Aspen Jacobsen

April 14, 2020 — Teen singer-songwriter Aspen Jacobsen’s song "Georgia Boy" is one of five finalists in the Independent Music Awards' Alternative Country Best Song Category.  A 15-year-old from Commerce Township, Michigan, Aspen is a singer and multi-instrumentalist whose music is rooted in Americana, Country, and Folk-Pop. “Georgia Boy” is about a personal experience; “It seemed like a cliché encounter between a teen boy and girl which initially made me resistant to writing this song,” explains Aspen. Although it may sound stereotypical, everything in this song is a true account of teenage courtship. In the song Aspen sings: "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you. I'm sorry, I did the best a stupid girl like me could do."

The winning projects will be selected by influential judging panels including: Tom Waits & Kathleen Brennan, Robert Smith, Ziggy Marley, KT Tunstall, Dee Snider, Drowning Pool, Roberta Flack, Jaci Velasquez, Coolio, Joshua Bell, Beth Gibbons, Joe Satriani and nearly 100 more creatives, top recording artists and industry influencers determining this year’s winners.

Featuring gorgeous verse and lush instrumentation, “Georgia Boy” is from Aspen’s latest album ‘Love Each Other Right.’ Detroit native and Nashville based, Dominic Davis produced the album. Davis is the long-time bassist for Jack White and has worked with many music greats, from Beyoncé to Willie Nelson to Adele. The album was recorded last August at Willis Sound. [Aspen] is "a very mature performer and writer, which is rare at any age", explains Jim Roll, Head Engineer at Willis Sound. Musicians on the album include Aspen Jacobsen (vocals, guitar) Michael Shimmin (percussion), Brad Phillips (guitar/mandolin/violin), Dominic Davis (Bass), Bruce Ling (mandolin), Rachael Davis (backing vocals) and Mike Lynch (keyboard). 

Big news! So excited to announce my song “Delicate Butterfly” 🦋 made it to the semi-final’s in the 2020 International Songwriting Competition Teen category! This song-writing competition received more than 18,000 entries and only 11% make it to the semi-finals Show my song some love by following me on Spotify and streaming it!! 

I wanted to share a project I'm so proud to part of, especially since so many kids could benefit from it right now during Quarantine. I'm in a couple episodes of a kids science TV show that airs nationwide and season 6 is airing now. It's called Curious Crew, produced by WKAR - Public Media from Michigan State University. If you miss it on TV, you can stream episodes off the website! I've been blessed to be part of this amazing, Emmy-award winning science show for the last three seasons. We record over summer (I'm in the girl in the middle in the photo below) and sadly this will be my last season as I'll will have aged-out. I'm in episodes Episode 607 - Convection and Episode 608 - Piano. Dr. Rob does an incredible job explaining science to kids. Click on the photo below to view an episode. As we say on Curious Crew, "Stay Curious!"

Thrilled to have been hand-picked as one of three independent artists for the CD Baby Music DIY Musicians Accelerator Program in conjunction with Simon Tam of the Slants Foundation! his is a six-month mentorship program for artists who would like to scale up their music business. Artists receive bi-weekly coaching sessions with Simon Tam, author/host of Music Business Hacks and founder of The Slants Foundation. In addition, CD Baby provides a release package of 1,000 Digipacks + digital distribution to each selected artist for free, a $2500 value. At the end of the accelerator program, artists have their results shared on stage at the 2020 DIY Musician Conference in Austin Texas in August.  You can listen to the bi-weekly podcast by clicking the image below. This is an incredible opportunity and be sure to see updates on my Facebook Page! 

Thank you Oakland Press for the article about my upcoming CD Release Party! You can read the full article here --> https://www.theoaklandpress.com/lifestyles/suburban/commerce-township-teen-releases-album-produced-by-jack-white-s/article_4b807394-fce9-11e9-9f3f-4bad2ff7095f.html

So grateful to be in MusicTown Detroit studios and interviewed by Pam Rossi on Behind the Mic!!! Pam Rossi is so easy to talk to and everyone in the studio were incredibly nice! Thank you Pam Rossi, MusicTown Detroit and WOMC 94.3 for allowing me to share my music.

You can see my full interview here --> Behind the Mic Interview  and read the article here --> MusicTown Detroit Artical

Coolest thing happened! While I was on vacation, I happened to play open mic at Founders Brewery Company in Grand Rapids, MI and got invited to be interviewed by WYCE 88.1 FM host Laura Nowe in studio the next morning! Thank you so much for the opportunity Laura Nowe and station manager Hayes Griffin for having me on your Open Mic show. You can listen to the live broadcast here --> https://soundcloud.com/wyceradio/ep-2-88-aspen-jacobsen-8-7-2019 or watch the in studio recording from my Facebook page.

Had an amazing five days recording my next album, Love Each Other Right at Willis Sound with this incredible bunch of guys. Can't wait to share it with everyone in November!

Pictured from left to right Mike Shimmin (percussion), Brad Phillips (violin, mandolin, guitar), Me (vocals, guitar), Dominic Davis (producer, bass), Jim Roo (sound engineer). Not pictured, Mike Lynch (keys) and Bruce Ling (mandolin)

Thank you Channel 4 News for giving me a "Front of the Line Pass" and interview for America's Got Talent! Two unrelated events! Feelin' the love from WDIV ClickOnDetroit and Paula Tutman!

Check out my Facebook Page for a video!

I was a First-timer at FARM this year and it was an amazing experience I'll never forget! It was non-stop performances and workshops. Both nights I was up till 3 am listening or playing in the private showcases. Seeing so many talented musicians, one right after the other, was nothing I've ever experienced before and I loved every moment of it. There were so many musicians I had heard about, but never met and I'm thrilled I was finally able to. Even my workshop choices were terrific - Using Humor Between Songs, Folk Community and Social Responsibility and the Power of Personal Narrative in Performance. Special thanks to the Wheatland and Earthworks private showcases for the opportunity to perform and a huge shout-out to Fauxgrass for allowing me to play Texas with them during their set.  Special thanks to FARM's director Annie Capps and the board of directors for providing me with a youth scholarship to attend the conference. I made use of every minute at FARM and left the weekend full of ideas that I can't wait to explore in my music! Can't wait to come back next year!