Come Celebrate the summer with Independance, Heat and Fireworks with some great music, Joining the fun in the streets of Celebration, Fl this Sunday is native Floridan performer Carly Jo Jackson! Singer-songwriter with her blues style vocals and indie/pop sound.
This dynamic 21 year old has been performing since she was 13, and playing guitar at the age of 16. You may also recall her name as one of the Season 9 ‘America’s Got Talent’ contestant’s.
Check out what Carly had to say when I chatted with her about songwriting, her biggest inspiration’s growing up and being apart of ‘America’s Got Talent’!
How long have you been performing?
I started with a performing troupe when I was 13 but when I got a guitar for my 16th birthday I started out on my own.
When did you first realize that singing might be something you wanted to do as a career?
I’ve known pretty much as long as I can remember that I wanted a career singing, but no one really took me seriously about it until I was in my teens. Of course I also wanted to be an actor, veterinarian, ice skater, equestrian so to my family, a singing career sounded like another one of those fads of the moment.
What other artist really inspired you growing up?
I was inspired by all the young pop artists in the 90’s. My sisters are 2 and 5 years older, so when I was still pretty young I had The Hansens and MMM-Bop blaring through the house, The Spice Girls, Backstreet Boys, etc. Seeing young people with a music career made it seem so real to me. At 16, right before I got my first guitar, I saw Colbie Caillat at Orlando House of Blues and I had one of those moments when it just hit me, and I knew right then I would be on that same stage. It was a special moment last year when I played House of Blues for the first time!
How did it feel to be apart of America’s Got Talent?
It was a whirlwind and at the time seemed surreal. I never felt like I was in a competition, it was just an amazing learning experience. I got to play my music in front of some of the top people in the industry during rehearsals and preparations and performed in front of my largest audiences.
If you could describe your sound in three words what would it be?
emotion wildflower soulful.
What is your favorite song you have written?
Oh boy, that’s a hard one. My favorite to play is Johnny P because it’s all about taking the worst possible situation and turning it into something beautiful, a song. It is one of my more upbeat songs, so it usually gets the crowds off their feet. I play it live now and hope to record it in the coming year.
Is there anything you would like to tell our readers?
Thank you so much for taking the time to read about me! Please support and follow me on my social sites (they’re all @CarlyJoOfficial) and check my website http://www.carlyjojackson.com to see what’s up next because the rest of this year is bringing more videos, more jams, and fun! I was chosen by the store Belk as one of their Southern Musician Showcase artists and that is allowing me to tour and travel this year, so look for me on the road!
