Meet Jessica Maeve | ‘Ukulele Artist & Singer Songwriter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jessica Maeve and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jessica, can you share the most important lesson you’ve learned over the course of your career?
One of the most important lessons that this career path as a performing musician has taught me is perseverance. You will get a lot of “no’s” and rejection, and you need to keep going. People will care about what you do as much as you do, so be sure to stay positive even with the set backs and other challenges.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m an ‘ukulele artist and singer-songwriter, creating original music that showcases the unique voice of the ‘ukulele—an instrument I believe is underrepresented in the music community. While the ‘ukulele has had its viral moments, especially with songs like “Riptide” by Vance Joy or “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” which has been covered by several artists, many of these musicians don’t focus on the ‘ukulele as their primary instrument, and often they move away from it after a brief moment of fame. In contrast, very few musicians are dedicated to using the ‘ukulele as a core part of their original music and combining it with singing in the way I do.

I started my journey as an ‘ukulele artist a little over a year ago, but my music journey did not start there. I have been involved with music my entire life through choirs, orchestras, and other ensembles. I studied music in college and pursued music education as a career path, In fact, the ‘ukulele is just one of the many instruments that I perform with.

Over the past year, I’ve realized that there are many misconceptions about the ‘ukulele, largely due to how the media has portrayed it. People often expect to hear those same familiar tunes, which I do play—but with my own twist, adding a unique vibe. The truth is, the ‘ukulele is not limited to just those styles; it’s a versatile instrument that can bring something fresh to a wide range of genres.

Though my journey as an ‘ukulele artist has had its challenges, pursuing this path has always been my dream. I love what I’m doing, despite sometimes facing bias or criticism. I know the joy, energy, and fresh perspective I bring to the music world through the ‘ukulele is something truly valuable, and I have no intention of stopping anytime soon.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I am new to Arizona, so there aren’t many spots I would consider my favorite just yet. However, I’ve had the opportunity to perform at several locations that I feel are worthy of acknowledgement. First is the Water Lantern Festival! I performed at this festival back home in Texas and here in Arizona and I love the wholesomeness of the festival and the beautiful lights and experiences that come with it. I also enjoyed my time performing at the Arizona State Fair as I also performed at the Texas State Fair about a month after. It was rad being at both, and the AZ State Fair is much much smaller, but still really cool. One other place worth noting is when I performed at the Grand Ave Festival. There were all kinds of arts being celebrated there, and I’m glad I got to be a part of it all. Lastly, one place that I enjoy eating at is Island Fin Poke Co. Go check them out!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d love to shoutout my amazing husband who supports my goals and dreams and pushes me to keep going even when things get tough. There are a lot interesting experiences that happen when you put yourself out there as a musician, and not all of them are pleasant. So I am thankful for a husband who is always supportive through the good and the bad. I also want to shout out my amazing coach I had a while back who helped me with the start of my journey as a music artist, Janice Wong. She is an awesome life coach and is always such a great listener and supporter. I am glad to have met her and for all the help she has given me. I also want to shoutout the amazing music community in Dallas, my hometown. The music scene really grew while I was out there and it continues to grow, and I am happy that I get to interact and still be part of it even all the way here in Arizona since I visit often. Every time I visit is so special now and I miss being directly in area so much. I’m happy to be growing my music community here as well, but Dallas is definitely still in the front of my mind.

Website: https://jessicamaeve.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessica.maeve/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessicamaevemusic

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/jessicamaeve

Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/06LzkhEMItktSTIvLkzYxI?si=e2fuYzrRT5uIszH9m7bLXg

Image Credits
Faith Thompson
Hibah Ansari
Riley Hoogendoorn