Today we’d like to introduce you to Hannah Jackson.
Hi Hannah, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I sang my first solo at 2 yrs. old. My family was in the ministry, and we traveled and sang in churches and conventions all over the country. I became enthralled with Musical Theatre in high school. I went to college focusing on vocal performance and training in Classical, Broadway, and Church music genres. I married at 19 and had my first 2 children by 23. I went through a divorce at 24, and because of that experience, I took a break from music for about 2 years. One day I felt the urge to grab my guitar and start singing what I was feeling in my heart. I was 25, and that’s when I started writing. I felt like I finally had something to say, the desire to say it, and the need for healing through creativity. I have continued to write and record my original songs ever since that day. I am a mother of 4 children, Step-Mother to 2, Grannah to one, and a Wife. I owned and operated a music teaching studio called Songbird Music Studio for nearly 20 yrs. We would teach students piano, guitar, ukulele, songwriting, and performance. The years of teaching and mentoring were by far some of my most fulfilling years in music. In 2011, one of my students encouraged me to audition for The X Factor USA. By the time it was all said and done I made it through enough rounds to be in the top 40 out of 250,000 contestants. I met Simon Cowell, who was so kind and encouraging to me. However, a 7-year international touring contract with Sony was not in alignment with my choice of being a madly-in-love with my family and everything they are doing at every second of the day gig. Some cool things happened from the experience though. I got to perform at the American Airlines Center, my teaching studio exploded, it gave me more credibility with other musicians, I gained confidence in myself and musical abilities, and Simon Cowell kissed my cheek a few times. The. Simon. Cowell! The last 12 years I have been raising my kids, writing, and recording original music of my own, co-writing with many incredible songwriters in Nashville, LA, United Kingdom, Canada, and more. In Sept. 2022, I had the most amazing opportunity to perform at the Bluebird Cafe Nashville, a song I wrote with Jeff Cohen and Serena Itto. This has been a dream of mine for years, and the welcome was so warm and encouraging. Reminiscent of receiving those X Factor “Yes, Yes, Yes, Yeses,” I felt wrapped up in the arms of some of the best in the Nashville songwriting community. It was a beautiful part of my journey as I find myself in creating art and taking opportunities to connect with people in a beautiful way. I am currently writing music nearly every day as I work on building a new project with my super-talented daughter, Faith Drake, called LILLIANNAH. Our Mother/Daughter Duo brings the Country Music heat and the sass you’d expect with a Judd’s like flair. Getting to work with my family has taken things full circle for me. It feels like a reward for staying true to myself, my Motherhood, my marriage, and my career in music. I would be so excited to get signed with a label, engage a booking agent, and have this thing rolling out on the road by 2025. In the meantime, I’m performing as often as I get the chance. You can find me building a metaphorical rocketship in my backyard music sheshed. Anyone and everyone is welcome to take off with me as we go on the adventure of catching music lighting in a bottle. See you in the sky!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
As they say, “It ain’t for the faint of heart!” Being a musician, I mean. It’s not about the destination; it’s about the journey. It takes a lot of courage to put yourself out there even when you don’t feel like you are at your best or have the resiliency to push through resistance and imposter syndrome. Art, which includes music, is judged subjectively. This can cause a lot of self-doubting and make me feel like I’m spinning my wheels in an effort to gain approval from listeners I never intended to impress. What I have learned through this process is not to make my music for reasons of fame, fortune, or the sexy fantasy of it all. Because that’s all that is…a fantasy. I’m into it because I want to use my gifts, talents, and skills to connect people to their feelings. Whether that is joy, sadness, reflection, empowerment, or big fun, I’m here for it, and so is my music. Being a Musician Mother has been a challenge. I’ve been asked before by a label, “How important is it to you that you feel like you are a good Mother?” I remember being made to feel like, at that moment, I was being given a choice to make or break my career. My answer was, “It’s everything to me, and I’m committed to proving that women can do both.” It’s not about this or the other. To me, it’s about “Both and.” Sure, it takes discipline, structure (which I had to learn to use to my benefit instead of fighting it), boundaries, a team (including my amazing Therapist), and reasonable expectations from everyone involved. I dream BIG. I want to play the Opry, and by golly, I’ll do it someday! But what some in the industry considered obstacles, I have chosen to see as my biggest motivation and teacher. Not just regarding my career but about life. I’ve discovered setting goals and taking step-by-step movements toward each one of them is the key for me. And if something is no longer bringing me joy or fulfillment, it’s ok to call a spade a spade and pivot. No harm, no foul. You can’t win ’em all, so let’s go.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a professional singer/songwriter based in Lubbock, Texas. I specialize in vocals, live performance, vocal arrangement, songwriting, and guitar. I write and perform Country music and have many opportunities in co-writing, demo singing, and fronting side projects bands to sing multiple genres. I am most proud of my music that is available online and the performance opportunities I have had so far. (Bluebird Cafe Nashville, American Airlines Center Dallas, performing with Lubbock Symphony Orchestra at Buddy Holly Hall) What sets me apart is that I can write music and also perform it strongly and professionally live.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @hjacksonmusic
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hannahjacksonmusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@hannahjacksonmusic/videos
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/hannah-eliza-jackson?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
