How I Got Here: Australian music trailblazer Jess Green
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Admit it, we’ve all been there—stalking social media and LinkedIn profiles, trying desperately to figure out how the hell someone got their dream job.
It seems impossible and yet there they are, living out your career fantasy (minus the itchy business suit). It might seem hard to believe, but once upon a time, they were also fantasising about their future career, and with some hard work, they made it.
Welcome to How I Got Here, HerCanberra’s series that reveals everything you want to know about the secrets of career success. This week we meet Australian music trailblazer, and 2023 ACT Woman of the Year nominee Jess Green.
Born and raised in Canberra, Jess has recorded for television and dance, composed and performed for theatre, and released several albums under various stage and band names (The Green Septet, The New Dynamites, Jess Green’s Bright Sparks and Pheno). We spent some time with Jess ahead of the opening night of her latest project The Girl Who Glows.
Existential crisis time: Who are you and what do you do?
I am a multi-modal performer who loves collaboration, improvisation and play.
Let’s go back to when you were a kid, have you always dreamed of working in this industry?
Yes! I remember my first experience singing in a choir at school and I loved the powerful feeling of singing in harmony. There was a lot of singing into hairbrushes at home along with Video Hits, and from a young age, I used to gather my sisters and my cousins into little productions with singing and dancing, and we’d charge our parents entry.
Having the opportunity to really push my limits as a performer early with Canberra Youth Theatre really shaped me as an artist. I remember my experiences with local hero David Branson and smearing Nutella on my face and performing Bouffon on the streets of Canberra dressed in a hessian sack…that definitely did something to my brain.
And now I get to perform for kids around Australia with Zeeko and to bring to life new theatre for young audiences, in a collaboration with award-winning theatre maker Jo Turner, in The Girl Who Glows…and act like a kid!
Tell us about when you were first starting out, what set a fire in your belly to get here and how did you do it?
Another local hero, Peter Gelling, created an amazing community program to encourage more young women to be in bands. My first gig was a Tilley’s singing blues songs by people like Koko Taylor – lucky me!
Recall a time when you wanted to chuck it all in; what did you tell yourself when it got too hard?
So many of these moments were when I really wanted validation for who I am artistically from specific people or contexts, and for whatever reason, it wasn’t forthcoming. That is a hard thing to get past and to be honest, I haven’t. But I think over time you become more resilient, and also, you become more finely attuned to the work you want to make, and whose opinions matter. That takes over in importance, and as I’ve grown older, I am just so grateful to have the opportunity to make art as my job, with people I love working with.
What was your biggest break?
Hmmm…It was very exciting being approached by Patricia Piccinini to write the Skywhales theme song, and perform at the launches. This commission has led to many more and I am looking forward to bringing to the Canberra stage a new performance work being developed with Emilie Collyer for a commission from The Street.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Don’t get too involved.
What is it about your industry that you love and what makes you want to pull your hair out?
I love that when you make great art with someone else, you connect in a deep way and learn more about yourself and the world.
Trying to balance an income, family and the unpredictable nature of freelance work.
Tell us how you ‘stay in the know’, what media do you consume?
I’m pretty low key. I check Instagram a fair bit and I also love the podcast Bang On.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Surfing!
Why should people follow in your footsteps?
This life is full of awe, wonder, and fun.
What advice would you give your past self?
Stop telling yourself you’re too old!
Feature image: Kerrie Brewer.
