On The Rise: Jessica Hernandez and The Deltas

Empty Lighthouse recently had the chance to catch up with Jessica Hernandez of Jessica Hernandez and The Deltas.

We will be following the band on their way to Big Guava Festival in Tampa Bay, Florida, and can't wait to see their lively and crowd winning performance.

Until then, read further and get to know this band on the rise.

EMPTY LIGHTHOUSE: How did you first get your start in music?
JESSICA HERNANDEZ: I've been singing since I could walk, but I didn't start writing and playing until college. I was always singing in choirs or musicals and stuff through my childhood, but it wasn't until I went to school for fashion that I got into playing.

I was at an art school in Chicago and was surrounded by producers and engineers and people wanting to get started.

People started asking me to sing on demos or whatnot and it all kind of grew from there. I got my first guitar and piano and recording gear and fully went for it.

EMPTY LIGHTHOUSE: Who are your musical influences?
JESSICA HERNANDEZ: They're all over the place and constantly changing. I love classics like Desmond Dekker, Wanda Jackson, Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lyn, Neil Young, Jacques Dutronc, Conway Twitty, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Little Willie John - I could go on forever.

I love music and I don't really care what era or genre it is. If it's good and inspiring, I want to listen to it.

EMPTY LIGHTHOUSE: Who do you listen to in your spare time and what are some of your other hobbies?
JESSICA HERNANDEZ: Lately I've been really into this old Peruvian garage soul I found.

Los Juniors, Los Drag's, Los Shains - it's all so good.

EMPTY LIGHTHOUSE: What has been your most memorable experience while touring?
JESSICA HERNANDEZ: All the funniest stories are too incrimating so we won't go there but one of the most memorable was playing in Grants Pass, Oregon about six or so months ago. We were invited there by this incredible family that took us in on a day off.

they had ah uge barbeque, invited the whole town practically and had tons of crazy drinks and a little stage in the yard with a spotlight.

We partied with them all night and played one of the most fun shows on that little stage. After, their 11 year old daughter got up there and sang her heart out and it was amazing.

EMPTY LIGHTHOUSE: What advice would you give to other young people looking to succeed in the industry?
JESSICA HERNANDEZ: Write a lot of songs and don't think too much about it. Just write beacuse you love to write and anything you don't use, just remember that you can always use it for something else.

It keeps it fun that way.

Also, make sure you know a lot about every aspect of the industry, not just the music.

Know about publishing and licensing and credits and accounting and touring - all of it, and question everyone you work with all the time and make sure they know more than you even know.

EMPTY LIGHTHOUSE: When you hit a creativity block, what re-inspires you?
JESSICA HERNANDEZ: Lately, writing with other people. Sometimes writing alone gets stale and having someone you like to be writing with you is very inspiring.

EMPTY LIGHTHOUSE: How do you manage your time between your music and personal life?
JESSICA HERNANDEZ: It can get hard sometimes but my family and I talk almost every day, and my girl friends have been in my life since childhood so we can go months without seeing each other and things never change between us.

My boyfriend and I spend a lot of time together considering he also tours full time so it makes it fun for us, since we are always hopping on each other's tours whenever we get time off.

It keeps life interesting even if it's stressful.

EMPTY LIGHTHOUSE: What are your upcoming plans in regards to more touring, releases and producing new music?
JESSICA HERNANDEZ: right now our LP is being mixed and mastered which is super exciting. It's coming out win the spring so I've just been working on album artwork and creating new merchandise for us.

We also just finished two new music videos, one for "Caught Up" and one for "Demons", those should be coming out soon.

This year will be a lot of touring and a lot of festival dates. I'm already writing for the next album right now!

EMPTY LIGHTHOUSE: What are you most excited for the next upcoming festival season?
JESSICA HERNANDEZ: Going to Mexico City for Vive Latino in late March! I love it there and I've made a lot of great friends there that I don't get to see often so it will be amazing to spend time with them.

For more information on Jessica Hernandez and The Deltas, be sure to visit www.jessicahernandez.net - and catch the group live in Tampa at Big Guava Festival!