Rowan University is known for its popular student-led music scene. Having a variety of genres on display, but being dominated by the fan favorites like rock, punk, and hardcore. These genres radiate a raw and rambunctious feeling when experienced at the shows and personal listening. Other sounds don’t nearly get the same attention as the heavier ones typically do. So when Jessica Jacobsen introduces pop music to the community, it feels left field.  

Jacobsen is a junior music industry major with a music business concentration. Music has always been a part of her life. Growing up watching shows like America’s Got Talent, she was inspired to get into music. She started to write her own material at 15. Jacobsen was balancing music and soccer when she was younger, but knew once college came around that she wanted to focus on music. Quickly fell in love with it and the emotions it could help her with.

“It was kind of the only thing that I was able to kind of confess or reel in my feelings and emotions. I would be sad over something stupid, and I would go write like a stupid song about, you know, how it feels to be 15, like stupid little teenage things. It was just an easy way to get out my emotions and kind of process things,” said Jacobsen. 

Jacobsen is a singer-songwriter, doing a bit of folk. Recently, they have gotten more into pop music. Striking inspiration and influence from Olivia Rodrigo and Dan + Shay. This would culminate in her most recent EP, “Without a Melody”, which takes songs written from five years ago and the experiences she has gone through. From writing in her journal every day, she has both negative and positive thoughts. As she put her music being, “fun, edgy, sad, energetic, funny, and confident,” it all came together on the EP.

“When I was younger, you know, a little kid, I had no life experience. So a lot of the stuff I would make up, but obviously, now that I’m older, I do have some life experience, so I will put that in there. I think a lot of it is added just to make the song better, or certain lyrics you add that aren’t true. But a lot of my stuff also is observation, and then me kind of making a story out of that and seeing where it goes,” said Jacobsen. 

Despite being a first-year transfer student to Rowan from RCBC, the connections and support have been felt. Jacobsen has received guidance from professors and fan support from other students about her music. Having recently run into someone who was a fan, they hope to get together to work on some material. 

She represents a niche genre in the scope of the entire scene. Being more in the pop field as opposed to the more rock-affluent tendencies of many bands and artists. It does not deter her but rather enables her to gain a lot more from people. Being able to get different perspectives on the music is great, but she still enjoys being a lone wolf. 

“I do wish maybe there were more connections there, but I kind of like standing out, obviously, and getting to interact with different music cultures on campus,” said Jacobsen. 

The scene for Jacobsen at first was overwhelming. Having so many people dedicated to their goals, craft, and future. Then wanting to be a part of other people as friends, peers, collaborators, and friends was a lot to her. It was a good, overwhelming feeling. Knowing so much talent was brewing in one spot. She hopes to hear more feedback and help from others while immersing herself more in the scene with a first appearance at a venue. 

This sentiment of helping others and supporting people is something that bleeds through her music. Of course, Jacobsen wants to have a great fanbase and be successful as any other artist growing up wants. For her, positively affecting the people who turn her music on at a time of need is what would make her feel most honored. 

“But at the end of the day, I always used to tell myself this when I was younger. If I could just kind of make one person happy and kind of change their perspective or change their feelings with my song, that’s all I really want to be able to do,” said Jacobsen. 

Growing up with her music, she has grown into her confidence. Noting that when she first started, she would write a lot of sad music due to having low self-confidence. Feeling like everything had to be so serious and perfect. She has been able to grow into the artist and person she is today. Being able to joke in her songs and be sassy when she wants. She had become a whole new person. 

“It’s kind of like whatever happens is going to happen, and it doesn’t have to be perfect. It just needs to be kind of where it is, and we’ll figure it out from there,” said Jacobsen. 

For the future, Jacobsen is working on getting a website up and running and expanding on her merch, all while marketing and pushing the new EP. In general, though, she wants to become more knowledgeable about the industry, gain more experience, and learn from those mistakes. But obviously, growing that fanbase and connecting with them more to change their feelings and so they never feel alone, is a privilege she wishes for. 

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