Jesse Weeks

I started my quest in 2003 when I wrote a song called "Trini Girl". It was a pop/reggae song produced by Rich Dodson (The Stampeder's, "Sweet City Woman"). I pushed it hard to Ontario radio. I did a promo tour to stations all over the southern regions of the province.

Eventually, it was picked up by a few small stations (most notably 105.7 Easy Rock in St Catherines - Thanks Mike).

I quickly understood that "Trini Girl" didn't get the attention it deserved because it didn't have an album or label backing it.

I realized I needed more songs and eventually an album so in 2004 I turned to a producer named Doug Romanow who I had been doing some work with. We recorded 4 songs together.

"Year of the Gun"
"Bloodshed In Our Streets"
"Magic Carpet"
"Victory"

I also met with producer Marcus Kane and recorded "Time Waits For No Man" which placed Top 5 in the Rhythm of The Future Talent Contest 2006.

I went on to enter the above songs into various contests etc and some did well.

"Victory" won me a $200 itunes credit and some good press through a once off Mazda song contest win.

"Bloodshed In Our Streets" placed in the Top 5 for Ontario in the Radiostar song contest.

It then went on to be featured in a Crimestoppers video that received thousands on hits on YouTube.

And last but not least, it won the 91.5 The BEAT - Rhythm of Future Talent Contest. This prize included a $1,000.00 cheque, photo shoot, free production of a master with Toronto Rapper/Producer Saukrates. This session brought about "We Wanna Be Free".

Through all of this I had been applying for FACTORS album grant.

In early 2007, I meet with Ron Lopata (producer of Tomi Swick, Simon Wilcox) and he advised me that the album grant is extremely hard to get for someone at my stage and I'd be better off trying for the demo grant.

Since then, I have obtained 2 FACTOR Demo awards. The first was put towards "I Can't Be Without You" and "19 Forever" produced by Ron Lopata. I also used these two songs to apply for the FACTOR album grant. I am now in the process of using the second award to record "Who I'm Meant To Be" and "Life and Death".

I recently met with songwriters Rob Wells and Chris Perry. Both encouraged me to begin introducing myself to publishing companies. So, I've just beguin contacting various publishers and hope to begin building some positive relationships.