Sophomore Jami Jarvis Makes Music

unspecified-4 — Costa sophomore Jamisen Jarvis playing her guitar. She was playing one of her original songs on the guitar in her room.

By Mailan Nguyen

Circulation Editor

Mira Costa sophomore Jami Jarvis says she started making music as a way to express herself and her feelings through songs, rather than having to say them directly.

Jarvis has been writing song lyrics for eight years or since the age of six, and writing music with the guitar and ukulele for two. Jarvis says it was not until recently did she decide to go out of her comfort zone, with the help of her family and friends such as sophomore Chase Evers, to perform for others.

“The first time I performed, it was intentionally at an open mic in Hollywood so I wouldn’t have to see people I knew,” Jarvis said. “That’s when I got over my fear of singing in front of people and large groups because the crowd actually liked my music.”

Listen to Jamisen Jarvis’ songs on her Soundcloud profile.

Jarvis has performed at Saint Rocke, the Standing Room, Spyder Surf Fest, Special Olympics, and has been on Static Beach Radio. Normally she performs around four times a month with a crowd of 15 to 20 people.

“Jami’s performances are always amazingly worth watching and extremely entertaining for the audience,” Evers said. “She has come a long way since the beginning and has improved so much over time, her confidence especially has grown greatly while on the stage.”

Jarvis says compared to before, she now loves to perform in front of audiences, whether they are filled with family, friends or strangers. One of the reasons why is because she wants them to know that they can express their feelings and relate to the things she says in her lyrics.

“Before I get on the stage I always get the butterflies, but as I start to sing and play my instrument whether it’s the guitar or ukulele, I start to get more excited and happy rather than nervous,” Jarvis said.

Jarvis says, in the future she would love to pursue music and songwriting as her professional career. The main point she would like to spread to her listeners, is that if they are trying to get through something, or feel some type of emotion, that they should never feel alone.

“We watched Jami as a little girl singing with a plastic microphone and loving music, and we never thought that this was actually going to be what she would do and all of a sudden she’s becoming a talented musician writing beautiful, heartfelt, thoughtful and deep lyrics and songs that are very moving,” mother Crystal Jarvis said.