Beyond the Music: The inspirations behind Jess's soulful lyrics

In 1968 a British band named The Beatles released a song that would later sell over 8 million copies worldwide and capture the hearts of all of it's fans. The song was called "Hey Jude."

While on the surface, it's understandable why the song is so beloved and so great. Paul McCartney's voice alongside a delicate piano rift. The song starts slow then grows into a heavy rock anthem that people of all ages and generations could sing along to.

Deeper beneath the surface, the song was later deemed even greater once understanding the intentions behind the song. McCartney wrote the song for Julian Lennon, the son of his extremely polarized and popular band mate John Lennon during his parents famed divorce.

The original title was "Hey Jules" but McCartney said he later changed it to "Hey Jude" because it was easier to sing. The song reached Julian as he was struggling with his father's relationship with extreme fame and another woman. But ultimately, the song showed what just a single track can do emotionally and what it can do for a band.

All bands would love to have a captivating story to tell. Not only does it make it easier to write songs but it makes it more relatable to the listening fans. A emotional touch to a song or album can give your music and band a purpose. A purpose that might be larger than the band itself.

Jess shows off her voice at Lucy's in Austin.
(Credit to Jess & the Echoes Facebook page). 

Jess & the Echoes lead singer Jess Kellner has undergone her share of adversity. While growing up in a suburban Fort Worth city of North Richland Hills, TX, Jess would sing because it's all she had done "since she could walk." By the time she was eight years old, for the first time, she used her musical talents as an outlet from the world around her.

Kellner's biological mom battled with alcoholism for many years. Alcohol is a substance that has unfortunately become far too familiar with millions of young children whose parents have had to overcome it's sometimes hurtful effects. But like McCartney’s platinum comfort to Julian Lennon, Kellner received a lift from an unexpected subject.

“It was really tough in the beginning because [my sister and I] didn’t like the idea of a step-mother,” Kellner said. “But the more time we spent with her (Kellie Smith Kellner) and knew she wanted to be a mother towards us and showed us that she loved us it was easier.”

“And now it’s like she is my mom, it’s awesome.”

The transition from a biological mother to a step-mother is never easy, and sometimes is truly rare to find. A son or a daughter putting a bond with the only mother he or she ever knew in order to build something similar with a completely different human being is never going to be simple.

“It was extremely difficult to shut [my biological mother] out,” Kellner said. “It’s hard because she’s my mom, I will always have a bond with her no matter if she screws up or not. Shutting her out was very hard but it was best (for me) at the time.”

Jess and her step-mother Kellie Smith Kellner have built
a positive, reciprocal relationship together.
(Credit to Smith Kellner's Facebook page). 

Expectedly, Kellie has now become the number one fan of the Jess & the Echoes, driving down to Austin from Dallas on a weekly basis to watch her step-daughter and her band mates perform. She has also created flyers for numerous shows, generating support for the band.

“I know [the support] means the world to Jess,” Casey Savage said. “I actually didn’t know Kellie was her step-mom for a long time. They have such a good relationship so I naturally assumed it was her biological mom.”

“To me, a mom is a mom, I don’t really think too much about the technicality of it.”

Jess admits they would fight just like in any other mother-daughter relationship. And despite that Kellie is still there for her “through thick and thin.” The fortunate turn of events has had a positive affect in Jess’s rising musical career.

"Music has always been such a big part of her life," Kellie said. "[The struggle] was a way for Jess to let out that emotion that she might have not known how (to) before."

“Jess is incredible- she’s an amazing vocalist, but more than that she can capture people emotionally and totally own a room with her singing,” Cole Gramling said. “She’s the one that inspires the rest of us to play and get better and give 100% on stage. I’ve never played with anybody like her.”

A current Jess & the Echoes song named “Time Traveler” relates directly to Jess maintaining positivity and reflecting on the entire situation. She is telling her younger self to “not be afraid and to keep her head up even though her life at that moment wasn’t going well.”

“I have written all of the (band’s) music and it’s simple, it’s real life experiences,” Kellner said. “Real hurt, real pain, real happiness, real joy and you put those into motion through music (and) that’s when our songs become relatable and more than just music. It can touch people.”

About two years ago, Jess's biological mother started to get better. She has been completely sober and Jess has kept conversation with her on a consistent basis. Every time Jess speaks with her mother she is a "positive motivation."

“My [biological] mom started to get better about a  year ago and we went a good two years of barely talking at all,” Kellner said. “I feel so blessed to have two moms in the picture. They are extremely different but [they both] help me and love me very much so I would say things are awesome now.”

When “Hey Jude” was circulating the world and into millions upon millions of people’s ears, the significant message turned a great song into a beautiful and classic masterpiece. Just goes to show the type of impact a strong, emotional and powerful inspiration can have on music.