Jesse Aycock
Tulsa, Oklahoma’s Jesse Aycock. Jesse is a talented and in-demand multi-instrumentalist who has shared a stage with the Secret Sisters, Elizabeth Cook, and of course, he was a member of Hard Working Americans along with Todd Snider, Dave Schools, Neal Casal, Chad Staehly, and Duane Trucks. Jesse is also a singer and songwriter who just released his third solo album on Horton Records. The self-titled album is dedicated to Neal Casal, and his influence on Jesse as a songwriter is apparent here – the album is soulful, sensitive, tremendously sad, and immensely beautiful.
Highlights from the album include “High Hopes,” which Jesse notes in our conversation was one of the most difficult to write- “because it’s happy!”, he exclaims; “Past Life,” which explores the strange relationship we can have with grief; and the stunning closer, “Woodland Park.” Thoughtful sequencing prevents the sadness from becoming overwhelming; and glittering Mellotron, graceful lap and pedal steel arcs, and Jesse’s intricate guitar playing buoy each song.
“Making this record was healing, difficult and beautiful. I’d been through a challenging year, filled with loss and heartbreak. When everything around you seems to fall apart, you have to lean into something,” Jesse says. “Music has always been that for me. Recording these songs helped ground me.”
