Jaki Nelson: Dancing with strangers

Jaki Nelson has been making waves amongst the music industry, starting out in bands and breaking out on her own. Reaching to new heights with her latest single peaking the top 10 on the Billboard charts making her the first independent artist to achieve such a position. Alongside this she has inspired others within the LGBT community with her coming out story whilst onstage, with parents in the audience. I got to chat with Jaki talking inspirations, working with music legends and the best advice to achieving dreams.

Kirsty Bright: What got you started in the music industry, was there a particular artist that inspired you? Jaki Nelson: I’ve always been a music addict. I went through phases listening to pop, country and even went through an opera phase in fifth grade. When I hit high school, I started listening to dance music. I even got my parents to let me go to a rave on New Years’ Eve in my freshman year (Mom made me go with my adult sister, I was super well-behaved. Don’t worry.). Then Kaskade released the “Fire & Ice” album in my senior year and I thought that every single song was perfect. I think that was the moment that I realized how much I wanted to be a part of the dance music scene. KB: Your father has worked with some incredible icons in the music industry. What did he teach you about music and what was the best lesson you learnt? JN: Never rely on others. When you’re in a band, you have to rely on other people for your own success. I was in a band pretty early on, but even then I noticed that if your vision doesn’t line up with the guitar player’s, you’re screwed. Once I learned about DAW’s (music making programs), I knew I could do it myself (To some degree. You still have to have a team.). KB: The latest single ‘Dancing with Strangers’ is a song about break ups, what is the writing process like for you? JN: The writing process is my favorite part of music. You sit down with cool people, talk about your life, and then you leave with this piece of art. It’s awesome. For me, I like to find the parts of my life that are intersecting with the person I am writing with. In this case, two of the people in the room, including me, were dealing with relationship issues and breakups, so the song idea came rather quickly. KB: Your latest track peaked on the Billboard Top 10 as the only track by an independent artist for that week. How does it feel to have achieved an accolade such as that? JN: It’s amazing. This is my second time in the Top 10, and sometimes I think I must’ve actually died as a teenager and I’m in heaven. You set out for these lofty goals and dreams and it doesn’t matter for me how hard I work for it - it’s always a lovely surprise when I actually get something back for it all.

I’ve always been a music addict. I went through phases listening to pop, country and even went through an opera phase in fifth grade.

KB: You also got to work with Dave Aude, how did it feel to work with such talented people? JN: I was basically in disbelief the whole time. When he asked to write together, my heart almost fell out of my chest. I've been listening to his music since high school, so it was definitely an honor and a privilege. He’s an incredible talent and really great dude. KB: Do you think music is a genuine healer for most and that’s why they gravitate towards music?

JN: Music is absolutely a healer. I use music and lyrics to deal with my emotions just about every day, whether that be listening to others, or writing from my perspective. A lot of times, I'm not even sure how I feel about something until I've written it down in a song. KB: You decided to come out in a pretty big way, what better way than onstage. How liberating did it feel to finally tell everyone? JN: At first it was terrifying. The room was really supportive, but I still had to talk to my parents later, and even though I knew they wouldn't really care, something about the process of "coming out" is scary regardless. I think we, as a society, could take the pressure off “sexual orientation” and “gender identity.” It shouldn't be such a big deal. KB: What advice would you give younger people who are perhaps struggling to deal with their own sexuality? JN: You don't have to know the answer right away. I spent years going back and forth, thinking I was gay. Thinking I was straight. I spent so many late nights considering whether bisexuality was even possible (It is.). It really doesn't matter if you're gay, straight, bi, pan, ace, aro or whatever else. Someday, you will just know. And then you can begin to make peace with that and live your life the way YOU want to. KB:Is there a particular LGBT icon that you look up to? How did they help you feel confident enough to come out? JN: I wouldn’t say that there was an artist that made me feel comfortable to come out, but Lady Gaga helped me to acknowledge what I was feeling and to realize that those feelings were okay. Early on, when she got big, she started talking about her own bisexuality, and it felt like she was giving me permission to be myself. KB:Out of all the amazing things you’ve managed to achieve so far, what would be the dream goal? JN: I would be so satisfied to be able to get out on the road with a major artist on tour. I could write during the day and play shows and meet fans at night. That would be incredible.

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