San Diego native Alyssa Jacey is a professional dancer/choreographer turned one of today's most talented and promising singer/songwriters. Her music career, which she now refers to as, "A fusion of acoustic, folk rock, pop and soul," began just a few short years ago in January of 2005, when she decided to record her first EP out of no where. Jacey had no vocal or songwriting training, "Just a couple decades of writing poetry as my favorite hobby," she says. Her self entitled EP, 'Alyssa Jacey,' opened doors for her first performances on stage as a singer at venues such as the San Diego County Fair, local coffee houses and bars. Surprised by the siege of compliments she got from friends and audience members, Alyssa began vocal lessons and went directly back into the studio to record, 'Closed eyes… …open Heart,' a 7-song LP that was released 3 months later, this time adding some acoustic tracks to her first EP's pop/country style. That October, Alyssa was forced to stop her vocal training because she lacked the funds to continue them. To lift her spirits and encourage her growth as a musician, she was given a classical guitar from world famous classical guitarist as well as close family friend, Pepe Romero. He also gave Alyssa her first lesson and she has been self-taught ever since. In less than a year Jacey had performed at almost every acoustic venue in San Diego at least once, as well as celebrated her 100th gig in August of 2006, 7 months after 'The Soul,' EP was released, this time calling her genre, "pop/soul." By the end of 2007, Alyssa had accomplished a lot; a live CD was put out in November ('AJ Live!'), her music in constant rotation on multiple Internet radio stations throughout the US, European countries were purchasing her albums off her website, she had performances and interviews lined up on local TV stations and had gigged up and down the coast of CA and even out of state. This year she opened for Bushwalla, Scott Russo, Ernie Halter, Paula Cole, Angel Taylor, Meiko and Jack Tempchin. Currently she is in the studio recording her first full-length album to be released later this year. You can catch Alyssa at the Belly Up Tavern on August 30th, doors 3pm, Alyssa Jacey Band at 5pm.
