Welcome to the Machine

Hello, I'm Jessie Novak. If you can catch every musical reference I make in every blog, I'll be impressed. But let me say, there will be a lot.

Welcome to my blog and I hope you'll stay, stay, stay, stay for awhile, because it's going to be full of the good stuff and I have so much to say. (Really, are you catching them all?)

Spitting in the Mic is dedicated to the celebration of music with a primary focus on the local music scene in Harrisonburg (because there is so much happening around here and you should be a part of it!) and the newest developments in this rapidly changing industry. Though living in such a turbulent time for the music business can be daunting, it is also an incredible opportunity for those prepared to take advantage of it as Justin Timberlake expressed in a recent Rolling Stone magazine interview. When asked about the future of the industry, Timberlake responded, "I'm optimistic about it. People look around and they see dire straits, but I see an entrepreneur's playground." It is this mentality, which has become essential to musicians and industry professionals' survival.

However, before I delve into my interpretation of the industry and my predictions for the future, I’d like to share a little about myself and why I say what I say whenever I’m saying it.

Music has always been a part of my life. Though neither of my parents have any musical experience, the gene seemed to skip generations to all of their children. Each of my siblings played instruments growing up and my oldest brother took particular interest in molding my musical future. Thanks to Jon, my first favorite band was Cream and my favorite song to dance to was “Jungle Boogie”. By the third grade I knew Jaco Pastorius was the greatest bass player to ever live and I could sing every word of the Godspell soundtrack because we saw musicals constantly as Jon played in all the pit bands.

I began playing classical violin at the age of seven and began with drums in school because we did not have a string section. I played with a Preparatory and Symphony Orchestra for nearly seven years and toured Europe with them as well. In high school I concentrated on studying French Horn, but played Mellophone with the Marching Band and Trumpet with the Jazz Band. I bought a bongo just for fun, experimented with my grandma’s keyboard and started with guitar when I realized that was the cool thing to do. I was drum major for two years and played with every group I could get myself into.

However, music can be a depressing reality. After all the stressful auditions, grueling rehersals, never-ending practicing and terrifying college requirements for music majors, I realized performance was not an option for me. I love performing and miss it desperately. Nothing I have experienced can compare to the feeling of participating in a quality performance and there are not enough words to describe it. But, seeing and hearing the talent surrounding me, I knew I could never do justice to the art as well as many of my peers.

I also realized I could not live, breathe or function without music in my life.

So, I found the middle ground and here I am. I am a music industry minor, active with the student-run radio station WXJM and I write about music for the Breeze.

I have been fortunate enough to meet, see and hear an astounding number of bands, performers and professionals in the industry through radio station opportunities, interviews for articles and the internship I completed at the New York City radio station, Z100. I read music magazines more than textbooks (sorry, it’s true) and will take my itunes over television any day of the week. It is for all of these reasons that I wish to share this passion with you.



One of my favorite artists and greatest songwriters, Bob Dylan, captured some of this feeling better than I could express, "Music has given me a purpose. As a kid, there was rock. Later on, there was folk-blues music. It's not something that I just listen to as a passive person. It has always been in my blood and it has never failed me. Because of that, I'm disconnected from a lot of the pressures of life. It disconnects you from what people think about you...It's natural for me."

As far as I am concerned, music has given me purpose and direction. Seeing an incredible show (like The Machine tonight) reminds me of the reason I am here: to spread the gift of music to any one willing to receive it. I stand by my conviction that music has an intangible quality unlike any other art-form and is capable of effecting people in extraordinary ways.

So, welcome to the Machine…or my blog. Read with an open mind and open ears. Keep your eyes peeled for new link listings and be sure to check them out (I won’t steer you wrong!).

It’s celebration time, so let’s get it on.