Montreal Folk/Punk Mom Jessie James Brightens Winter with “Rise and Shine”– Her Debut Single

It’s never too late to pick up an instrument and share your art with the world. For mom-of-four Jessie James, the desire to write songs came calling at an emotional low point in her life. And even though the Montreal-born visual artist was raised on a steady diet of punk rock, influenced by bands such as No Use for a Name, Face to Face, and MXPX, the ukulele was the perfect fit.

“I had tried guitar, but there were too many strings for me,” James tells Rockmommy. “I wanted an instrument to accompany myself when I sing. And I think the ukulele has a sound that’s different from what you usually hear.”

Her first composition — the song “Rise and Shine” — is an inspiring anthem about resilience and self-empowerment. It captures the journey of overcoming inner battles and finding the strength to rise above. We recently caught up with James to talk about life, her debut single, and how playing music gives her the life balance she needs to handle everyday stressors.

Rockmommy: Hi Jessie, it’s so nice to meet you! I love your punk rock ukulele songs. What drew you to picking up and playing uke as opposed to, say, a guitar? 

Jessie James: Hi! It’s a pleasure as well! Thank you so much, it’s always nice to know that people enjoy what I do. I decided to play the ukulele because of its small size. I had tried guitar, but there were too many strings for me haha. I wanted an instrument to accompany myself when I sing. And I think the ukulele has a sound that’s different from what you usually hear.

Rockmommy: You are a mother of four! How old are your kids, and how did writing music give you the sense of balance?

Jessie James: My boys are 20, 17, and 15 years old, and my daughter is 4. Playing music gives me a moment of pause. It’s a time where I can recharge. It helps me release the stress and anxiety of everyday life.

Rockmommy: “Rise and Shine” is about empowerment and resilience in the face of struggle. Can you share how writing that song helped you?

Jessie James: I went through a really difficult year, and one event in particular completely destroyed me. I had two choices: to crumble or to use the negative to rise up and become even stronger than ever. You can guess that I chose the second option. I dug deep to find the little flame that was left inside me, and I gave it my all to rise again! It was at that moment that I wrote my first song, “Rise and Shine.”

Rockmommy: How does motherhood inform your creativity?

Jessie James: Being a mother has taught me patience, resilience, and adaptability — qualities that I think come through in my creative process.

Rockmommy: What are your plans for 2025?

Jessie James: Embracing this new path of being an artist/singer/songwriter. Composing new songs and dealing with the little stress that comes with it. I’d love to do a few small performances here and there. I just need to forget that I’m super shy, haha.

[SEE RELATED: ‘COUNTRY GIRL’ RISSI PALMER, ON TOURING, THRIVING, AND STAYING RESILIENT]

Marisa Torrieri Bloom is the editor and founder of Rockmommy.