Jesse Weeks

Sometimes songs tug at you. Toronto singer-songwriter Jesse David Weeks is glad “Somewhere In The Distance” did. The sunny pop song, started years ago and shelved, ended up winning the Grand Prize in The 2010 Astral Media Radiostar National Songwriting Competition, beating out thousands of submissions. The track appears on debut album released July 2010 and is received national radio airplay. Degarssi:The Next Generation music supervisors also embraced the bouncy vibe of "Somewhere In The Distance" recently licensing it for an upcoming episode.

Produced by Ron Lopata (Tomi Swick, Matt Dusk, Lindi Ortega),“Somewhere In The Distance” is a light, Caribbean-tinged song with a positive message. “It’s got a spiritual vibe,” says Jesse. “It talks about a voice calling out, a light shining down, a hand reaching out. It touches on the idea of a higher power looking out for you”.

It seems there is a light shining on Jesse. Perhaps that has something to do with his job as a police officer, protecting Toronto citizens, and that light spills out into his music career. It’s not the first time he has won a competition. In 2007, his “Bloodshed In The Streets” won 91.5 FM The Beat’s Rhythm of the Future talent contest, and was top 5 in the Mazda Rock In Roll Call contest. The same song was also top 5 in the 2007 Radiostar contest.

“I’m entering these contests to make sure I’m on the right path. It’s a great way to start building relationships with industry professionals” Jesse explains. Toronto News 24 agrees and says "Weeks has increasingly become recognized as one of Canada's powerful songwriters". Toronto Star also rewarded Jesse with 3 out of 4 stars for his latest release.

The Toronto-born artist moved to Ireland at age four with his family for seven years, after his dad left his job as an airline pilot to become a missionary. Before that, Gary Weeks was a successful songwriter/artist with the group Gary & Dave, whose mid 70's hit, "Could You Ever Love Me Again” is still played around the world.

In grade 10, Jesse discovered his own love of music — hip hop. At school, when he was having trouble with poetry assignments, his father suggested he think of it like rap. Shortly after, he joined a hip hop group in high school called The Arkiteks. He soon realized rap “wasn’t me” and started capturing melodies and lyrics on a digital voice recorder.Through his father, who had toured with the Stampeders, he worked with Rich Dodson on his first single, 2005’s reggae-pop ditty “Trini Girl,” which received local airplay.

Shortly after, while singing in a worship band at Unionville Alliance, he met producer Douglas Romanow (Ann Vriend, The Satallites). They did a handful of songs together, including “Bloodshed In Our Streets,” a dark, reggae-pop song about inner city violence. The song not only won the aforementioned 2007 Rhythm of the Future contest, but also provided Jesse with the opportunity to work with rapper/producer Saukrates and Colin Munroe. It was also used in a Crimestoppers video seeking information on a homicide (an arrest was made).

In 2008, noting a new artist on the radio named Tomi Swick and finding out he was Canadian, Jesse bought the album and tracked down the producer, Ron Lopata. Ron happened to have a studio up the street from Jesse’s home. The two began working together and their musical chemistry has proven to be exceptional. One of the songs Jesse showed him was incomplete, “but it kept coming to mind as something that needed to be recorded,” he says. Ron changed the arrangement, but the lyrics remained — positive, about someone looking out for you. Now “Somewhere In The Distance” is receiving airplay on various HOT AC and Chrsitian FM radio.

Jesse's debut album is named after the winning song and is available online at www.jesseweeks.com as well as itunes and puretracks.

"Answers" is Jesse's latest single and is currently being promoted to radio. It has recently been featured in the TV series "Village On A Diet" and CTV national news in conjunction with the "LOST" series finale. "Answers" is complimented by a stunning video featuring actress Laura Miyata.

It appears as if Jesse is well on his way to reaching his goals. Since releasing his album, he has travelled to Los Angeles, Vancouver, Hong Kong, Japan and London writing, promoting and building his network. He has been writing with Hawksley Workman, Gord Wong, Geoffry Whitt and just completed two songs with producer Bill Bell (Jason Mraz/Justin Nozuka)

--Karen Bliss