The Five Question Challenge with Jesse Kinch

By: Jacob Elyachar, jakes-take.com

When I first heard Jesse Kinch sing “I’ve Put A Spell On You” on Rising Star, I knew that he was going to take the ABC singing competition by storm!

Performance after performance, the Long Island rocker commanded the stage and gave viewers chills with his outstanding covers of “Billie Jean” and “Love Reign O’er Me.”

Now, the show’s inaugural winner is ready to rock the recording industry as he has started the early stages of recording his debut record with Capitol Records.

In this edition of The Five Question Challenge, Jesse shared his reason why he chose to participate with Rising Star over established shows (AGT, Idol and The Voice) and how social media has helped him connect with many generations of fans.

Jacob Elyachar: When did you get interested in music? How did that evolve into a passion in having a career in the music industry?

Jesse Kinch: I became interested in music at six-years-old. My parents introduced me to many different types of music. I developed a love for the depth of classic rock and for all the amazing bands, artists, and lyrics from that era. That evolved into a love of the Seattle scene and bands such as Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden. I also loved Rage Against The Machine and their incredible dynamic and lyrical force.

Also, in between the ages of four and eight, I would listen to a lot of Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli. I love powerful ballads and my mom always had them in her mix of songs while driving. Those incredible voices and sounds from all these different eras and styles shaped my own voice and style. I feel as though many of these great artists are channeled through me. When I started playing guitar and with all these great influences embedded in me, my life’s love and career choice was set. Music!!!

 JE: Why did you originally decide to participate with “Rising Star” over shows such as “America’s Got Talent,” “American Idol” and “The Voice”?

JK: The Voice was all wrong for me! I was offered to go on the show twice. I am a performer, writer, singer and guitar player. It was a must to be portrayed that way if I was to do a show of this kind. There was no way that I wanted to be labeled as just a voice!!  When Rising Star contacted me and asked to go to Boston for a private audition, I researched the show, which originated in Israel and was taken by the concept and the genius of the wall rising by live voting.

When I auditioned in Boston in front of executive producer Ken Warwick, he said: “ I have searched the whole country for someone like you and here you are.” Then, he sent me to LA to audition in front of many more executives and producers for the show. The audition was a huge success and I was chosen as one of the 30 to be on the live shows on ABC television. The most important thing however that convinced me that this show was right for me was that Ken Warwick said I could be ME on the show, and the rest fell perfectly into place. I have a deep respect and caring For Ken Warwick. We shared many special moments together during the course of the show.

JE: What were some of your favorite moments from your time on “Rising Star”? What lessons did you learn from your time on “Rising Star” that you will implement in the next stage in your career?

JK : My favorite moments on Rising Star were all of my performances! I truly loved every one of them… I loved the preparation for them with Ken Warwick’s input and working so closely with the great Ray Chew of the show’s house band. I approached each performance as if it were my last, and always attempted to outdo myself each time. I wanted each performance to be an event so to speak. I never wanted the audience to feel cheated.

One important lesson that I learned during my experience on the show is that you must stay true to yourself or you will die a quick death in this industry. A poser or fake is detested. I carried a heavy burden on the show as to not let my loving and loyal fan base down not let myself down, and all while trying to survive the many confinements of this show and it’s format.

 JE: How has social media helped you grow your presence in the music world?

JK: Social media has helped immensely! My platform for going on Rising Star was to win over the youth of America and re-invigorate my older fan base. When I went on the show, the 30-65 age group dominated my fan base. However, so many young fans (15-30) were discovering the “real” music that I represented. They were so tired of being force-fed this overproduced, overdone and auto-tuned music that dominates the scene today. I was now their representative and hope! I took this very seriously.

After my opening performance on Rising Star and all those there after social media exploded. Sure, as expected, girls were telling me things like I was beautiful and that they I want to marry me (Laughs) and all of that… but amazingly they went on to my You Tube Channel and listened to so much of my material there!!  So many of them wrote that they never knew music like this even existed and that they loved it. So, mission accomplished!!

I strongly feel that my sound and what I represent is now cross-generational. America, I feel, has sent a clear message from ages 15 to 70 that they want meaningful and “real” music and artists, not record label creations… and the time is now. My album with Capitol Records must represent this! I receive thousands of messages a week now on social media from Facebook and Twitter to Instagram and my website. I try to read each and every one of them and to connect with my fanbase, which appears because of social media to be spreading globally.

JE: What can fans expect from you during the remainder of 2014?

JE: I am now signed to Capitol Records and will be heading back to LA to start the recording process. It is a must that I get this record to represent myself as an artist and my fans! There are many factors to getting this done successfully. For sure I want my fan base to know I will be fighting so hard for this on my end. I hope to start touring in 2015 and meeting the so many fans who have loved and supported over the years and during my time on Rising Star. I also hope to make some television appearances and getting my first album out there!

For more information about Jesse, visit his website: http://www.jessekinch.com/

You can also connect with him on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter & YouTube!