Photo by Dana Trippe
Jesse Jo Stark clearly doesn’t believe in superstitions. If she had, there is no way she would have settled on a name their full-length debut album DOOMED. While many other artists might think that the ominous title could herald a future disaster, Stark sees things very differently.
“I think it’s really about owning who you are. Sort of like damn if you do, damn if you don’t,” she says of both the album and the title. “I’m really influenced by dark nature and anything cool with horror, but I want ‘DOOMED’ to feel positive. I want it to feel like you’re in control of the future and don’t want to limit yourself to all these different waves you go through in life.”
Over the course of 11 tracks, the highly anticipated “DOOMED” explores many facets of Stark’s creative interests. There are tracks that feel dark and noir and there are country influenced songs with a little bit of everything in between. Stark steadfastly refused to let her creativity be limited by something as nebulous as the genre.
“Why aren’t people allowed to have different influences?” Stark grew up with “completely opposite tastes — country rock, metal, pop,” she recalls. “I like Britney Spears and I like Motley Crüe.”
Photo by Dana Trippe
The making of DOOMED has been a lengthy process that has been upset by the pandemic like so many things, and Stark is so happy to finally be able to share it with the world. Even more exciting for her is the chance to get back on stage and perform with her band.
“It’s crazy. Being back with my band – obviously we hadn’t spent that much time together since COVID and I can’t explain that feeling,” she says. “It’s like being on a journey with your friends, but it takes forever. On stage, you all share the same thing and it’s that kind of otherworldly experience. I’m really grateful and can’t wait to play more shows. “
NYC fans have a chance Catch one of these shows on October 19th at Baby’s All Rightbut in the future there will certainly be other dates in other places.
Watch out for our feature article with Jesse Jo Stark in the upcoming Christmas issue, but until then You can stream DOOMED on all the usual suspects.