About That Song: Jillian Rae
About That Song #3
In our special series, singer-songwriter Sarah Morris interviews artists about the songs that shaped them.
Hi! I’m Sarah Morris. I’m wildly in love with songs and the people who write them. There have been a few songs in my life that have been total gamechangers—songs that made me want to be a songwriter and songs I’ve written that made me feel like I am a songwriter. About That Song is a space where I can learn more about those pivotal songs in other writers’ lives.
In our third installment, we meet up with singer-songwriter Jillian Rae. Fresh off a three-month stint in Spain, Jillian is back in Minnesota with a new single, “Barely Breathing,” and some fantastic shows on the summer calendar.
Jillian Rae. Photo courtesy of the artist.
Sarah: Hi Jillian! It’s no secret I’m a fan of yours—as a person, a singer/rock star, a violin player/string arranger, a teacher, a producer and as a songwriter! I’m here to learn a little more about that last part. Do you remember the song that you heard that made you want to be a songwriter? Tell us about that song.
Jillian: Oh man! I’m not sure that there is one specific song for me. Singing has always been such a huge part of my life, upbringing and identity growing up. I feel like there were so many songs that spoke to me back then, that made me feel so excited, made me feel seen, and most importantly were so perfectly singable. Bob Dylan’s “Tangled Up in Blue,” Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” (which Whitney Houston absolutely brought to the next level, so I imitated her version any chance I could), anything Patsy Cline sang (my favorites being “I Fall To Pieces” written by Hank Cochran & Harlan Howard, and “Crazy” written by our lord and savior Willie Nelson), most anything Robert Plant crooned in Led Zeppelin, and pretty much the entire Beatles song catalog.
I was always mystified by the idea of songwriting. Little Jillian was constantly pondering, “How does someone actually come up with these freakin’ songs?! The lyrics. The melodies. All of these people must be complete and utter geniuses.” (Which of course they are, but I digress.) Singing and playing stringed instruments came so naturally to me at a young age, I just always thought that being a music maker was my gift and that songwriting was not something that was even in my wheelhouse.
At some point in my teen years, songs like “Drive” by Incubus, “Long Time Gone” by The Chicks (written by Darrell Scott & Glenn Hughes), Jewel’s “You Were Meant For Me,” and Kelly Clarkson’s “Breakaway” (written by Matthew Gerrard, Bridget Benenate & Avril Lavigne) really got my songwriting brain activated. By learning how to sing and play those tunes (and by doing so for countless hours, either in my room or for anyone who’d listen), I started crafting my own songs. Kind of using those four as a foundation, now that I think of it!
Sarah: Three cheers to you for listing the songwriters of each of those tunes! “Long Time Gone” was definitely a song that made a huge impact on me, too. Once you began writing, did you feel like a writer immediately? It took me a few years of writing before I believed it—was there a song that gave you that “a-HA! I AM a songwriter” moment? Tell us about that song.
Jillian: It took me at least a decade to even consider performing my own original songs, let alone actually think of myself as a real-deal “songwriter.” I’d been performing other people’s songs since I was about eight years old, so learning, perfecting and performing already-in-existence songs is the world I lived in. After a few years of playing violin/fiddle and singing backing vocals in the first original-music-band I was a part of, I finally built up the courage to show my then-new partner a few of my original songs. I was in my early twenties and that was terrifying enough at the time. It would take several more years for me to muster up the gumption to start my own band and willingly put my own music out there.
I think the song that really made me feel like, “Oh wow I really did it, I am a songwriter now” was the song that inspired my first album, Heartbeat. That song checked all of my “things I want to incorporate into a song” boxes. I think it also might’ve been the first song that I wrote that ever got stuck in my head—something I take as a good sign!
Sarah: Just hearing you say “Heartbeat” gets the song stuck in my own head! Where can we hear you sing that song (or any other song for that matter) in the near future?
Jillian: I have two really exciting performances coming up! The first is a singer-songwriter-round series I help curate called “Thank You For Being A Friend” (that also involves my local songwriting sheroes Annie Fitzgerald, Vicky Emerson and *cough cough* Sarah Morris). Annie and I will be joined by special guests Matthew French and Ben Cook-Feltz for a night of song-sharing fun on Thursday, July 13th at the Aster Cafe in Minneapolis.
Then, something I am absolutely giddy about, I have my first full-band show of the year on Saturday, July 15th at Minneapolis’s hawt new venue, Green Room! I’ve never taken such a long break from performing with my band, so we’re all thrilled to debut our latest single, “Barely Breathing,” live on stage and absolutely rock out with our talented buds Bethany Larson & the Bee’s Knees. If you’re looking to catch me with my band this summer, this show is THE ONE.
Jillian Rae. Photo courtesy of the artist.
Sarah: Exciting! Okay, one last question—can you tell us about the new single?
Jillian: “Barely Breathing” is one of the first songs I wrote after having a nearly year-long streak of writer’s block (during the shut-down-pandi-times of 2020). I was just getting back into writing again and this song just poured out of me one night while sitting at the piano. Like a little therapy session. All in one shot (which is pretty rare for me).
Much time has been spent between then and now arranging it with my band, perfecting the mix, and layering in a bajillion string parts to give this song a rock-band-with-an-orchestra vibe to tug on your heartstrings. It’s available online in all the places where music can be purchased or streamed. My website is my favorite place for people to come and virtually hang and check me out.
“Barely Breathing” credits:
words and music by Jillian Rae
vocals, piano, strings, percussion - Jillian Rae
electric guitar, 12-string guitar - Eric Martin
bass - Jimmy Osterholt
drums - Christian Wheeler
drums, bass, & piano recorded at The Terrarium (Minneapolis, MN) - engineered by Jason Orris
vocals, strings, guitars, & percussion recorded at Iron Bull Records (Minneapolis, MN) - engineered by Eric Martin
mixed by Eric Martin
mastered by Maximilian W. Riley at Riley Sound Labs (Alameda, CA)
cover art photo by Emily Isakson
Sarah Morris. Photo credit: Tom Smouse.
Sarah Morris is a superfan of songs and the people who write them, and a believer that certain songs can change your life. A singer-songwriter / mama / bread maker / coffee drinker who recently released her fifth album of original material, she’s been known to joyfully sing with people in her Big Green Bathroom.
