MANISTEE — Finding inspiration for writing songs is something that has always come naturally to local singer/songwriter Jamie Herbert.
Her journey into the local music world began at an early age and over time has progressed to the point where when she performs, it is a set list that features many songs that she wrote. It is a unique concept, considering many local musicians play primarily cover songs when they perform.
"I still haven't found a great way to describe my style, but I guess my music could be called singer/songwriter acoustical alternative," said Herbert. "I play more originals than covers and have been writing my own music since I was 15 years old.”
However, Herbert does have some favorite cover numbers which she plays as well.
“When I do play covers it’s a lot of Amy Winehouse and Elliott Smith who are my favorites,” she said. “I also play some classics like the Eagles and Rolling Stones. That type of music kind of fits my venue as I am usually playing a bar and that kind of crowd.”
Herbert says much of the music she writes is inspired from her life and things going on around her.
“I pull a lot of inspiration from my friends, the people around me and my experiences in general,” she said. “A lot of my earlier songs are about falling in love and figuring yourself out, as I was very young when they were written as you are falling in love all the time.”
Watch a video one of Jamie Herbert's performances with this article online at manisteenews.com.
Other topics her music has delved into are about taking care of the Earth, which she featured quite heavily while performing at the Hunger No Longer event in Onekama.
“That sparked a different direction in my songwriting, so it just wasn’t kind of a love song,” said Herbert. “It became music with a message and that is the only thing that keeps me going.”
Like a lot of musicians, the introduction to performing music had some of its roots in the school band and taking part in those performances.
"The first time I performed in front of people was in (Onekama Consolidated) school when I was 16 years old," said Herbert. "I had always grown up with music, as my parents were both into it and we had a musical household."
Herbert said her mother sang a lot and her father played the drums. She said being around music at home sparked her interest.
She plays the guitar when performing but also dabbles in playing some guitar on her own. Herbert said her dad also started her on the drums, but said the guitar remains her instrument of choice when performing on stage.
"I always thought about getting into music as a young teen," she said. "My junior year at Onekama school a couple friends and I talked our music teacher into having and independent guitar study. I learned a lot of what I know from that study."
Herbert said that brought about performances at the Spring Fling in Onekama and at the Relay for Life event.
"Before I knew it, (there was an) open night mic thing at McManigal’s a couple years later and it just kept going from there," said Herbert. “However, in the beginning I was terrified to sing in front of people and really had to work through it.”
She said the positive feedback from the audience helped.
“Once I started getting that feedback it became much easier and I was addicted and wanted to keep performing,” she said. “It was something I was already drawn to being a young kid following pop stars and stuff like that, so after experiencing that feedback it made me not want to stop.”
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted Herbert’s performances like it did to most musicians, but she is slowly seeing a resurgence in live music.
“I used to be a lot more active pre-COVID, but now do open mic nights at Bill’s Bar and Grill on Thursdays at 9 p.m., as that is my only steady gig right now,” said Herbert. “I used play at a lot more things.”
In the past Herbert played regularly with someone, but that person relocated to Traverse City. Currently, she is testing out the waters in a new type of music.
“I have a friend, Dakota Wisniski who is into a totally different genre of music,” said Herbert. “I have always kind of been into my guitar, but he makes music on his computer. We really clicked with our voices and the music, so it wasn’t what I expected to be creating, but it really took off.”
Herbert said she has been chomping at the bit to get back to performing more after a layoff due to the pandemic.
“I work in health care and took it pretty seriously when COVID hit so it was kind of staying at home or going to work and not doing much else,” she said. “I absolutely missed performing, so COVID really did a number on me.”
She added that the bleakness of just working and coming home made it difficult for her to bring out the creativity that is needed to create music.
“I pull a lot of my musical inspiration from my friends, so not being able to see them made me kind of sad and depressed,” said Herbert. “Inspiration for music just wasn’t happening for me like some people said it did for them during COVID. When it let up, it allowed me to start breathing again and feeling like making music.”
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May 29, 2022 at 11:27PM
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