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