Jessica Williams, sophomore in media studies, is pursuing her dream of becoming a singer/songwriter. Williams has been playing guitar since she was 13 years old, and she has been writing songs since she was 15 years old.
According to Williams, the music she makes is a mix between pop, country and acoustic.
“It’s kind of a genre of its own I guess,” Williams said.
As a freshman, Williams started out her college career in interior design. She said she felt more focused on her music.
“I thought to myself, ‘I don’t know if I can do interior design for the rest of my life,’ so my parents let me move,” Williams said.
Williams then spent a year in Nashville, Tennessee, where she had the opportunity to network.
“The music industry is all about who you know, and I got to meet a lot of people and learn so much,” Williams said.
She turned to Tom Douglas for mentorship. Douglas has written songs for celebrities such as Miranda Lambert and Tim Mcgraw. Williams said she would send Douglas songs she had written, and he would give her feedback. He even let her perform in one of his own shows. Williams said Douglas has been helpful and encouraging, and she said she knows he will continue to help her with her music.
Williams said her time in Nashville was a learning experience and said it helped her see if she wanted to continue to pursue this dream after her time at Auburn University.
Williams ultimately decided to return to Auburn and finish school.
“Getting a degree is important, and it’s something that I needed to do,” Williams said.
Upon her return, she changed her major form interior design to media studies with a minor in marketing.
Williams performs at venues in the Auburn area. She has upcoming shows at Coffee Cat and at a music festival in April.
Williams said a lot of her inspiration comes from her friends.
“Being around my friends is a good way to get inspired for songs,” Williams said. “I feed off of them. When I’m by myself or in a more business-like songwriting setting, there is only so much to write about. I like being able to write a song about something I’m going through because it’s kind of a therapy thing. The more I sing a song about something, the quicker I get over it.”
Williams also said she is inspired by music about issues that’s he can relate to.
“I like that one person can a write a song that other people in the world can relate to,” Williams said. “That’s what I want to be able to do for other people.”
Williams said her biggest cheerleader is hands-down her grandmother, but she also gets great support from her parents and friends.
According to Williams, one of her favorite things about writing songs is when other people know her songs.
“I love when I’m performing a song and my friends sing the words back to me,” Williams said. “That’s my dream: to hear other people sing the words that I write in my bedroom back to me.”
Williams continues to work on her music. She said she recently recorded three songs and will put one on iTunes in a month or two.
“I would love to be signed, but it’s fine if not,” Williams said. “I’m just seeing what the world has in store. Just seeing what all I can do.”
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