64 | OCTOBER 12 • 2023 J
N

S

inger-songwriter Jesse 
Palter has led no ordi-
nary life.
The West Bloomfield-born 
Jewish artist has written music 
since as early as middle school 
and, by the age of 15, she was 
working with the prestigious 
Bass Brothers record label, 
which is regarded worldwide for 
launching Eminem’s early career.
In high school, she often trav-
eled to Los Angeles to record 
music, giving her her first 
glimpse at the recording indus-
try and the ins-and-outs of the 
global music world.
As a jazz major at the 
University of Michigan, Palter 
was performing gigs all over 
Detroit. She also won several 
Detroit Music Awards, including 
Outstanding Jazz Vocalist.
Still, like many artists living 
outside of major music hubs 
like New York or Los Angeles, 
Palter felt the ceiling for what 
was possible as a jazz musician 
in Detroit.

First, she moved to Chicago in 
2008. Then, in 2010, she finally 
made the move to Los Angeles. 
Palter quickly began living the 
dream life. She was signed to the 
Artistry Music record label and 
given a “dream cast” of studio 
musicians to work with.

TWISTS AND TURNS
Still, being signed to a record 
label wasn’t what Palter thought 
it would be.
In a vastly changing music 
industry, she encountered a 
surprising amount of red tape. 
Then, she was shelved for sev-
eral years, meaning her album 
Paper Trail “sat on shelves” while 
a marketing and PR plan was 
assembled by the label.
“It was a couple of pretty 
painful years,
” says Palter, who 
spent the time reevaluating what 
she thought the dream could be, 
and learning how to manage her 
expectations.
Things were tough, but Palter 
found herself grateful for the 

experience.
“I learned so much through-
out that process not only about 
the music industry, but also 
about myself and what I wanted 
going forward,
” she recalls.
Then, 2020 hit and COVID-
19 upended the music and 
touring industry. Gigs 
stopped; tours came to 
a standstill and many 
artists were left without 
income or opportu-
nities.
“It became glaringly 
apparent to me that the 
next step was to return 
to being an indepen-
dent artist,
” says Palter, 
who immediately went 
back to the drawing 
board.
Like the rest of the 
country, she was stuck 
indoors. Palter learned 
how to record herself 
in her living room, 
and when an oppor-
tunity presented itself 

through a friend to sing music to 
young children outdoors — who 
were equally isolated — Palter 
decided to try it.
Sitting outside in a circle 
with young children and their 
mothers, Palter says a “lightbulb 
clicked in her head” as she sang 

ARTS&LIFE
MUSIC

Award-winning singer- 
songwriter Jesse Palter 
explores a new calling.

A Fresh 
 Start

ASHLEY ZLATOPOLSKY 
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Jesse Palter is 
glad to be back 
in Metro Detroit.

Bryan Abrams, 
Jesse Palter and 
their son Jude

