A Conversation with Jessica Mitchell

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST COLLABORATION WITH ART OF TIME?

I had the pleasure of collaborating with Art of Time's brilliant Christmas production To All a Good Night in 2015.

HOW DID YOU FIRST GET INVOLVED?

I'm a proud member of the Slaight Music family, and we were brought together through them.

HOW HAS YOUR EXPERIENCE BEEN WITH ART OF TIME, AND WHAT MAKES YOU WANT TO KEEP COLLABORATING WITH THEM?

Being a singer/songwriter I've always been driven by the art of creating music.  Art of Time and all it's amazing collaborators are doing the same thing but at a heightened and intricate level.  I continue to adore working with them because it pushes me to learn about a side of music that I've never had the chance to experience.  Last year's shows were a challenge for me in such a cool way.  I feel like I learn so much from all these talented people. 

WHO ARE SOME OF THE ARTISTS WHO HAVE HAD A GREAT INFLUENCE ON YOU?

I grew up listening to a lot of the great folk singer/songwriters (Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Peter Gabriel).  As I got older I moved more into bands like Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails.  Tori Amos and Sheryl Crow have had a huge influence on me through my own music as well. 

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR GUILTY PLEASURES?

I watch a lot of sports in my off time, baseball and football especially.  Comfort food is my go to guilty food choice.  Animal documentaries and Netflix series, and any movies that tell a great story.

IF YOU WEREN'T WORKING IN YOUR PRIMARY MEDIUM, WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING?

Probably something in counselling.  I've always had a great love for helping people.

WHO ARE SOME OF THE PEOPLE YOU'D LOVE TO COLLABORATE WITH IF YOU HAD THE CHANCE?

In my own genre it'd be Chris Stapleton or Brett Eldredge.  It's on my bucket list to write with Adele one day.

WHAT IS ONE OF THE MOST MEMORABLE PERFORMANCES YOU'VE WITNESSED IN RECENT YEARS?

I recently went to the Adele show in Toronto.  It was mind blowing.  Sigur Ros always has a special place in my heart live as well.  I've seen so many concerts over the years it's hard to choose which ones were my favorite.  For my own performances, it is definitely playing Massey Hall opening for Tom Cochrane last year.  It was such a surreal experience and I'll never forget it. 

Follow Jessica on twitter at @jessicamitchell and on instagram at @jessicamitchellmusic

Jessica will be singing in TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT 2, Art of Time's different holiday concert. Get your tickets for Dec. 15 - 17 here!