Stacey Jackson’s journey as an indie musician is a testament to resilience and the belief that it’s never too late to chase your dreams. From singing in her first rock band at 15 to juggling a career in television with her passion for music, Stacey’s path has been shaped by her determination and love for creativity.
After taking a 15-year break to raise her four children, she returned to music with renewed purpose and hasn’t looked back. Inspired by the iconic sounds of the 80s, Stacey’s music celebrates the spirit of that era while embracing modern influences. Her unique perspective, shaped by both her experiences and age, has set her apart in an industry often focused on youth.
In this interview, Stacey shares her creative process, the challenges she’s faced as an independent artist, and her inspiring message about following your dreams no matter the obstacles. Let’s dive into the world of Stacey Jackson and discover what drives her as an artist.
Can you tell us about your journey as an indie musician? What inspired you to pursue a career in music?
I’ve been singing since I was 11 years old and joined an original rock band back in the 80s when I was 15. Even when I moved to NYC after uni I continued to sing in a band while I was working in the television industry. That said, my real dream was to write and record my music. But I took 15 years off of work to raise my four kids and only when I was approaching 40 did I think to myself “is it too late to pursue this?” But I didn’t want to be 80 and look back at my life and wonder what could have happened if I didn’t give it a go. And I’m really glad I did!
How would you describe your unique style and sound as an artist? What sets you apart from other musicians?
Perhaps I am still living a bit in the 80s. I’ve been very inspired by that era and I feel privileged to have authentically lived through it. I was inspired by the hard rock guitar, the synth pop, late 80s hip hop and dance. I feel that what sets me apart is the advantage of having actually been there. I literally “felt” those songs and I want to recreate that feeling again in the songs I write now. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that the 80s sounds have been making a bit of a come-back lately.
Could you share some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced as an indie musician and how you overcame them?
Most people would think that my biggest challenge is that I pursued this all later on in life — particularly labels who are looking for younger, more malleable artists. But I actually think my age and experience is very valuable and I was able to make decisions for myself. I think the real challenge was learning the ins and out of the “music biz” — because it’s easy to just want to “be the artist”. But these days it’s not just about writing great songs, you have to understand all the admin, all of the marketing, keeping up with the social media, and keeping your catalogue organised with all the writers agreements and appropriate registrations etc, etc…
What is your creative process like? How do you approach songwriting and composing music?
It actually changes every time. Sometimes I have an idea for a lyric or a message I want to sing about and sometimes, I’ll have a melody in my head. Strangely, they also can come to me at any time — like I’ve woken up plenty times in the middle of the night with a song in my head. It really depends. Also I have had the privilege of working with such amazing co-writers and producers that the vibe in the room or writing structure is different with each one. I love that, cuz everyone has a different approach and I get inspired by what makes other artists tick. I love a great collaboration!
Are there any particular themes or messages that you aim to convey through your music? What inspires your lyrics?
This particular album is really about how your past can affect your future and the that whole journey it takes to get there. But my main message which I feel I convey in my lyrics is largely that it really is never too late to live your dreams.
What are your long-term goals as an indie musician? Where do you see yourself and your music in the next few years?
For me, all my projects circle back to the music. When I launched a fitness line of sports tops, StaeFit, It was accompanied by three CD’s of my tracks remixed to 140 BPM for people to specifically workout to. Those albums were called StaePumped volumes 1, 2 and 3. Also, my book How A Gangsta Rapper Made Me a Better Mom is being re-released with an integrated musical soundtrack both in the audio book format as well as the paperback — so in the physical version there will be a QR code exactly where the song for that scene or chapter is meant to be.
Each principal character in the book has their own genre and style of music. So I am excited to launch that in the spring of 2025. But my new album “Super Woman” just premiered last week so I am focusing on that, planning for another tour on the back of it and of course, the title single “Super Woman” which is meant to be an empowering mantra for all those kick-ass women out there! In fact, I celebrate that mantra in the video for the song.
