stream links here.
6 things you don’t know about me…
When I was growing up, my parents made me…
When I was growing up, my parents had me listening to classic rock music everywhere we went!! In the car, around the house – I even saw The Eagles when I was in my mother’s womb.
The first concert you attended as a teenager.
I started attending concerts at a really young age! So, my first concert as a teenager that I can pinpoint would be Van Halen in 6th grade.
One thing I use every day that I could probably live without is…
I wish I could 100% live without my phone. Social media can be such a toxic place! Technology (through social media) has become such an addiction for people now. The apps know when to send you messages, specifically asking you where have you been or how many people are engaging with your content. It’s a crazy world that I wish I didn’t have to be a part of at times.
Your go-to comfort-binge TV show.
I’m a big Gilmore Girls fan!! So, I’d say that’s for sure one of my top binge worthy shows! Team Jess always!
Your best celebrity sighting.
When Taylor (Swift) came to her mural before her release of the song “ME!” for the Lover album release…I was in utter shock!! I was walking a dog with Rover and one of my friends texted me “she’s here” – I screamed and tried to finish up my walk as fast as possible!! I had only seen her at concerts, never in person!! She was super kind to everyone she was taking pictures with and I couldn’t get any words out. I kept saying I’ve loved you since I was 12!! But, she didn’t know I was 24 at the time (haha!). I just was staring at her like a gorgeous piece of art in an art gallery. I couldn’t describe the art to you it – just was mesmerizing! And, I almost got to take a picture with her, but it didn’t happen. BUT, I know one day we will be great friends and we’ll look back on this day and laugh!
Your proudest atypical accomplishment.
Winning Netlix’s Sing On! The opportunity couldn’t have happened at a better time. I had auditioned for American Idol and The Voice many times before, so I went in with very low expectations. They loved me! I was shocked to say the least. A couple months later, they flew me to London to film the show. It was such a blast and I’m so glad I had that opportunity.
12 songs that have influenced my life and career…
These songs are in no particular order because that would just be so so so hard to do!!
Tina Turner “Proud Mary”
I grew up listening to Tina with my Grandmier. We always talked about how fabulous she was and how Tina’s energy was contagious. This song meant a lot to me then and it still means a lot to me now. My dad surprised me for my birthday one year and took me to see her live in concert for her farewell tour. She was incredible!!
Shania Twain “Don’t Be Stupid”
My sisters and I LOVED Shania! Her Come On Over album was everything to us. We made up dances, pretended we knew all the words and loved to sing along. We saw her in concert at the Houston Rodeo in the late 90s and I remember her taking a fan up on stage. Her violinist, ironically also named Allison, took a Polaroid picture of them together. I wished one day that would be me up there! My sisters and I are seeing Shania in Vegas this December. We are PUMPED!!
Taylor Swift “Fearless”
If you didn’t catch my drift on my love for Taylor, well then let me just dip my toes into the water for a second. Taylor changed the way I looked at music before because she was close in age to me. I felt like I related to her writing in so many ways! From taking a deep breathe walking into the doors on the first day of high school, wishing that boy I was close with knew I liked him (but knew he didn’t like me), and tales of what I thought looked like falling in love. Taylor had me wrapped around her finger and it was awesome. I have been to every concert, every CD release at target and made so many “Swiftie” friends that I’ve lost count. Taylor is a gem and a big reason I’m following this journey today.
Miranda Lambert “The House That Built Me”
In middle school, one of my closest friends was moving away to North Carolina and it was devastating to me. I rewrote this song with lyrics about our friendship and I couldn’t even sing it through without crying. I loved to change the words to songs since I was 8 years old! My summer camp would have a competition called “Sing-Song” where we’d do just that. And let me tell you…. My best friend and I would have songs prepared BEFORE we got to camp and would pitch them to our cabin. Miranda is a powerhouse singer in country music and I look up to her in so many ways! I’d LOVE to sing at her new bar downtown Casa Rosa. I’m speaking it into existence…
Kacey Musgraves “Merry Go Round”
When this song came out on the radio, I thought I had found the newest talent! I became a super fan instantly. Her storytelling through this song spoke to me so much and I knew I wanted to know more about her. I would tweet Kacey and I would get likes back! I really thought I had an “in” with the superstar. (PS – you need to listen to her new album!)
Avril Lavigne “I’m With You”
Like most 90s girls, I had a huge angsty Avril-stage in the early 2000s. I thought she was so cool! I knew every song, had her CDs, and would make dances to them as well. I’m With You became a personal favorite of my mom’s and I would sing it often. We almost jokingly made a music video in my grandparents backyard. For my birthday, I got to go to a recording studio and sing it with a couple other songs. I was about 7 or 8 at the time and thought I was sooo cool!!
Britney Spears “Lucky”
I sang this song when I was 5. I loved Britney. I sang her music for years!! She was the first pop star I looked up to. We had stickers of Britney on our sticker wall at home, we listened to every song and album constantly…I had many Britney hit clips as well! #freebritney
Misterwives “Coloring Outside The Lines”
I love Mandy Lee!!!! This band became a huge part of my college career. I loved their instrumentation, their lyrics, their brand. I swallowed it whole and never looked back! They’re absolute rock stars and great musicians. I met Mandy after a show of theirs and she told me to send over my music if I ever wanted to open for them. How cool is that?? She’s a firecracker and I’m just so lucky to be one of their fans!
Maggie Rogers “Love You For A Long Time”
Have you seen this woman perform? It is MAGICAL! Her voice, phenomenal. Her style, impeccable. Her songwriting and producing, incredible. She is a vision and I am so lucky I have been able to see her live!! Maggie came into my musical ears in college and I’m so happy she did!
Elton John “Crocodile Rock”
I remember staying at my aunt and uncle’s house in Atlanta when I was 9 or 10. We left the TV on when we went to sleep and I woke up in the middle of the night to an Elton John concert on TV. It just happened to be “Crocodile Rock” which then turned into “Saturday Night’s Alright” – I was just dancing in front of the TV watching him kill it! It moved me and I think there’s a reason that memory is still so vivid to me today.
Whitney Houston “I Wanna Dance With Somebody”
No way would I be singing this at a karaoke bar! You can’t sing Whitney! You just can’t! I grew up listening to this song at my summer camp and then won a game show by singing this song. I think this song brings people joy and I love that so much. Music can transport you any way you’d like, any mood you like, and that’s so amazing. This song is a classic. It will forever be the song on my mind!
The Beatles “Something”
Across The Universe, the film, was an incredible cinematography masterpiece in my eyes while I was in high school. Jim Sturgess became one of my favorite actors from this film and when he sings this song there is so much emotion behind every word. I loved this song before the movie came out but this showed me how easy it is to love a cover song more than the original. I love love love his rendition of it and this will forever be one of my favorite songs.
Allison Asarch
