“I Found My Way of Healing Myself Through Art and My Creation” – Jessy Covets

Jessy Covets is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who started in New York, then moved to Los Angeles, where she’s found her creative groove. Her music, a blend of heartfelt storytelling and genre-bending sounds, has resonated with audiences worldwide. You may have heard her work in campaigns for brands such as Estée Lauder and Botox, or on Netflix, HBO, and NBC. She’s also performed live at iconic venues like Red Rocks and festivals like EDC Orlando.

In this episode of “10-Minute Chats”, Jessy opens up about the stories behind her music, her connection with ISINA, and how she balances her many creative projects. 

— You’re an artist, vocalist, guitarist, songwriter, music producer, and DJ. How did all these pieces come together to form your creative identity?

— Well, I think it started with my name. My parents couldn’t decide on one, but they loved the Allman Brothers and their song “Jessica,” so they named me after it. That kind of set the tone for my life.

— So creativity runs in your family?

— Yes, my mom’s a painter, and my dad picked up the guitar later in life. His brother and my grandfather also play guitar. I’m lucky to have such a musical and artistic family around me.

— How did your journey as a musician begin?

— When I was five, growing up in New York, my parents put me in orchestra, and my first instrument was the violin. Then I joined the band and learned clarinet and bass clarinet. I competed in all-state choir, sang in select choir, and performed at church. Basically, anything music-related I could participate in, I did. It helped shape my understanding of music theory and the emotional connection to it.

Then I picked up the guitar with my parents’ support, and since my mom had a piano, I started playing that too. Music just became part of who I was—it’s infectious. Once you start, you can’t stop if it truly resonates with you. Eventually, I wanted to put all the pieces together in a way others could hear, so I started recording myself, going to sessions, and learning from other musicians. YouTube was a big help for my generation, and I taught myself production and DJing. That’s how I got here.

— Did you ever consider doing anything else besides music?

— No, never.

— Well, that didn’t take you long to answer!

— This is what I’m meant to do—I know that. I found my way of healing myself and, of course, through a domino effect, helping and healing others with my art and my creation. I really support people expressing themselves in any way, in any capacity, and never limiting themselves to, “This is my job; this is my identity.” Life is an experience, and I think people should always find ways to exude that emotional creativity. That’s what creates the connection between people and the healing of the whole planet. It’s a universal language.

— You describe yourself as a sonic storyteller. What’s the most surprising story you’ve told through your music, or the one you love the most?

— So, there was a song. My mom is a four-time cancer survivor. She first got cancer at 37, stage four, and they gave her six months to live. But her case was unique—it didn’t spread the way it usually does. Typically, cancer follows blood flow to other parts of the body, but hers went the opposite way. It went to her bone, and she ended up with dormant bone cancer. Because of that, she’s still here today. Later, she also got ovarian and breast cancer, but she fought through it so many times.

I wrote a song called “Mommy, I’m Sorry” and made it a tribute for her 10-year cancer-free anniversary. My band made a music video for it, and we brought in as many people as we knew who had lost someone to cancer, survived it, or had a loved one going through it. They all shared their stories, and it became this collective experience.

The song was about not wasting precious time with the people you love. The apology in the song came from a dream I had where I lost her. When I woke up, I was so relieved she was still here. I felt sorry for all the moments I didn’t take to tell her I love her or spend time with her. It’s something I think a lot of people go through—the regret of not doing or saying enough. You have to forgive yourself for it, but it was such a powerful moment for me, and I think it resonated with a lot of people.

— Your music has been in ads and TV shows, from Estée Lauder to HBO. What’s been your favorite collaboration or placement?

— I don’t feel a huge attachment to every placement. It’s more like every one is a milestone, and I think, “Wow, I did that. Something I wrote found its place.” It’s hard to pick a favorite because they all mean something in their own way. Something I wrote four years ago ended up in a commercial, and now some of you are hearing it. That’s such a great feeling. I can’t think of all the placements off the top of my head, but I do remember being like, “What? It’s in a KFC commercial? That’s so crazy.” 

— Who are your main musical influences?

— Oh, that evolves over time. But emotionally and in storytelling, Mumford & Sons have been a big influence. Their storytelling is so poetic, and their music feels raw and authentic. In electronic music, I love artists like Taurus, ODESZA, and RÜFÜS DU SOL. Lately, I’ve been listening to Elderbrook, who works with Taurus—that’s how I found him. My taste ranges from folk to electronic music, but I always gravitate toward lyrical content and infectious melodies.

— What are your thoughts on ISINA?

— I worked with some of the people at their studio, and they mentioned that I might want to be a part of ISINA. They told me about what you do, and I thought it was beautiful. The studio is incredible, and everyone involved is so talented. The records coming out of ISINA feel nostalgic and timeless. So I am honored to be a part of something that I find very great and inspiring to other artists. And, you know, it’s so nice to see people giving back. And that’s what I think that ISINA is doing. It gives back to the community, and we need that. We need to spread this love and this music. So that really gave me to it, and I was just grateful that being in the right place at the right time led me here.