Feature: Interview with Jessica Meuse

by Tia Cristy

She doesn’t just talk, but she can sing her tail off! And that’s not just my opinion. America fell in love with Jess Meuse in 2014 when she appeared on Season 13 of American Idol. Meuse, who currently resides in Alabama, is a national singer/songwriter who was voted the number four contestant on the popular singing reality show. Yet, she became number one in many hearts across America. Her soulful Rock sound is a mix between rock n’ roll and country grit as this Southern Belle’s slight twang resonates throughout her thoughtful lyrics. Meuse has a voice reminiscent of the great Stevie Nicks, which made it no surprise to me when I saw a video clip of her performing a practically perfect rendition of Landslide. Even as a contestant on American Idol, Nicks’s songs appeared on her performance list more than once.

Meuse has mastered several different looks over the years, from a dark-hair vixen to a dash of sunny blonde, but Meuse continues to stay true to who she is down to her core, which is the key to success in any industry.

I had the great pleasure of having a Zoom with Jess Meuse for She Talks. Now, I can fully understand America’s devotion after spending quality time with this incredible soul and powerful woman.

She joined the meeting as a fresh-faced, natural beauty, wearing clear-lensed glasses and her Boundaries are Dumb hoodie. At first impression, Meuse was genuine, and within minutes, I felt like I was catching up with an old friend I hadn’t seen in a while.

It didn’t hurt that our instant bond was solidified over our mutual love and admiration for Dr. Julie Ducharme, one of the Founders of She Talks. After that, Meuse and I discussed everything from her childhood to her first performance, along with spirituality and her time on Idol.

“I was picked on brutally as a child. I was weird,” Meuse tells me.

She told me how it along with her conduct caused her to change schools several times as a kid but was yet to be diagnosed autistic. The later diagnosis would give her some explanations of her childhood behavior. However, it’s been clear that most people who are outstanding in their craft have been diagnosed with or believed to have a form of autism.

For example, geniuses like Elon Musk, Anthony Hopkins, Daryl Hannah, Albert Einstein, Andy Warhol, and Susan Boyle are just a few names that have been believed or clinically diagnosed. Some scholars believe any, and all, high achievers and successful people have a form of neurodivergence where their brain processes differently than the masses, and I fully agree that it’s time to shed any negativity surrounding the label of autism.

“I’m still weird, but it’s good. I’m me,” she says, and an accepting smile crosses her face.

This conversation led to the magic moment of Meuse telling me when she first performed in public and put all those bullies to shame.

“I had always sung around the house, but I didn’t perform in public until I was ten,” she says, gritting her teeth as if the emotion of that moment still lives freshly within her. “I was at a new school; a catholic school,” where she admits she didn’t really fit in there either, “And they had a talent show. I had to audition. You had to audition to be in it! I was so scared. I got up there and sang. I was terrified. I was sweating. My body went numb. I thought I was dying. I covered my face. I started crying. But I kept on singing. Then, I started laughing because I thought I must look like a crazy person right now. And, for some reason, they actually let me in the talent show”.

In that minute, she resembles what I am sure is the spitting image of her 10-year-old self, and I find myself celebrating and literally applauding her for this precious and remarkable achievement, as well as her ability to be so genuine and transparent today.

She tosses her hands up, still surprised that is where her singing career came from, “I had the worst stage fright as a kid, but my… how the tables have turned.

It’s so opposite now. I’ve experienced soul-crushing rejection of the worst kind, but I’m happy with who I am today,” says Meuse, feeling blessed.

“Now, I have read that you are very spiritual?” I comment in the form of a question.

“Yes, I am very spiritual,” she says.

Meuse explains in depth that she is ‘spiritual’, which differs from ‘religious.’ She believes in the Higher Power, human kindness, the open mind, and the supernatural, and she loves aliens. Speaking of aliens, you can’t call Meuse vapid by any means or throw around any judgy conspiracy theorist judgment when talking with her about these sorts of topics. She continuously proves herself to be down-to-earth, curious, and brilliant in her research of all things. I was impressed when she started to discuss Majestic 12 under Truman. And, for myself, as a self-proclaimed ‘nerd’ speaking to someone who’ geeks out’ on all these topics, it was an enthralling conversation. But back to religion…

“Music is my church,” she says. “That’s where I choose to gather with others.”

It’s a beautiful sediment, as she describes her fans who have practically turned friends. The MuseMaffia is her street team of loyal fans who have the ability to pull her out of any bad mood. Although Meuse is exceptionally grateful for what she does on a regular basis, singing for a living is still a tough job. And despite the way most entertainment jobs are looked upon and treated by other industries, Meuse does have a ‘real job’ entertaining others with her music. Although, entertainers can’t call out as easily as other professions.

There are those days when she is sick or tired, or as she said, feels like a ‘trash fire’, but the audience can pull her out of that funk and melt all of life’s troubles away.

“It’s the best when I see an audience smiling or singing along,” she says smiling before recalling the emotion of how great it feels when fans yell out requests for her original songs.

Meuse elaborates on one super fan who she feels has become a staple of her shows.

“The fans… You can count on them. They are real fans. They are not make-believe. And they have the ability to pick me up from any bad day,” she then pauses in reflection.

“Some have been with me since Idol,” she says, gushing at how much she loves her fans.

I take that as the green light to start talking about American Idol and her experience. I transition to the topic in such an eloquent way, “American Idol… How was that?” as if I lost the ability to compile complete sentences.

Meuse chuckles, “It was great. It was also a lot. Don’t think, in any way, that being on a show is easy, though.”

In 2012, Meuse was on The Voice, but it was not aired after her blind audition. However, fate had other plans, which it tends to do, and Meuse’s blessing in disguise was a setup for what was to become part of her destiny. You see, a year later, when American Idol had called her to audition for their next upcoming season, she was available and free from the reality hold contract and able to join the Idol team.

“Still to this day, (when questioning life) I say, ‘My American Idol (moment) might happen next year,’ because you never know. Your plans for your life are really so small, and sometimes it’s not the (big) plan that’s meant for you, anyhow. You might think it is, and it might be heartbreaking, but something better usually comes up,” she tells me.

I asked her if there was any ‘crossroad’ moment when the American Idol experience changed her life; her answer was profoundly honest.

“It was deciding whether I want people to tell me who I am or figure myself out more. (So,) I decided to be myself, the quirky, strange person,” says Meuse. “With Idol, I realized my purpose in life is not to be a people pleaser,” she explains after confessing her lonely childhood made her choose to do that for many years. When she reached the Idol stage, the pressure to please others continued, but on a larger and more demanding scale.

“People can be mean,” she says, recalling how the open forum of reality television can be brutal.

In a moment of comfort, I remind her that it’s believed that the only way you know that you’ve made it in this world is when the haters come out of the woodwork. And Jess Meuse remembers lots of haters appearing during her Idol days. She also shared a story about a time she had to draw a boundary with wardrobe approval.

The show put me in a lot of dresses, and I’m not really a dress kind of girl. But I got comfortable with this red dress they picked for a show, and then last minute, they decided they wanted to change it,” she remembers, as she continues telling me that the other dress wasn’t the image she was trying to portray. “I finally told them that I’m wearing the red dress.”

“Some people even had a problem with my nose ring,” she laughs, “Well, I’m glad it’s on me and not them.”

Nevertheless, all in all, Meuse said that the entire experience was incredible and life-changing, leading me to my favorite answer that Jess Meuse gave me throughout the interview. It was when I asked her how American Idol has specifically ‘changed her life?’.

“Well, I used to play in bars and pizza places, and now, I don’t play in bars and pizza places,” says Meuse.

Her response makes me laugh, but I completely understand the burden and how impactful it is for anyone to pass that narrow threshold in the music industry. Before her time on the television show, Meuse went to school full-time and hiked all over the area to play gigs for practically peanuts. Today, she is in a position to pay herself to stay home if she needs it instead of burning out.

Meuse now knows the value of self-care after paying her dues and busting her backside to come out of obscurity. She speaks with outstanding gratitude for all of it, though. She speaks, knowing her journey and her life (that may feel equivalent to five lifetimes) was what it had to be to bring her to this point today.

As we came to the conclusion of our interview, I wanted to know if there was a message she wanted to pass along when it comes to the rules of following your passion. She didn’t have to think about it.

“Know the business side,” says Meuse. “It doesn’t matter if you feel like a dummy-dumb. You better learn it, or you can get burned.”

Meuse is still reeling from such matters, enduring the emotional, psychological, and financial impact as she continues in a lawsuit over some original music. Without discussing an ongoing case, she implores you to do your research and not let people get away with trying to take away pieces of yourself.

“There’s a lot of people who are takers,” she adds. “Don’t let people take advantage of you.”

Meuse can recall all of her music through personal stories during specific times in her life. She can paint pictures, in great detail, of her writing each song. I think the moral is to fight for your intellectual property. And remember, it’s easier to fight, in the beginning, to keep it than to get it back.

These battles haven’t hardened Meuse but have inspired her in many ways. And when she needs a helpful dose of accelerant to fuel her inspiration, she turns to music.

“I listen to metal,” she says out the side of her mouth with a smirk. “It drives me. I’ll even go to the gym, and I can lift heavier weights. I can take on more…,”

Although she doesn’t have a passion for all music, we strongly agreed that every genre of music has its place in this world and an undeniable purpose. I’m sure once this battle is over, Meuse will deliver a new collection of songs in her own form of rock that will inspire others who are going through a certain battle of the heart. And there is no doubt the MuseMaffia will be in line waiting for the first listen.

Jess Meuse is a true inspiration of where perseverance can take us all if we focus the right energy on our passion. Another big take away is that we must learn who we are and embrace ourselves. We can’t let others change us for their own gain. If you look at Meuse’s social media, you will find a woman who has grown to be quite confident in

her own skin. Changing her hair color occasionally doesn’t change her style or attitude. Besides her outstanding career, she makes enough time for family and friends and has plenty of time for innocent fun. Her quirky sense of humor is enchanting and allows fans to feel like they know her personally, even more than they already do, through her compelling music storytelling.

After interacting with Jess Meuse, I feel like I have a new friend in the world, and I see entirely how her fans feel around this genuine star. She is undoubtedly worthy of her reign on American Idol, as well as the fact that she was chosen for this cover story. Meuse is a charitable soul striving to help others and make a significant impact. She hinted about some pivoting moves coming up but was unable to share the details. However, I believe we will be hearing some great new things from Jess Meuse, on and off the stage, in the near future!