Interviews

Published on July 22nd, 2024 | by Dr. Jerry Doby

0

Jessica Kaela: Digging into “Collateral Damage”

Jessica Kaela doesn’t have the run-of-the-mill experiences we hear about in conversations regarding the obstacles young artists face when navigating the maze that is the entertainment industry. Jessica is a poster child for never giving up–from the run-ins with Taylor Swift’s family to the unfortunate closing of Radio Disney affecting her beginning in the industry. She recently released a new single called “Collateral Damage” which deals with the fallout from various industry-related scenarios around her and her career. It’s a story of intestinal fortitude we felt compelled to learn more about and share.

Can you tell us about your journey into music and how you discovered your passion for singing and songwriting at such a young age?

I grew up in a musical family and was always in the school choir. I would sit with my dad by the piano and we would sing songs from older artists such as Frank Sinatra. My musical journey continued with me performing in every school talent show. I remember some years I would go to the extent of getting beautiful and unique gowns to fit my performances. Alongside this, I joined many choirs, including my school choral ensemble and an international choir. Finally, at the age of 12, I joined my father in my first studio session. The producer was looking for a female vocalist on the track and I wanted to give it a try.  The producer ended up loving it so much that we decided to rearrange the song to be a duet with me and my father to be a father/daughter song.  You can now hear this song on YouTube called “Soft as a Butterfly.”  I was always a girl with big emotions and needed an outlet to express them, whether to express bullying, first love, or small high school crushes. Pouring those feelings into something so beautiful such as a song was the best medicine.

You’ve had the opportunity to perform with prestigious choirs like the HaZamir International High School Choir. How has your classical training influenced your music style and career trajectory?

Classical training helped develop me vocally and as an artist. My classical training guided me to use my voice in a healthy way, which I still use in my music today. A fun fact that some people don’t know about me is that I can actually sing opera.  My favorite opera song is “O Mio Babbino Caro.” I truly believe that without my classical training, I would not be the artist I am today. 

Your experience with Radio Disney sounds fascinating. Could you share more about how your songs made it into their playlist queue and the impact that had on your career?

My team sent my music to Phil Guerini, who at that time was the head of Radio Disney.  After hearing my music, Phil expressed immense interest in me and helped me develop as an artist. I’m sure you can imagine how surreal this felt for me being a young high school girl. Phil Guerini was one of the first people to really believe in me which helped me see the pathway to stardom. Even though Radio Disney closed down during the pandemic and never reopened, I can say that this experience gave me the confidence that I needed to continue to fight hard to fulfill my dreams. The Radio Disney experience will be something that I will always cherish.

Winning awards for your music videos and being nominated for Best Music Video at the SENE Film Music Arts Festival must have been thrilling. How do you feel these accolades have contributed to your artistic growth?

It is always an honor to win awards. The competitiveness of winning awards contributes to my artistic growth, by pushing me to be the best artist that I can be and shaping my creative edge to allow for uniqueness and individuality.

Transitioning from Jessica Zeltzer to Jessica Kaela and trademarking your new stage name is a significant step. What inspired this change, and how do you feel it represents your artistic evolution?

Transitioning to Jessica Kaela is something I was always considering doing. I absolutely love my last name, but Jessica Kaela just has a special ring to it. It’s easier to remember and feels like it fits my artistry better. Kaela is my middle name, so it wasn’t difficult for me to get accustomed to! 

Your single “Crying” released through Orchard Sony Music Collective received a lot of attention. What inspired the vulnerability in this song, and how do you hope it connects with your audience?

Every piece of music I release is a piece of my heart. This song is inspired by one of the most difficult heartbreaks I ever went through. I was in a long-term relationship, and when it ended, I felt I lost everything. This song is very empowering because it shows in the end how I remembered my self-worth and discovered love within myself  by saying, “ I’m gonna make me a promise, you gave me your reason, I guess it’s time, to be honest.” I was writing countless lyrics and notes about how broken I felt after this breakup. And when I presented them to Chauncy Jackson, the writer on the record, “Crying,” was born. This was such an emotional song for me, that I was literally crying while singing the record in the studio.  I hope this song helps people remember they are never alone, and that we all go through hard times. We all make mistakes, we all learn, and at the end of the day, the most important person we should ever love, is ourselves. 

Balancing life between RI, LA and New York must be challenging. How do you manage the demands of your career while maintaining a sense of home and stability?

Honestly, this comes easy to me. I have such a passion and love for what I do, that my music and career bring me so much gratification and joy. It hardly ever feels like work to me. It feels like I’m living and chasing my dreams.  When it is time for me to shut work mode off, I spend my time with my amazing family and friends, who support me in everything I do.  I get in work mode so intensely that sometimes when I’m with my friends and family I have a hard time turning that side off. They are used to it lol! After about 30 minutes I do get back into my fun Jessica mode.

Tell us about your new single and what is it about. 

The name of my new single is ‘Collateral Damage.’ It is about being in a toxic relationship where you give your all to someone who gives you nothing in return and how a person disrespects you in so many ways, that leads you to feel like collateral damage.

What’s the rest of this year looking like for Jessica Kaela?

My single ‘Collateral Damage,’ dropped on June 28th, which will be followed by more singles that are ready to go! I also am super excited to announce that I will be releasing my debut EP before the end of the year 😉

About the Author

Dr. Jerry Doby Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine, Media and SEO Consultant, Journalist, Ph.D. and retired combat vet. 2023 recipient of The President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Partner at THM Media Group. Member of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, the United States Press Agency and ForbesBLK.

Related Posts

M. Spano Speaks on Why This Hit’s Been a “Long Time Comin'” →

Ian Ward Talks About His “One Shot” →

Ben Bacardi: Rapper With A New York Soul →

Mark Ciani on Being in “Some Kind Of Purgatory” →