Deacon goes live to launch debut EP in Paek¯ak¯ariki
Waikanae musician Jess Deacon has released her debut EP and launched it with a live event.
Deacon has spent most of her life being led by music.
She grew up in a musical household, started piano lessons at age five, and went on to study composition and jazz performance.
Titled ‘Lost in Love’ the EP is the first collection of original songs written by Deacon.
They explore loss and heartbreak, selfreflection and forgiveness, rebellion and bold determination, and were recorded at The Armoury in Wellington with Troy Kelly.
Deacon says that bringing her first EP to fruition has been a dream for a long time, and is a milestone worth celebrating.
‘‘I’m drawn to music that makes you feel something, and that’s the kind of music I want to create.
‘‘I am a big believer in sharing stories and experiences to get the most out of what it means to be human.
‘‘The more I talk with other musicians about creating and sharing music, the more I understand the big-picture benefits of offering up what we create as artists.’’
As a professional writer with a degree in communications and linguistics, Jess takes a considered approach to writing lyrics and structuring her music, but also credits her development as a musician and a performer to three notable muses.
‘‘Having had the opportunity to explore the world of composition with John Psathas, sing as part of the NZSM Big Band with Rodger Fox at the helm, and watch my mother – opera singer and performance coach Margaret Medlyn – on stage since I was a child, has given me three invaluable threads of knowledge and experience, and some much-needed encouragement to carry on.
‘‘I’ve had some of my most memorable musical moments with these people, and with other musical collaborators who are also dear friends.’’
In 2022 Jess Deacon was a commissioned artist for Classical on Cuba, bringing her song Standing and the Sea as part of The New Cuba Street Suite alongside four other notable cross-genre artists.
She also opened for Don McGlashan for his Paekā kā riki performance and in 2023 she has been invited as a guest lecturer to New Zealand School of Music, where she studied, to talk about songwriting.
Jess performed her EP live on June 10 at St Peters Hall, Paekā kā riki. Playing the tracks from the EP, as well as other original songs and a selection of borrowed tunes, Jess was joined on stage by Hannah Goodin and Jodie Gummer (backing vocals), Janet Holborow (cello), Shona Jaunas (violin), Ramon Oza and Jon
Pirini (guitars), Andy Russell (bass) and Cam Steel (drums, percussion).