Jess Puri
Welcome Jess and thanks for taking the time to talk to us in The Green Room!
So let’s go back to the start, tell us where your earliest memory and inspiration for music came from?
Thanks so much for having me! – I would always be watching films and TV shows from a very young age. From that moment on, I was inspired listening to theme tunes and wanting to play them such as Pink Panther and Walker Texas Rangers. A couple years later, I started to listen to a British rock band called The Shadows. Through them I discovered Chet Atkins and Tommy Emmanuel. This was when the fingerstyle guitar journey began.
So you have travelled to many countries to perform- where has been your favourite place to visit and to get in front of a crowd?
Every country is unique and fantastic in their own way and I truly enjoy travelling and touring in many different countries on this planet. It is quite difficult to pick one favourite show. However, earlier this year I played a show at Parkmall in Mandaue, Phillipiness.The crowd atmosphere was incredible and I felt so inspired and full of emotion leaving there. Fingerstyle guitar music is very well known throughout the Asia countries.
What made you consider composing for film scores?
Being inspired by film scores from a very young age, I have always wanted to develop my writing into this area. Discovering film composers such as Hans Zimmer (who is my biggest inspiration for film scores), Thomas Newman, John Williams and listening to their work just amazed me how they tell a story through their music for an entire movie. That is exactly what I want to achieve with my music.
What is your process for doing this, do you lock yourself away in a room or do you seek inspiration from elsewhere?
Inspiration comes to me through life experiences or even dreams. This is where i figure out the melody of the song and work it out on the guitar. Having a good melody is very important. After having the melody I start adding other parts such as the bass, rhythm, percussion one by one and then bringing it all together.
Are you working on anything exciting at the moment?
I am currently on tour but always writing in between these busy periods. I’m also working on some collaboration projects with musicians from all over the globe.
If music wasn’t your career what would you be doing?
I am not too sure. I would hate to have a standard daytime job working 9am to 5pm. I would probably still be doing something music related like being a guitar builder.
Where can we hear your music next?
I will be touring over the USA at the end of the month as well as the UK and Europe for the rest this year.
Amazing! Thanks for joining us Jess and we look forward to seeing and hearing more from you in the near future.
I’ll make sure you do hear from me! Maybe I’ll have my music in one of your festival films?! Thanks for inviting me to The Green Room.
