Meet Jesse Nelson | Music Artist, Astrologer, & Tarot reader

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

Hi Jesse, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
At this point in my life (after almost eight years of living in Los Angeles), the word “risk” has taken on an entirely new meaning- or really more so an entirely new context. In my previous interview with VoyageLA, I spoke a lot about embracing the complexity of my path; of multiple paths. Of being a Singer-Songwriter, an Astrologer, a Tarot reader- and even still, staying open to all of the paths that have yet to reveal themselves to me.

But as I hone in on the mantle of Tarot reader- ‘The Fool’ card comes even more & more clearly into focus. What it is to take a risk (… or risks). What it is to operate with the level of Faith & Trust that a great many would indeed find, “foolish.” And perhaps it is. ‘The Fool’ however, is guided by his heart. A kind of wisdom greatly revered by the ancient Egyptians. A wisdom that has become little more than a passing flash in an amnesiac’s daydream, for a copious group. This is not to say that it’s easy… this is not even to say that it’s right.. but it is to say that the fire in ‘The Fool’s’ belly is undeniable. The passion in his heart- unshakeable.

You see, ‘The Fool’ isn’t stupid. He could go along with the charade. He could continue to eat the same hot garbage he’s been fed his entire life and just keep doing what everyone has told him to do… he just knows that he would never be satisfied. Never truly happy. It was Picasso who was famously quoted as saying “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.” So, perhaps one could say that we are all born fools in our own way- guided by the wisdom of our own hearts. But the problem.. well, we know how the rest goes…

I suppose I say all of this to say that risk is deeply intertwined and invariably inseparable from both my life, and my career. To pursue these two things in the way that I have, the path is winding. And though in many ways the paths of their respectable pursuits run concurrent- the fact of the matter changes nonetheless. The route is faint. The trail can feel almost impossible to find. Impassable. Imperceptible. Oftentimes, it may as well be a mirage. And as if that’s not enough, the consistent climate of this land is a hazy, foggy mist- that lifts and thins for little. ‘The Fool’ has now become ‘The Hermit.’ Older, undeniably. Wiser, most likely. Still journeying- most definitely. And tired as gets- tired as he is, it sometimes floats across ‘The Hermit’s’ mind… “why did I choose this?” And from a distance, whether an internal one or an external one, he hears the gentle yet unyielding reply… “Because you know, deep down, that there was no other choice. This was your path. This is your path. It has always been, and shall continue to be… until it is no longer. But until that sweet, sweet day when you finally reach the destination that your pilgrimage has brought you to… the journey continues..”

I remember when I first moved to LA to pursue music, at least one musician (if not more) very explicitly told me “if you can do anything else, do it- ’cause this isn’t easy.” It didn’t take very long for me to figure out what they meant. Even now when I connect or reconnect with people I know from previous lives (college or my hometown suburbs back in Maryland), I always say “Yup! The stories are true… it’s tough.” I’ve lost count of the amount of times that I’d wished the Creator had made me different.. an Accountant, a Banker, a Business Executive.. anything that could taste like stability. And not to say that creative people cannot also be those things! It’s just that the truth of the matter is that I wasn’t those things. Perhaps I could’ve learned the steps to the dance; perfected the choreography… but alas, it would’ve been devoid of the main element that makes the performance so captivating… the authenticity… the passion.

“If you can do anything else, do it…,” she said.

“I know!” I said. “I’ll do Tarot & Astrology!”… Lol

I suppose when it comes to risk, there’s a way in which I don’t really think about it. (I mean, of course I think about it and I’d be lying if I said that I could easily count the number of days that I’ve spent trapped in crippling anxiety.) But I suppose in the context of this society, I don’t actually have much of a choice. Risk should not necessarily need to be apart of being an Artist. It should not necessarily need to be so intertwined with being a Healer, or a Spiritual Practitioner… but it is… at least for now. And perhaps, that’s nothing more than a reflection of the current society’s priorities. Perhaps also that’s a conversation for another day. The fact is this: there is a level of risk involved when it comes to choosing a life & career for yourself. And depending on what that choice is, the level of risk may be considered more or less severe.

It could be that I’m nothing more than that small child still fighting tooth & nail to remain the Artist that society at large struggles to conceive of me being. If that is the case, I suppose that I’ve made the choice to accept the risk & vulnerability that comes with that. Because come hell or high water, that is my truth. This is my truth. As my fellow Sagittarius once said, “People can take everything away from you. But they can never take away your truth.”

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As a Singer-Songwriter & Music Artist, I classify my style as Eclectic/Experimental Pop. I am in love with so many genres, and I never set out to be a medium of simply one. The spirit of my music is shaped by everything from Pop, Rock, & Hip Hop to Folk, Industrial, & World music (and a great many things in between). If your ear loves catching the influences of a diverse myriad of styles- you just may dig it! I believe that what I’m most proud of when it comes to my music is that it sounds like me. Though I am shaped by countless artists from across time & space- it all boils down to something that is uniquely mine, and I’m very proud of that.

As an Astrologer & Tarot reader- I’ve been studying for about a decade and am currently on the Liberation Inc. roster! You can oftentimes find me at Liberate Emporium in Los Feliz!

I would not say that either of these journeys has been easy, but they are authentic to me. The invaluable support of friends & family has been a big part of getting through the tough times. I very much still consider myself a student of life; but if I were to bestow any wisdom, it would be that your passions are your passions for a reason, and to listen to them.

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.
There are so many good eats in L.A., but two places that I have to take friends are Au Lac in DTLA and Green Leaves in Los Feliz!

Of course the So Cal beaches are a famous forever staple. I however also happen to have a deep affinity for rivers. Thus! I would also have to take friends to see the incredible restoration efforts of the L.A. River. A surprising Flora & Fauna that includes a diverse number of bird species, paired with the ancient beauty of rushing water? Heavenly.

Lastly, it wouldn’t be a trip to the City of Angels without hitting an overlook or two! The hills of Griffith Park can do the trick. There’s something about letting yourself get above it all, even if just for a bit, that’s so healing & special.

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?
I want to thank ALL of the Beautiful Friends, Family, & Chosen Family who’ve supported me and propped me up along the way. I would not be here today without them.

In terms of this particular story, I’d very much like to thank my Wonderful & Talented Artist Friend, Morgan Moto, for taking these beautiful photographs and letting me model their handmade necklaces for inspiration.

Website: https://linktr.ee/driftershapeshifter

Instagram: @driftershapeshifter

Twitter: @driftshapeshift

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/driftershapeshifter

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7lNiEdvt9DjVN4cmD8WL8g

Other: TikTok: @driftershapeshifter

Image Credits
Morgan Moto