Bostonist Interview: Lipstick Jungle Chanteuse Jess Tardy

With major labels struggling in the age of digital music, independent artists have found creative ways to get their music heard. Television has emerged as a great way to bring music to the masses, with songs featured on iTunes commercials and shows like Grey’s Anatomy giving artists massive exposure, and sites like AdTunes tracking song clips.

Local singer-songwriter Jess Tardy joins the ranks of artists who’ve broken into the television business tonight when her music is featured on Lipstick Jungle (NBC, 10 p.m.). Bostonist interviewed Jess about her experience with the show and her future plans.

Which song will be featured on Lipstick Jungle and in what context?
"Waiting for You." It's the first breakup song I ever wrote. I wrote and recorded it something like six years ago, so it's exciting that it's still getting a response. I'm guessing that there will be some sort of breakup happening, but I don't know which characters it involves, the people at NBC won't tell me!

(More with Jess after the jump.)

How did your song end up on the show?
Pure nepotism got me in the door. My friend Monica Henderson, a classmate at Harvard, is a writer on the show. Her first day at NBC she marched in there with my disc. I'm sending her a box of Cubans. It has already opened a lot of doors for me, and I'm hoping to announce more TV placements soon...I have big plans for another sad song.

How do you think television placements help independent artists?
I'm amazed that as an unsigned nobody I'm getting paid to have my song on a show, because so many major labels actually pay for their artists to get air time. Shows like Grey's Anatomy, Gossip Girl, and Lipstick Jungle give emerging artists a really powerful platform for helping people discover their music. And I'm all in favor of having three million people hear my song on one night—especially since it doesn't involve me shlepping my band all over the country in a mini van.

What’s your dream venue for your music?
My dream is now to have a tune on Gossip Girl. I'm writing my "I Love You, Chuck Bass" song as we speak.

What are you working on now?
Ducky Carlisle, an amazing engineer and all around music man (Susan Tedeschi, Buddy Guy) and my good friend and guitarist Michael Dinallo (The Radio Kings) are co-producing my next record with me, and we've got about five tracks done.

I'm frantically trying to write the rest of the record before we go back into the studio in a few months. I'm trying to steer away from sad-ass breakup songs, because I read that book The Secret and now I'm afraid I'm dooming my relationships!

Are you excited to watch the episode tonight?
I'm actually going to be out when it airs, but I've got every person I know Tivoing the episode for me. There will be champagne and little girly squeals when I see it.