Meet Jessiah Bethea | Artist & Musician

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jessiah Bethea and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jessiah, how do you think about risk?
To me, in a roundabout way, life is all about risks. In fact, I think they might be full of them. It’s up to us to figure out and decipher which ones are for us and are worth taking. In 2023, I took the chance or “risk” as we call it and moved out to Los Angeles, CA. I packed all of my things into a tiny Honda civic and made the drive out there. All alone. 1,200 miles of just myself, the road, and my thoughts about achieving a different lifestyle in a place I had been to only once before, yet was so unfamiliar with. But, I didn’t care! That’s the beautiful thing about taking risks, sure it’s daunting, and there’s so much uncertainty in it all. The true beauty of taking risks is embracing what’s on the other side, no matter what comes your way. If you believe, and you put a little action behind your thoughts when it comes to them, I think you’ll be able to come out the other side a better person hopefully! But if you don’t feel those emotions, then maybe that risk isn’t worth taking yet. My career and journey is the epitome of risk! Expressing yourself creatively in such a vulnerable way for the world to see is a risk. Creating art without expectation or pressure upon oneself is a risk. Collaborating with your friends can be a risk. I wouldn’t be where I am today without taking them.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My story began as an unconventional one but a relatable one I believe. As a kid, I moved around here and there. The formative years would be in New York City. A few more were spent in South Carolina. Many were spent in Colorado, including a few years moving around again to NYC and LA respectively in my adulthood. I’m a firm believer that where you are plays a huge factor in who you are and who you become. A common theme in my childhood was this somewhat stable, yet nomadic style of living and that plays a huge factor in who I am now. It ties back into the earlier question about risks. I feel that the music I make is reflective of this. In it I speak heavily on the journey of a young Black kid as he becomes a man in this world. Trying to overcome the trials of the past while also staying grounded in the present. I think my art is for those who are finding themselves, for the kids who felt lonely trying to find their way in life, while also staying true to who they are. For those trying to find peace and happiness within themselves and in the world through the music, through the art. Honestly, to get to where I am creatively and professionally took a lot of time spending it to myself reflecting and envisioning the person I wanted to become. To make great strides in life will require some hardships. I also use a lot the pain I feel and try to spin around into something beautiful. I want the world to know that things get better. Music is how I go about bringing myself out of tough times. Using art to your benefit is a form of resistance. Expressing yourself is a form of resistance. It’s what makes the world a beautiful place. We’re different as individuals, but it’s our common interests and passions that bring us together.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
The first thing I would do is take them down to the river or horsetooth reservoir. But I prefer the river more in my opinion. There’s a lovely waterfall up the Poudre Canyon that would definitely be a go to. I can’t forget about the Mishawaka Ampitheater either. I would have to take them to the Aggie depending on who’s playing! House shows used to be a wonderful way to meet new people and encounter new kinds of. music and connections. A little biased here, but I would invite them to a Rosebay, Blackwatch, or Mango show (the names of the many bands I play in). Or even just going to shows around Fort Collins are always exciting. The Atrium is a favorite place of mine, I also like going to the Lyric as well. There’s a really cool spot called the neighbor too that I like.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Well for starters, I have to give a major shoutout to the person to even made this interview possible, my brother Sagan Petr Smith. I met him one day at a studio session a friends house almost 5 years ago. Getting to see him grow not only as a person but as an artist has helped shape the way I even think about and perceive music. My mom, for her unwavering confidence in me and my ability to succeed in life, for always believing in me and supporting me even when I don’t believe in myself at times. My literal brother Judah, he’s been there and seen the evolution of my journey from the very beginning. My dad, I feel as though I get a lot of my creative energy from the man he is. Josh McClellan and the whole McClellan family, I’ve got major love for them and for accepting me and helping me out many times through out my life. Creighton Evans is one of my closest friends and I wouldn’t have to been able to achieve some of the things I’ve done musically without his help and guidance. My Rosebay bandmates past and present (Grant Hartman, Akayna Calkins, Will Squires, Ray PB, & Kylen Reece). My old neighbor Mr. John Train, he taught and helped me build a foundation in which I was able to teach myself instruments again. Another one of my close friends, Tay Wandas, who I met around a similar time as I met Sagan. She’s so talented! And I believe in her greatly, she’s always been a great and positive help in bringing some of my ideas to life. Last but certainly not least, would be all the beautiful people (too many names to mention) and music scenes I’ve had the pleasure of being apart of in some fashion.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s.iah

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/212siah

Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCY7Fhd3c844sEK2hHOewpfg

Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0R4ZCSe52jmibz0YVkfjDp?si=TifpjCcDSQ2DfSwlvJprIg

I also have music on Spotify as well too!

Image Credits
Photos were provided by Christian Garcia, Creighton Evans, and Grayson Reed