Jess McAvoy

Jess McAvoy
Background information
Birth name Jessica Henduwin McAvoy
Born 11 January 1980
Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Origin Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Genres Folk, Pop, Rock
Occupation(s) Musician, songwriter, actor
Instruments Guitar, vocals
Years active 1996–present
Labels Henduwin
Website jessmcavoy.com

Jessica Henduwin McAvoy (born 11 January 1980) is an independent folk, pop, rock musician who was born and raised in Perth, Western Australia. McAvoy has released thirteen self-funded and self-produced studio albums on her own label, Henduwin Music. She has toured extensively across Australia, Europe, Canada, and the United States. She is currently based in New York City.

Biography

Jess McAvoy was born on 11 January 1980 and grew up in South Perth.[1][2][3] She started playing the guitar and writing music at the age of eleven.[2][4] In 1994, when McAvoy was only fourteen, she created her own record label, Henduwin Music.[5] At sixteen-years-old, McAvoy performed live for the first time at "Battle of the Bands," a competition in Perth, where she won first prize.[6]

In 1999 McAvoy relocated to Melbourne to play the pub circuit.[2] As her career gained momentum, her music was played on national Australian radio and television.[7]

In 2006, McAvoy released Into the Dark, which was declared Album of the Week by Beat Magazine‍ '​s Nick Snelling. He wrote, "This is truly a beautiful release. Into the Dark not only crystallizes the gorgeous melancholy of her songwriting, but finally does justice to that wonderful frayed beauty in her voice, that husk versus honey, and the raw introspection of her lyrics. An album to treasure".[8] The album received high accolades from The Age‍ '​s Clem Bastow, who described McAvoy as "one of the best rootsy female singer-songwriters" and the album as "a stunning spectrum of songs and emotions ... [which] explores the many facets of love and life, and most listeners will find more than a few songs resonating personally".[9][10]

In 2008, McAvoy's follow up album, As the Sun Falls, also earned rave reviews. Kaz Mitchell from Inpress Magazine (Melbourne) and Drum Media (Sydney) described it as "Her best album to date. Thumbs up to a very cool album filled with plenty of verve". As the Sun Falls features the single, The Sailor. That same year in an interview with Sue Barrett from Jam, McAvoy was quoted as saying The Sailor was her "very favorite song" that she'd written to date.[4]

In 2011, McAvoy decided to relocate to North America. During her "farewell show" at the Corner Hotel in Melbourne, there were cameos by fellow Australian performers who surprised the audience by interpreting their favorite McAvoy songs.[10] During this concert, McAvoy performed a duet version of The Sailor with Wally de Backer (Gotye). This live concert collaboration has proven to be a fan favorite and has received over 29,000 views on YouTube.[10]

McAvoy lived in Toronto, Canada from 2011 to 2013 where she continued to write, perform and collaborate with other artists.

Late in 2014, McAvoy returned to her homeland of Australia for a few months to focus on a new endeavor. She formed a rock and roll band called HEROiNE which debuted on 13 June at the Evelyn Hotel in Melbourne. Capturing the vibe of HEROiNE’s launch, Dayne Applebee of Get Shot Magazine wrote, “There is everything you want in there: clever, raw lyrics, punchy riffs, and perfect harmonies.” He also added that the band “delivered some tasty, and loud, good old fashioned rock.”[11]

McAvoy's most recent album, The Women, was released in August 2014.

McAvoy's musical influences include Tori Amos, Madonna, Etta James, Edith Piaf, Rage Against the Machine and Nina Simone.[12]

McAvoy's artistry extends beyond her music career. She is an exhibiting painter, actor, and contributing editor for Curve Magazine.

One of McAvoy's future goals is to see Henduwin Music support other artists.[4]

McAvoy currently resides in New York City.

Personal life

When McAvoy was ten, the family moved to Holland for five years before returning to Perth.[4]

McAvoy has an older brother, Ben, who is a professional DJ in Australia. She also has a younger sister, Katrina.

McAvoy's parents continue to live in Perth. From 2008 through 2013, they owned and operated a cafe in Kensington called The Banksia.

Discography

Albums (all released on Henduwin Music)

Singles

Awards

References

  1. ↑ "'Champagne and Sinners' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 27 December 2012.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Zuel, Bernard (5 October 2004). "Songbird determined to triumph over adversity". Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 27 December 2012.
  3. ↑ Kuch, Jesse (4 March 2010). "What a voice". The Cairns Post (News Limited (News Corporation)). Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Barrett, Sue (26 July 2008). "Jess McAvoy – Making Music That's Different, Unique, Important". Jam (NSW Folk Federation). Retrieved 27 December 2012.
  5. ↑ "Jess McAvoy", Triple J Unearthed. Retrieved 24 December 2012
  6. ↑ Admin2 (18 July 2011). "Singer/Songwriter Jess McAvoy on Leaving Australia Behind for a Rock Star Life in the US". CherryGrrl. Dana. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
  7. ↑ "2011 APRA Professional Development Awards: Popular Contemporary Finalists". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 28 December 2012.
  8. ↑ Snelling, Nick (August 2006). "Into the Dark". Beat Magazine.
  9. ↑ Bastow, Clem (7 September 2006). "Into the Dark – CD Reviews". The Age (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 27 December 2012.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Clarke, Layla (11 May 2011). "Jess McAvoy announces June farewell show at the Corner Hotel in Melbourne". The AU Review. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  11. ↑ "Get Shot Magazine, HEROiNE@The Evelyn, 20 June 2014"
  12. ↑ "Fresh Licks: Jess McAvoy", Curve
  13. ↑ "Jess McAvoy – Biography". JPlay. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
  14. ↑ "'See How I Go' :: Jess McAvoy". OzTrax. ABC Local Radio (Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)). Retrieved 28 December 2012.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jess McAvoy.