Artist: Jaimee Harris
Hometown: Hewitt, Texas
Latest Album: Boomerang Town (out February 17, 2023)
Which artist has influenced you the most … and how?
Emmylou Harris. I got my first guitar on Christmas Day. That holiday season, every moment I wasnât at school or at church I was sitting by the stereo putting âLight of the Stableâ on repeat. I was mesmerized by Emmylou’s voice, the production, the melody, and the harmonies. I learned later in life the backing vocals are Dolly Parton, Neil Young, and Linda Ronstadt. Not only have I been tremendously influenced by Emmylou’s voice as a lead singer and a harmony singer, but also by the songs she cut. They opened me up to songwriters who laid out the road map of my own songwriting journey.
What has been the best advice youâve received in your career so far?
Itâs a tie for these two golden bits of wisdom that have been passed down to me by my partner, Mary Gauthier, who is much farther along in her career than I am.
1. Do not sign anything unless theyâre writing you a check.
2. Donât take the Ambien until the plane takes off. (I think this one came from Ralph Murphy)
What’s your favorite memory from being on stage?
The most powerful experience Iâve had sharing my music wasn’t on stage. It was sharing my songs in a circle at an incredible place in Tulsa called Women in Recovery. WIR is an alternative to prison for women facing convictions for non-violent crimes related to substance abuse. Oklahoma incarcerates more women per capita than any state in the country and this place is trying change that brutal statistic by offering twelve step recovery meetings, educational resources, therapeutic resources, and housing solutions. I had no idea that a song I wrote in early sobriety, âSnow White Knuckles,â would go out into the world and be of service in such a powerful way. Itâs opened doors for me to play in prisons and recovery centers all over the world. That song has a power so far beyond me. Iâm deeply grateful to continue to have the opportunity to share it and follow it into spaces where it can be of service.
Since food and music go so well together, what is your dream pairing of a meal and a musician?
Iâm a huge fan of Michael Fracasso. In addition to being a tremendously gifted songwriter, Fracasso is a fabulous chef. Iâve been extremely fortunate to receive a return invitation to a holiday party in Austin where tons of great songwriters (like my friend Darden Smith) and musicians (David Pulkingham is always a highlight for me) come together to swap songs campfire-style. Michael always puts together a beautiful meal for everyone and sings with us. Itâs extraordinary.
How often do you hide behind a character in a song or use âyouâ when it’s actually âmeâ?
After being a songwriter for 13 years, I went to my very first songwriting workshop in 2017. I couldnât possibly recommend it more. I wish Iâd done it sooner! It helped me to consciously access methods Iâd previously been using subconsciously and taught me a lot about where to laser beam my focus in the editing/rewriting process. I co-teach with my partner, Mary Gauthier, often now. This topic comes up often. When weâre working with a studentâs song, Gauthier points out that when a listener hears âIâ in a song, theyâre not thinking about the voice delivering the song. Theyâre thinking about themselves. I believe this is one of the most powerful tools of songwriting â singing âI,â brings the listener into the experience of the narrator, which creates an opening for empathy to glide through.
Photo Credit: Brandon Aguilar
