INTERVIEW: New EP from Jesse Bloodgood

Coming out of Watkins Glen in New York, Jesse Bloodgood is an artist whose path through music has been paved by persistence, curiosity and a steadfast mission of emotional honesty. Long before stepping forward as a solo artist, Jesse was already immersed in the mechanics of songwriting and performance, with his early work includeding co-fronting the rock band An Artist’s Depiction, a project that introduced listeners to his thoughtful approach to lyricism on the band’s 2018 debut album The Confidence Trap.

Alongside that collaborative chapter, he also walked a parallel creative lane through a series of self-produced DIY releases, particularly under the Indie Pop moniker The Star-Reacher Syndicate. These initial experiences helped define his relationship with music as something intensely personal but widely relatable. Themes of self-reflection, anxiety, depression, addiction and the often complicated process of personal growth run through his lyrics and the emotional context of these subjects is carried by vocals that feel equally direct and heartfelt.

In 2023, he unveiled his original solo sonic vision with the debut full-length record, When and How to Make Light. Since then, he’s gone from strength to strength with new material and now, partnering with Plaid Dog Recording in Waltham, Massachusetts, he brings us his latest release with his new EP titled Wishful Thinker. The new release captures Jesse at a moment where experience and emotion collide, allowing his songwriting talents to develop with greater confidence while maintaining the intimate perspective that ripples throughout his work.

Opened by “Lighthouse Night Owl,” over the muted plucks of clean guitar, Jesse’s soft vocals enter with “there’s thunder in the distant clouds, in my head I get a lightning round at best, but it’s lovely when you come around, you make me hate this little town a little less” before the track erupts with the crash of drums and crunch of distorted guitars. Serving up a gripping slice of dynamic emo rock, the track flows with the twang of guitar leads and bursts of surging energy, channelling the vibes of bands like Microwave to deliver an epic musical experience.

Title track “Wishful Thinker” lands with the light bounce of intricate guitar tones and warm bass notes as Jesse’s expressive voice floats above rolling drums before the track jumps into a catchy indie rock jam. Cut with slick lead guitar flickers and wrapped in an engaging arrangement full of lively ebb and flow and infectious vocal hooks, it’s a superb showcase of his pop-inflected songwriting and enticing performance charm.

“Tell Me What You Want” glides with hushed vocals, gently quivering with emotive, offset by the lilting rhythmic sway and subtly upbeat aesthetic of the instrumentation. With tapped percussive and smooth bass grooves, the stab of guitar chords injects dashes of punchy energy while blissful melodies flutter through to craft a stunning rock outing that’s memorable and moving from start to finish.

Closing the EP with “Cutting Room Floor,” the elegant flicker of tender piano notes and soft vocals forms an intimate soundscape that frames Jesse’s achingly emotive songwriting in a delicate setting. Gliding with warm string textures and alluring vocal layers, it’s a stunning finale that lays down an original and highly affecting conclusion to his incredible new EP.

We caught up with Jesse Bloodgood to find out more about his musical journey so far, his new EP Wishful Thinker and what he’s got lined up for the future. Check out our interview with Jesse Bloodgood below.

Hey Jesse, how’s things?

Doing alright, thanks!

What’s your earliest memory of making music?

I don’t remember a specific moment but my older brother and I used to make up songs during long car rides and we were pretty young at the time. I do remember when I was little my dad, who is also a musician, told me I ought to learn music theory, and I unironically asked him, “Why can’t you just tell me what the theory is?”

Which artists do you draw most inspiration from?

That’s a tough question because I feel the answer develops and adapts as my listening habits change, though I have some all-time favorite songwriters and bands that come to mind.

Some classic names that jump to mind are Jackson Brown, The Beatles, Jim Croce, Bruce and others…Artists more adjacent to my own genre would include Modern Baseball, The Front Bottoms, Jimmy Eat World, Kevin Devine, Tigers Jaw, Jukebox The Ghost, Paramore, and Twenty One Pilots. I could go on but once you get me going on good music, it’s hard to get me to shut up.

How else do you find inspiration for your music?

Life. Sounds obvious but there are reasons to make art popping up all the time, especially these days.

What was your highlight of 2025?

Finishing the EP was cool, but the real highlight of 2025 was learning to take better care of myself. The second half of the year was about prioritizing my mental health, and that shift mattered a lot.

What do you love about the New York music scene?

Being in the middle of the state means I’m far from any real modern‑rock scene, which is a bummer. It’s not ideal, but the thing about indie artists is that the passion runs deep—we’ll make the drive. I’ve gone 12 hours to play a show and 10 just to be in the crowd. My buddy Sad Matt! and I put on shows together and we are four hours apart. A local scene is ideal, but if you don’t have one, you can always plug into one somewhere else.

What would you say is the perfect setting for listeners to enjoy your sound?

If you catch it live, it’s usually just me with a guitar or piano, which gives the songs a really intimate feel. If you’re streaming, listening through a full EP or album is the best way to get the whole arc of what I was working through and what I hoped listeners would get from it.

How has your own style and sound evolved since you started out?

Pretty sporadically in the past. Like an unwielded garden hose. I’ve probably confused fans here and there with all the genre and tone shifts, but right now I feel really comfortable with the voice and lane I’m in. I think my music has really matured the past couple of years.

Who would be your dream artist to collaborate with?

There are so many but Kevin Devine is the name that just jumps to mind right now.

How did you find making your new EP ‘Wishful Thinker’?

Stressful, painful and worthwhile. There is a lot of ache embedded in Wishful Thinker.

What message did you want to get across with this release?

Sometimes it feels like all you can do is cross your fingers and doing what you can to get by. That’s okay. There will be better times, these just might not be them right now.

What artist have you been listening to most recently?

Check out “Songs I Wrote.” I just bought a couple CDs from him (yes, CDs – collecting physical media is cool again). He is incredibly underrated and I highly recommend listening to him.

What’s the main thing you want people to get out of listening to your music?

While not every listener will connect with what I was experiencing when I wrote the music, they bring their own stories and emotions with them when they listen, and I hope the songs can give some of those burdens a place to go…an outlet.

What’s been your favourite live performance so far?

I love playing at Eddie’s Attic near Atlanta, GA. I’ve played a few songwriters nights there and they are killer every time.

As an audience member, a lot of shows stick out but seeing Jackson Browne with my dad was special.

Who would be 3 artists to headline your dream festival? And where would it be?

Modern Baseball reunion, The Avett Brothers and Jackson Browne. It would be a weird show, I know. It’d just be at a nice park where there’s plenty of good affordable food, there’s free water and the toilet situation is well handled.

Do you have any advice for a new artist wanting to follow your footsteps?

Yeah, don’t follow my footsteps

Jokes aside, get involved. It’s incredibly important to stay true to yourself, but be willing to face the challenges, take risks, and step outside your comfort zone.

Take the work seriously, but enjoy the experience. Make music with others if you can, especially if they are more talented than you, it’ll make you better.

Go to shows even when you’re not on the bill. Go to shows especially when you’re not on the bill. Be part of the scene, not a critic on the sidelines. And, as my brother says, “have fun”.

Finally, what do you have lined up next?

Right now the focus is getting the new EP heard, so there’s been a lot of promotion, but I’m always writing, and as a thank you for all the support around Wishful Thinker, I’ve been quietly posting new demos on Bandcamp and YouTube. I’ve also got some live dates coming up. Check @JesseBloodgoodMusic on Instagram or my linktree for the schedule.

Listen to Wishful Thinker below