Jess Meuse Talks Music, American Idol, and What Lies Ahead
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Elmore County’s Jess Meuse captured the hearts and votes of millions of Americans when she competed on American Idol this year, and even though she didn’t win the title, Jess is still making music and looking toward a long career.
We talked to her about the competition, the future, and what the judges told her after that final performance.
Her unique style set her apart, and her musical talent kept her in the running week after week, until she found herself in the Final Four on the American Idol stage. Meuse says it was a grueling schedule. “How much work goes into one single performance. It’s unreal,” she said.
She’s able to come back home now to Slapout, while she prepares to head back for a tour with other American Idol finalists. Even though she’s nearing the end of her Idol journey, she says this is the beginning of something much bigger. “I want to get an EP, if not a full-length CD on all original stuff, collaborations. I want to get as much original material as I possibly can and establish myself as a songwriter.”
In her weeks on the show, Jess sometimes came under fire from the judges, but as the weeks went by, she says she stopped focusing on that. “I focused on America and the camera that signified like eleven million people watching, and after awhile, I just started watching that and I didn’t even look at the judges anymore.”
That doesn’t mean she didn’t listen to them, though. She says the things they told her after her final night onstage still stick with her. “Harry came up to me and said the reason he was so harsh is pretty much because he believes in my artistry, and he just thinks I have what it takes. Keith told me there were people in Nashville talking about me, and I’m like good. because I’m probably going to go there, and I really hope they write with me and stuff.”
No matter what lies in store for her, though, Meuse says she’ll keeping singing. She says, for her, music is the medium for a message. “I want people to know they’re not alone. I would like to change the world, because I believe one person can do it.”
You can catch Jess on the American Idol live tour in Birmingham. They’ll stop at the Birmingham Jefferson Civic Center on July 27th. For more information, click here.
