Jesca Hoop
Encyclopedia
Jesca Ada Hoop is an American
singer-songwriter
and guitar
ist from Northern California
, who writes and performs in diverse musical styles, under the initial encouragement and guidance of her former employer, musician Tom Waits
.
parents. She grew up singing traditional folk tunes in four part harmony. She broke away from her background, becoming a homesteader in the wilderness areas of Northern California and Wyoming
. She also worked in the remote mountains of Arizona
with a rehabilitation program for children.
As a nanny for Tom Waits
and Kathleen Brennan
's three children, Hoop gained musical experience. Waits says, "Her music is like going swimming in a lake at night." The Los Angeles Times considered Hoop one of ten Southern California artists that are "new and notable in 2007."
Her contact with Tom Waits
led to her initial exposure through Nic Harcourt
at the Southern California radio station KCRW
in 2003, with a six-minute demo recorded on a four track recorder
. Since then, Hoop has shared the stage with many acts. In 2007 she toured with Polyphonic Spree and Matt Pond PA
. In 2008 she toured with Elbow
and Mark Knopfler
, and then in 2009 toured with Greg Laswell
, Elbow
and Andrew Bird
. Jesca headlined a tour of the UK and Ireland in February 2010, and France in March 2010. She also headlined her own tour of the UK in summer 2010, starting in Leeds on May 1.
Hoop announced in September 2008 that she would be releasing an album titled, Kismet Acoustic
, in October 2008, featuring one new song and four acoustic versions of tracks from her debut CD.
In July 2009, Hoop announced that she had finished recording her second album, entitled Hunting My Dress
, after moving to Manchester
, England, on Guy Garvey
's encouragement three months earlier. In September she posted the opening track to the record online and on November 30, 2009 the record became available in the UK and Ireland, with the US release in July 2010.
In June 2010, she contributed the song "Angel Mom" to the Enough Project
and Downtown Records
' Raise Hope for Congo compilation. Proceeds from the compilation fund efforts to make the protection and empowerment of Congo’s women a priority, as well as inspire individuals around the world to raise their voice for peace in Congo.
Hoop toured with The Eels for their US tour in the autumn of 2010 and their July 2011 UK tour.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
and guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
ist from Northern California
Northern California
Northern California is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. The San Francisco Bay Area , and Sacramento as well as its metropolitan area are the main population centers...
, who writes and performs in diverse musical styles, under the initial encouragement and guidance of her former employer, musician Tom Waits
Tom Waits
Thomas Alan "Tom" Waits is an American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor. Waits has a distinctive voice, described by critic Daniel Durchholz as sounding "like it was soaked in a vat of bourbon, left hanging in the smokehouse for a few months, and then taken outside and run over with a car."...
.
Biography
Hoop was born in Northern California to MormonMormon
The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
parents. She grew up singing traditional folk tunes in four part harmony. She broke away from her background, becoming a homesteader in the wilderness areas of Northern California and Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
. She also worked in the remote mountains of Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
with a rehabilitation program for children.
As a nanny for Tom Waits
Tom Waits
Thomas Alan "Tom" Waits is an American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor. Waits has a distinctive voice, described by critic Daniel Durchholz as sounding "like it was soaked in a vat of bourbon, left hanging in the smokehouse for a few months, and then taken outside and run over with a car."...
and Kathleen Brennan
Kathleen Brennan
Kathleen Brennan is an American musician, songwriter, record producer and artist. She was born in Johnsburg, Illinois, as noted by her husband and musical collaborator Tom Waits, in the song of the same name. Brennan and Waits met in 1980 during the filming of the Francis Ford Coppola film One from...
's three children, Hoop gained musical experience. Waits says, "Her music is like going swimming in a lake at night." The Los Angeles Times considered Hoop one of ten Southern California artists that are "new and notable in 2007."
Her contact with Tom Waits
Tom Waits
Thomas Alan "Tom" Waits is an American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor. Waits has a distinctive voice, described by critic Daniel Durchholz as sounding "like it was soaked in a vat of bourbon, left hanging in the smokehouse for a few months, and then taken outside and run over with a car."...
led to her initial exposure through Nic Harcourt
Nic Harcourt
Nic Harcourt was, most recently, the Music Director for Santa Monica, California-based radio station KCRW. Before joining KCRW, Harcourt worked for eight years as a news director and music director at radio station WDST in Woodstock, New York...
at the Southern California radio station KCRW
KCRW
KCRW is a public radio station broadcasting from the campus of Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, California, carrying a mix of National Public Radio news, talk radio and freeform music format. The general manager of KCRW is Jennifer Ferro...
in 2003, with a six-minute demo recorded on a four track recorder
Multitrack recording
Multitrack recording is a method of sound recording that allows for the separate recording of multiple sound sources to create a cohesive whole...
. Since then, Hoop has shared the stage with many acts. In 2007 she toured with Polyphonic Spree and Matt Pond PA
Matt Pond PA
Matt Pond PA is a New York based band formed in Philadelphia by singer-songwriter Matt Pond. They have released eight LPs and eight EPs since 1998....
. In 2008 she toured with Elbow
Elbow (band)
Elbow are an English rock band. They have played together since 1990 and recorded five studio albums, the most recent of which is Build a Rocket Boys!, released in March 2011...
and Mark Knopfler
Mark Knopfler
Mark Freuder Knopfler, OBE is a Scottish-born British guitarist, singer, songwriter, record producer and film score composer. He is best known as the lead guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for the British rock band Dire Straits, which he co-founded in 1977...
, and then in 2009 toured with Greg Laswell
Greg Laswell
Greg Laswell is a musician, recording engineer, and producer from San Diego, California. He has released four studio albums: Good Movie in 2003, Through Toledo in 2006, and Three Flights from Alto Nido in 2008, and Take a Bow in 2010, as well as several EPs and special singles...
, Elbow
Elbow (band)
Elbow are an English rock band. They have played together since 1990 and recorded five studio albums, the most recent of which is Build a Rocket Boys!, released in March 2011...
and Andrew Bird
Andrew Bird
Andrew Bird is an American musician, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist.- Early life and the Bowl of Fire :...
. Jesca headlined a tour of the UK and Ireland in February 2010, and France in March 2010. She also headlined her own tour of the UK in summer 2010, starting in Leeds on May 1.
Hoop announced in September 2008 that she would be releasing an album titled, Kismet Acoustic
Kismet Acoustic
2008 EP by California artist, Jesca Hoop, containing one song original to the album, and the remaining four being acoustic versions of songs from her earlier album.# "Murder of Birds" – 4:33# "Intelligentactile 101" – 4:26# "Seed of Wonder" – 5:24...
, in October 2008, featuring one new song and four acoustic versions of tracks from her debut CD.
In July 2009, Hoop announced that she had finished recording her second album, entitled Hunting My Dress
Hunting My Dress
Late 2009 album by Jesca Hoop, with most of the material written and recorded after the artist moved to Manchester, England.# "Whispering Light" – 4:06# "The Kingdom" – 3:50# "Feast of the Heart" – 3:27 # "Angel Mom" – 5:07# "Four Dreams" – 4:58...
, after moving to Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, England, on Guy Garvey
Guy Garvey
Guy Edward John Patrick Garvey , is the singer/guitarist in the band Elbow, as well as a presenter for BBC 6 Music and A&R manager of Skinny Dog Records...
's encouragement three months earlier. In September she posted the opening track to the record online and on November 30, 2009 the record became available in the UK and Ireland, with the US release in July 2010.
In June 2010, she contributed the song "Angel Mom" to the Enough Project
Enough Project
Enough is a project of the Center for American Progress , based in Washington, D.C., created to end genocide and crimes against humanity. Its Co-Founders are John Prendergast and Gayle Smith; its Executive Director is John C. Bradshaw, J.D....
and Downtown Records
Downtown Records
Downtown Records is a record label owned and operated by Downtown Music LLC. Music on the Downtown label is distributed by Universal Music's Fontana Distribution and, for certain releases, as a joint venture with Atlantic Records and also for select releases, by Alternative Distribution Alliance...
' Raise Hope for Congo compilation. Proceeds from the compilation fund efforts to make the protection and empowerment of Congo’s women a priority, as well as inspire individuals around the world to raise their voice for peace in Congo.
Hoop toured with The Eels for their US tour in the autumn of 2010 and their July 2011 UK tour.
Discography
- Silverscreen DemosSilverscreen Demos-Track listing: # "Silverscreen" – 4:03# "Havoc In Heaven" – 4:14# "Seed Of Wonder" – 6:07# "Big Fish" – 3:11 # "Life Within A Life" – 7:20# "Fixit Men" – 2:23...
(November 23, 2004) - KismetKismet (album)First full-length album by musician Jesca Hoop.# "Summertime" – 3:19# "Seed Of Wonder" – 6:06# "Enemy" – 3:26# "Silverscreen" – 4:03# "Money" – 5:05# "Dreams In The Hollow" – 5:15# "Love Is All We Have" – 5:00 # "Intelligentactile 101" – 4:20...
(September 18, 2007) - Kismet Acoustic EPKismet Acoustic2008 EP by California artist, Jesca Hoop, containing one song original to the album, and the remaining four being acoustic versions of songs from her earlier album.# "Murder of Birds" – 4:33# "Intelligentactile 101" – 4:26# "Seed of Wonder" – 5:24...
(October 24, 2008) - Hunting My DressHunting My DressLate 2009 album by Jesca Hoop, with most of the material written and recorded after the artist moved to Manchester, England.# "Whispering Light" – 4:06# "The Kingdom" – 3:50# "Feast of the Heart" – 3:27 # "Angel Mom" – 5:07# "Four Dreams" – 4:58...
(November 30, 2009UKUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
) - Snowglobe EPSnowglobe (album)2011 EP by Jesca Hoop, written and recorded primarily after the artist moved to Manchester, England. The track 'City Bird' was released as a free download on January 26, 2011...
(January 26, 2011UKUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
)
External links
- Official site
- MySpace page
- KCRWKCRWKCRW is a public radio station broadcasting from the campus of Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, California, carrying a mix of National Public Radio news, talk radio and freeform music format. The general manager of KCRW is Jennifer Ferro...
In-Studio Sessions: Dec. 2004, Sep. 2007, Nov. 2007