Today we’d like to introduce you to Jake Harrell.
Hi Jake, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was surprised to hear from y’all. While I’ve made a career in music, it’s a modest career to say the least. But with that said, I guess the fact that I’ve managed to support myself creatively for over a decade is meaningful in its own right.
My parents had me involved in music and creativity from a very young age. I started guitar lessons around age five and immediately took to it. I pretty much never put the guitar down since. I played throughout adolescence, but it wasn’t until my late teens, when I started playing with other people, that as a result I began taking it more seriously.
I didn’t originally plan on pursuing a. career in music. Around age twenty I was attending ACC to get my basics for acupuncture school, when I met someone in the music department who encouraged me to join the program. I did, earned my associate’s degree in music, and then unexpectedly spent several years working on a farm right after.
I didn’t return to Austin to seriously pursue music as a career until my mid-twenties. Once back, I fell into Austin’s vibrant swing and hot jazz scene, started playing shows, which eventually led me to became a full-time musician/hired gun. I’ve now been doing that for over ten years.
You originally reached out because of my guitar lessons. I’ve always taught here and there, but it wasn’t until this last year that teaching has become a more important part of my life and income. I think I probably enjoying teaching more then performing. Though I still love playing gigs, there’s something deeply rewarding about helping someone connect with music and watching things click for them over time.
Life as a working musician can definitely feel unstable and pose a lot of challenges. Income fluctuates, schedules change constantly, and there’s no clear roadmap. But I’ve been fortunate enough to support myself through creativity and music, and most importantly, to do it in a way that feels honest, ethical, and meaningful to me.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I would definitely not say it’s been a smooth road, though there have been moments where things seemed to naturally fall into place and feel “in the flow.” But there are a lot of struggles that come with trying to build a life as an artist and working musician.
The biggest challenge for me has probably been stability. Steady work and consistent income has proven to be hard to find, and having enough left over to save can feel impossible. It also can be emotionally intense for me being in front of a live audience and playing alongside great musicians I look up to.
There’s definitely been impostor syndrome at times, uncomfortable situations, late nights, financial stress, and then there’s times where finding the value or justification in what I’m doing has felt elusive. Music scenes can be beautiful and supportive, especially in Austin, but there have also been times where I’ve felt vibed out, both on and off stage.
Working nights, weekends, and holidays means you operate outside the rhythms most people live by. It can take a toll on relationships and routines, and long-term planning becomes more complicated. There’s no clear roadmap for being an artist, which is both freeing and difficult.
So yeah, there have definitely been plenty of struggles for me in this field.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a guitar player, teacher, and performer by trade. I consider myself a hired gun. I play in a variety of bands, venues, and styles. I’ve been working full-time as a gigging musician for over ten years. More recently, I’ve started playing upright bass professionally as well. I’ve also started focusing more seriously on teaching guitar and music, and that’s been a really refreshing and meaningful shift for me. I’ve found a lot of depth and fulfillment there that has sometimes been harder to find in performance alone.
I tend to specialize in the style of Django Reinhardt, what’s often called Gypsy jazz. That’s probably what I’m most known for, though I also get contacted for solo guitar work, along with a variety of other styles.
I’ll be honest, pride isn’t an emotion I feel very often, so I had to think hard about this question. I think what I’m most proud of is my approach to music itself. I improvise on probably 99% of my gigs, and I’m always trying to explore something new and create something genuine in the moment. Im proud that I’m willing to take the risk of falling flat on my face in front of an audience in order to honor the music and attempt to create something real and personally expressive in the moment.
I also take pride in being reliable and professional. Showing up prepared, on time, adaptable, and easy to work with matters a lot to me. In a scene built heavily on relationships and reputation, those things go a long way. In general I care deeply about things, and I am proud of that I guess.
I’m not entirely sure what sets me apart. There aren’t a huge number of dedicated Gypsy jazz players, so that naturally carved out a niche for me. But I also think my personality and the way I treat people has helped me maintain long term relationships and steady work.
In teaching, I think it’s clearer what sets me apart. I’m very patient, I genuinely want to see people succeed and enjoy music, and I think I’m able to meet students where they are while still challenging and encouraging them.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
It should probably first be said that I’m from here. I was raised in Austin in the ’90s, so that definitely shapes my perspective. The city has changed dramatically since I was a kid. Generally for the worse.
What I love most about Austin, outside of my family being here, is probably the musical community. It’s amazing to live in a city that attracts so many talented musicians. There’s a warmth and openness to the music culture here that I’m not sure is true in other musical cities. I love being able to call so many musicians I look up to colleagues and friends. I also appreciate that, despite how difficult it can be, Austin is still one of the few places where you can realistically piece together a living as a working musician… For most of my life I probably would’ve said Barton Springs was my favorite thing about the city. I still love it, but it’s changed a lot. These days it usually feels overcrowded and chaotic in a way that makes it harder for me to enjoy the nature, peace and magic it used to have, which ties into what I like least about Austin. The city feels like it’s flipped on itself culturally. The character and weirdness that made Austin special when I was growing up feels replaced. The rapid growth, tech boom, rising costs, traffic, locals being out priced and outnumbered has changed the feeling of the city profoundly. I feel like a outsider in my own town quite a bit, and its kind of a bizare-o land now for rich young out of towners. I kind of hate it. Austin has not grown well.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jacobemusic.me/
