Meet Jacob Acosta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacob Acosta.

Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
Once exclusively an instrumentalist born and raised in Phoenix, I performed for over six years as a jazz saxophonist. Now I didn’t always want to be a musician for my living. I enjoyed performing because it was fun. My real childhood dream was to be in the NBA, and I played basketball competitively all the way into college. Somewhere along the life path I realized that my best talents were in music so I picked up the guitar at the end of high school and started performing as a singer-songwriter in 2003. While spending a year in New Jersey I wrote three full demo albums and threw all of them away. I knew I could write better.

In 2006, I enrolled in the Fred Fox School of Music at the University of Arizona in Tucson to get my degree in Music Education as a classical guitarist. In 2008 I began my professional career in Tucson, as the lead singer of the indie rock group, Race You There. With that group I released one full length album (‘Acts of Treason’ 2009), and two EP’s (‘Catalyst’ 2011, ‘Bisbee Royale Live EP’ 2013), along with a few singles. I still miss playing with those guys.

In 2009, I started the acoustic rock trio, Roll Acosta and met my main drummer and now one of my closest friends, Andre Gressieux. We released 2 EP’s (‘The Dawn’ 2010, ‘The Dark’ 2011), and one full length LP produced by the brilliant John Vanderslice (‘This Dreamt Existence’ 2012), which was recorded in his Tiny Telephone studios in San Francisco. What John taught me about production and patience sticks with me to this day. Roll Acosta has had continued success performing in multiple music festivals, on local television and NPR, and touring the west coast.

Soon after Roll Acosta my thirst to be a national artist prompted three follow up solo records (‘Chants of Diplomacy’ 2013, ‘For the People by The People’ 2014, ‘Silver Lining’ 2015). For these records I orchestrated 2 national tours as a solo artist, raised over $14,000 dollars for my albums along with the help of my friends and fans, got licensing placement and work with FOX, Ford, and landed a great side income as the main jingle writer for Codeschool. My latest albums are all full length and in the styles of blues rock, deep synth pop, and Southwest folk. (‘Midnight Road’ – Mason-2017, ‘Exoplanet’ -HYTS-2017, ‘Desert Sounds’ – Jacob Acosta-2018). My true life’s passion is music, and I believe my journey is just beginning.

Please tell us about your art.
The art I make is visual, aural, informative, and based on going deeper within. Whether I’m creating a song, soundtrack, music video, a jingle, or writing a story I’m hoping to create an experience and offer the listener a new perspective. I want the art I create to touch people, heal people, and stem conversations about history, science, culture, etc.

Because I’ve worked on many albums and artistic ventures, in general, the thing I’d like for people take away from my work is to be brave enough to fully express yourself. Don’t limit your possibilities. New challenges could take you somewhere you never imagined. In my experience, those same challenges will beneficially force you to reach deeper within yourself as both a person and artistically in order to connect with many others around the world. Even now, I still have some incredible die-hard patrons that have consistently supported my music so I could spread my voice even bigger. It feels amazing to have that kind of response, but you must work hard day in and day out.

Do you have any advice for other artists? Any lessons you wished you learned earlier?
Learn everything you can. Question, and look up everything. Always find ways to get paid for the hard work you do, and stretch your talents and limits.

Don’t give up! Leave that thinking for someone else. Foster your artistic relationships realistically and genuinely. Be grateful for every opportunity, and choose your time and endeavors wisely. Also, everything you do is a representation of who you are. Own it, and be true to yourself, always improving.

How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
You can hear the current music/art I’ve created at:

http://jacobacostamusic.com
http://mason.band
http://hytsmusic.com

You can hear my past projects, jingles, and albums at:

https://raceyouthere.bandcamp.com/
https://rollacosta.bandcamp.com/

[Codeschool Jingles]
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA57A0401B1F54273

Contact Info:

• Website: http://jacobacostamusic.com
• Email: jacobacostamusic@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jacobacostamusicofficial/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jacobacostamusic/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/jakeacostamusic

Image Credit:
David Scott Moyer
Gordon Bates
Christine Schirmer
Rachael Smith
Tad Sallee
Sam Nalven

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