Credit: jessicaharp.net

Jessica Harp is no stranger to performing. She started singing at 3 and began writing music when she was 8. At 13 she picked up the guitar, which added a new dimension to her musicality. Now, at 20, she has a full independent CD released entitled Preface and a loyal fan following. Her voice can be sweet and melodic in one breath, then powerful and driven in the next. As a songwriter her subjects vary from friendship to love to courage of the spirit. Her music cannot be defined by any one genre, but Jess, as she's known by friends and family, derives her influences from rock, blues, country and folk.

When talking about how she got started in music, Jessica immediately gives credit to her family:

"My parents have always been extremely supportive of me. They were always willing to take me somewhere to do a show, to pay for recording, and to listen to new tunes. They've always taught me to stay grounded and realistic though, which is why I continued to stay in school and work real jobs as well. But they are behind me 100%. My dad was actually the one that taught me how to play guitar. He bought me my first one, taught me some chords, and bought me a chord chart so I could learn more. He plays guitar as well, and always wanted me to learn, and I'm so glad I did!"

Jess grew up in Kansas City, MO, where she still lives with her parents and her younger sister, Annie. Early performances included talent shows and family events. She then graduated to local shows at restaurants and bars such as The Landing, the Power Plant and the Brickhouse. In the summer of 2001 she headlined Tulsa, OK's FanFest 2001.

At the age of 14, Jess released an album of cover songs, which demonstrated her amazing vocal abilities. Two years later she recorded a tape full of original music. This tape was a glimpse into her potential as a musician and a songwriter.

Jessica talks about her songwriting experience:

"I've played the guitar [since 1995]. When I was younger, I cowrote a lot more with Erik, my guitar/bass player. That was when I was first learning guitar and he wrote a lot of the music then. Now, I'm writing music by myself. It differs from song to song. Sometimes I'll be jamming on the guitar and hear something I like, and put lyrics with it. Sometimes, I'll have some lyrics I really like and sit down and make up the music by just playing around on guitar. And, it does happen, occasionally, that I'll hear a melody in my head and then sit down and pick out the music on my guitar. It varies."

In 1999, Jessica's self-titled demo CD was released, containing 4 songs: "Shortage of Angels", "Those Eyes", "Best Kind of Love" and "Roses are Red". The CD would eventually sell out and will soon become a collector's item for Jess's fans. Only "Roses are Red", a song Jessica wrote with her Dad, would make it to her latest full-length 2002 collection, Preface, available for sale online at JessicaHarp.net.

In her song "Stay" Jessica writes, "..don't care if I become a star, I just wanna play my guitar." She echos that sentiment every time she is asked what she would do if she weren't a musician. For Jess, there is no other possibilities. Music is her life and she will continue playing her guitar.