For straight ally Jess Godwin, music has been a part of her life since she was 5. A musician with an eclectic sound, Godwin has parlayed her talents across a number of genres over the years.
Godwin has performed at a variety of LGBT events throughout her career including the 2014 Biggest MINI Wedding Ever ceremony sponsored by MINI of Chicago and the Center on Halsted, Northalsted Market Days, The L Stop's 4th Annual New Year's Eve Black and White Party, Six Flags Out in the Park, the national anthem at Chicago Fire's Pride Night, Human Rights Campaign galas in Chicago and San Francisco, the Center on Halsted's Human First Gala and various house concerts throughout Chicago and the San Francisco Bay Area.
"Being an ally just makes sense because why shouldn't everyone be treated equally," said Godwin of her LGBT friends, colleagues and the wider world.
"Braden James [a gay opera singer who appeared on season 8 of America's Got Talent] let me know about the OUTmusic Awards and said they were taking submissions from LGBT allies. He suggested that I submit 'Bleed'," said Godwin, who intriguingly added during the conversation that the more she tries to define who she is musically, the less interesting she thinks she is as an artist. "It was nominated for best alternative song and best music video."
The OUTmusic Awards will take place Monday, Jan. 19, at the Townhall Theater in New York City. However, Godwin told Windy City Times that she wouldn't be able to make it to ceremony due to scheduling issues.
Godwin counts singers Stevie Wonder and Ella Fitzgerald and as her musical inspirations. "I actually wrote my college entrance essay on Ella Fitzgerald," said Godwin.
She admires Ellen DeGeneres for paving her own way and creating the world she wants to live in. Godwin added, "I also look up to my parents. They are really supportive of me and have believed in me from the beginning."
"My mom was a singer and piano player and she also taught piano. I started playing the piano because of her and it evolved into me wanting to sing," said Godwin. "I gave up the piano early on and I still regret it. I got back into it in my 20s and it's not like riding a bike. It was so hard to re-teach myself how to play the piano."
Godwin spent her early years in a variety of cities before her family settled in Chicago in the summer before her freshman year. While in high school, Godwin got serious about singing and she also performed in many theater productions.
She attended Loyola Academy High School in Wilmette, and then went on to Vanderbilt University in Nashville as a classical voice major.
"It didn't gel for me at Vanderbilt so after my freshman year I transferred to Columbia College here in Chicago and graduated with a degree in theater," said Godwin.
"I did theater for a number of years after college, however, I hit a point in my mid-20s where I wanted to be myself onstage. I wanted to explore what it would mean for me to write my own music and create something that was my own," said Godwin. "I've been weaving in and out of the theater world ever since which is wonderful."
"I love music theory and the technical aspect of music," said Godwin. "I've grown and evolved as I've continued to study music and that's the beauty of it all."
Godwin has two younger brothers; 27-year-old Marc and 12-year-old Jake, both of whom were adopted from South Korea. One of the chapters of her forthcoming Godwin Anthology is about Marc and what it's been like for her to grow up with a sibling who was adopted.
"Marc's chapter is about rejoicing in the fact that family is whatever you make it," said Godwin. Another chapter is about my 12-year-old cousin, Kellen, who died last April of an unexplained clotting disorder. A third chapter is about my friend Kat Fitzgerald [Fitzgerald is a photographer for this publication]. Each chapter is about someone important in my life."
"I look at this anthology as a music/theater/service hybrid. I was at a crossroads in 2013, so I took a break from making music for about six months. I started to bake and do service work and that caused me to start loving music again which lead to this anthology," said Godwin. "The anthology is 12 chapters each of which will consist of a song which is attached to a video, a visual art piece, baked good because I like to bake for people, a story and a service project. The chapters will be released each month over the course of this calendar year."
As for upcoming projects, Godwin will be participating in a private workshop of "Exposure" with Bill Brown and Doug Frew, conceived by Cathy Nathan. She will also be singing with "The My Tys" on Feb. 13 at Double Door at 8 p.m. The 21 and over show is $10 and tickets can be purchased at http://www.etix.com/ticket/online/performanceSearch.jsp?performance_id=5087754.
Godwin will be performing as Frances in "Shining Lives: A Musical" at the Northlight Theater May 8-June 14. To purchase tickets, visit www.northlight.org/pages/shining_lives__a_musical/362.php
See www.godwinanthology.com for more information. To purchase her music visit itunes.apple.com/us/artist/jess-godwin/id312710129 .