Today we’d like to introduce you to Jesse DeCarlo.
Hi Jesse, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I feel incredibly lucky that I get to make music all the time and claim it as my job. The career I’ve arrived at is split half and half between performing as a guitar and bass player and working in the studio for other artists as a producer and recording engineer. Getting here was a long and winding road: although I’ve been playing music since I was 13 years old and I knew right away that it was what I wanted to do with my life, I talked myself out of it for a few years and decided to study geology in college. But by the time I got to my late 20s I knew I had made a mistake, and I knew I’d be full of regret for the rest of my life if I didn’t at least try to be a full-time musician. I was very determined, but it took a few more years for things to fall into place and it only worked because of my amazing, understanding and very patient wife.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It was not a smooth road. As I mentioned, I had a fairly long detour while I tried to convince myself that I should have a more respectable career. And then even after I committed to a life in music, there were long periods during which I wasn’t sure I had really made the right decision, and it took a long time not only to hone the skills but to build a good network of other music professionals to work with.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m known as a guitarist, bassist, recording engineer and producer, not necessarily in that order. I think what I’m most proud of is that I’m a good collaborator and team player, and that I strive to elevate any musical project I’m involved with. I try to listen carefully to what the artist and all of the other musicians are doing, and in whatever role I’m playing I want to offer as much support and inspiration as I possibly can. I don’t know how often I succeed at as high a level as I want to, but as long as people keep choosing to work with me and we’re all having fun, I’m happy.
Any big plans?
Mostly I’m just trying to get better at everything all the time. So I look forward to being better! At some point I might like to make an album of my own songs under my own name, which I’ve never done. But I’m so grateful to be working with all of the amazing people I work with that I’m looking forward to literally whatever comes next.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jessedecarlo.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jesse.decarlo/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessedecarlo/
Image Credits
Sarah Gaudoin, Guy Keir, Linda Arceo, Vanessa Sundra, Lorraine Jordan-McGriff
