JESS YOAKUM: Jess Yoakum

Jess Yoakum

Jess Yoakum

© 2005 Jess Yoakum (783707087108)

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Singer, songwriter, and guitarist with a sound that is the right mix of soulful lullaby and coy rock... captivatingly bold lyrics, and a textured, mature vocal style. Music to bathe by.

notes

Singer, songwriter, and guitarist Jess Yoakum has intrigued audiences from Massachusetts, New Mexico and Oregon to Ecuador, El Salvador and Mexico with a sound that is the right mix of soulful lullaby and coy rock. Following with admiration in the footsteps of Patty Griffin, Yoakum currently performs in Boston as a solo, acoustic guitarist and singer but can also be found playing with the accompaniment of other local musicians. Her 3-song demo, met with high demand, and her fans eagerly await her first full-length album, released in Spring 2005.

With a textured, mature vocal style and a playful yet commanding stage presence, the 27 year-old Berklee College of Music employee has created a following nearly overnight. Yoakum's audiences are treated to captivatingly bold lyrics that dare to reach beyond the comfort zone, and she balances lines like "I watched the rage thrown at you in the kitchen" (Emily's Song), which silence even the rowdiest crowd, with thought-provoking, catchy choruses, fresh rhythms, and richly warm tones. Proudly affiliated with Move On.Org, Mercy Corps, and the Human Rights Campaign, Yoakum brushes her music with a mix of politics, confessions, and reflections that run the gambit of raw emotions.

Unique to her music is the participation of one of her special guests, Charlie Worsham, a Dobro, Mandolin, Banjo and Guitar player who reconnects Jess' sound with her southern roots. Now settled in Jamaica Plain, she has recently performs regularly at the Milky Way, Mid Way Cafe, Sky Bar, and All Asia Cafe. Current projects include collaborations with other artists in the Boston singer/songwriter scene, hosting a monthly acoustic evening at the Midway Cafe, releasing her debut full-length CD, and deepening her involvement with women's rights and GLBT organizations.


Most recently, Yoakum held a Tsunami Relief E-bay auction in conjunction with Berklee's Women's History Month Celebration. She welcomes opportunities to participate in other Boston area benefits.

reviews

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  • an absolute treat
    author: Northeast Performer - C.D. Di Guardia

    Yoakum is an almost-transparent presence in her music; she chooses to let the songs speak for themselves; her guitar and her voice serve as a vehicle for the track rather than the opposite; the results are a genuine and pure-sounding recording that is an absolute treat.

  • 100 % folk enjoyment
    author: Coffeehouse Tour - Heather Corcoran

    In her self-titled, debut release, newcomer Jess Yoakum is nothing less than pure 100 % folk enjoyment. With her soft and gentle voice, it’s an easy, pleasurable listen full of sophisticated lyrics and a very satisfying folk sound. Smooth like an autumn wind, Jess portrays a self-journey full of journal-istic songs about love, self-discovery and dreams. The passion runs thick throughout the tracks, sure to bring on daydreams. If Patty Griffin joined forces with The Sundays, the sound would be a unique style to what Jess Yoakum puts forth. Definitely an artist to watch for and one day say, “Hey, remember when...”

  • therapeutic for both the writer and the receiver
    author: Daniel Lavagna - Northeast In-Tune Magazine

    It seems we have for our ears the quintessential qualities of a fragile music box. The unpredictable power of such a contraption can only be captured through experience, making Jess Yoakum an artist who can move you without shaking you out of your seat. While bands keep turning louder and louder to capture an audience's attention, Jess Yoakum has instead focused on her power of lyrics and their rippling delivery. Not only does this get our attention Jess, but it also sets you apart. This music is therapeutic for both the writer and the receiver, all through the medium of plucked strings and vocal chords.

  • Each song a glimpse at the haunting beauty of an often unperfect world
    author: Jennifer Truesdale - Jeannie Deva Voice Studios

    Listening to Jess Yoakum is like having a conversation with an old friend - Honest, sincere and utterly unpretentious. Each song a glimpse at the haunting beauty of an often unperfect world. The simple arrangements allow Jess's heartfelt vocals and reflective lyrics to sit center stage while the additional instrumentation courtesy of Charlie Worsham (Mandolin, Dobro, Bass, Guitar and Banjo) adds a wonderful warmth.

  • Incredible sound
    author: Scott Heines

    The emotion on this album pours out right from the start. The dobro adds an awesome feel to the music, and Jess's lyrics and voice make you want more. A quality disc all the way through.

  • from the first song to the last i was left forgetting to breathe
    author: Tina Biedronski

    The essence of her music is hauntingly sensual...from the first song to the last i was left forgetting to breathe and with my soul still aching, i'm so thankful that my path has crossed with this talented woman.

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