CURRENT MISSION

To finish my new album

ABOUT ME

I'm a musician. I hate writing about myself. So here is my bio:

"A voice that commands attention from the first line." -Performing Songwriter Magazine.

Jessi Robertson lives on the divide between decidedly eclectic singer songwriters such as PJ Harvey and gritty Americana artists such as Lucinda Williams. Embracing this duality, she pours herself unflinching into both bravery and broken-heartedness. Whether the Brooklyn-based performer has a crowd of fans leaning into hear her play from a tiny coffee shop stage, or she's busy owning an entire auditorium, every Jessi Robertson performance feels as intimate as a conversation, yet as deep and dark as an ocean.

Not an easy feat for someone who prefers to be behind the scenes. Jessi, who co-founded New York City's Local Correspondents, a vast and growing musicians' community, studied production and engineering at college, and recorded her first album in her bedroom. That 2008 release, titled 'Who We Are, What We Have Done' earned her critical recognition, and TimeOut New York called her voice "hauntingly beautiful." The album's success bolstered her profile enough to convince her it was time to release a different kind of recording.

The new studio recording, titled Small Town Girls, will be the first time Jessi appears in a recording with a full band. The lineup features Jessi's longtime friends and collaborators, including producer Chris Cubeta (Wakey!Wakey!, Harper Blynn) and guitarist Greg Tuohey (Lowry), plus a small cast of Local Correspondents luminaries who will help Jessi expand her vision from her home studio into a fully realized production.

Through Pledge Music, Jessi funded a large portion of her album through the generous support of her fan base, and she plans to donate 10 percent of album the proceeds to The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), the nationâ

PHILOSOPHY

I read a book called "My Name is Asher Lev" that talked about what it means to be an artist. The teacher in the book ultimately concludes that an artist's job is to communicate the truth as they see it, and telling a half-truth is like an act of prostitution. Although that's going a little over the top, it really struck me and stuck with me and I try not to tell half-truths anymore, even when I know the subject matter may hurt me or someone else I love.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I am new to this but plan to get more involved. I have been to a few events like the Jigsaw Soul show at Galapagos.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Completely inexperienced.

Interests

• writing
• books
• performing arts
• coffee
• shopping
• music
• teaching
• engineering

Music, Movies, and Books

Books: Asher, are you drawing pretty things
TV: Lost
Movies: Mulholland Drive
Music: Radiohead

These are just at the top of my list. Love too many to add in this box.