Biography
“When I write a song, I start with a feeling—my main goal is to have a strong emotional exchange with the audience through my music,” shares Americana-Folk singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Aspen Jacobsen. The award-winning artist is an empathic and thought-provoking lyricist with a flair for many time-honored roots music traditions. The Commerce, Michigan-based artist is also only 17 years old.

At just 9 years of age, Aspen found her purpose while busking for tips with a little red ukulele. Since then, the prodigiously gifted musician has earned awards and scholarships; has actively released EPs and singles; and she has performed at a variety of well-respected venues and festivals. Today, Aspen furthers a variety of Americana styles through a series of personal and purposeful singles.

Aspen’s natural affinity for roots music remains a mystery. While her family is supportive of her talents, she doesn’t come from stage parents or a record-collecting family. Aspen is conversant in old-time music, country, folk, blues, and bluegrass. Yet, she is an individualist—she aspires to make folk music resonant with her generation while reverently carrying on the tradition of writing music of the people, for the people.

Aspen previously explored musical theater, professional acting and opera, and these formative experiences may account for her polished onstage demeanor. As a teen, her resume already reads like a storied vet’s career. Aspen has played major music festivals in Michigan including Arts Beats and Eats; Wheatland Music Festival; Earthworks Harvest Gathering; Ann Arbor Summer Festival; and the Buttermilk Jamboree. She has also been invited to perform as an opener at premier Michigan listening rooms such as The Ark, 20 Front Street, Trinity House, and the Grand Rapids Listening Room. In 2019, Aspen was the youngest singer-songwriter to ever be featured in the Radio DJ Showcase at the Folk Alliance Region Midwest annual conference.

To date, Aspen has released two critically-acclaimed EPs, and her songs have garnered prime recognition and nominations from such prominent songwriting competitions as the Independent Music Awards; Alternative Country Best Song Category; Blues & Roots Radio's Song Contest; and International Songwriting Competition's Teen Category. Aspen was awarded a scholarship to attend the Singer-Songwriter program at the Interlochen Arts Academy, one of the most prestigious boarding fine arts high schools in the United States. Most recently, Aspen has the distinction of being one of six singer-songwriter finalists in the YoungArts 2022 program, a competition which receives more than 7000 applications per year. She also holds sponsorships with Fishman, Reunion Blues gig bags and instrument cases, and Shubb Capos.

Aspen tackles toxic relationships on the empowering modern country inspired track “Shouldn’t Give a Damn,” replete with fiddle fixings. The song will also be reimagined as a separate acoustic single, featuring producer Dominic Davis on bass. Her upcoming single, “Dear Brother,” is a very personal statement on mental health that recalls prime Joni Mitchell. The stark “Monday Mourning” is a harrowing account of acts of gun violence against ominousness, deep/full/earthy chords and haunting ethereal musicality.

Aspen’s natural affinity for roots music remains a mystery. While her family is supportive of her talents, she doesn’t come from stage parents or a record-collecting family. Aspen is conversant in old-time music, country, folk, blues, and bluegrass. Yet, she is an individualist—she aspires to make folk music resonant with her generation while reverently carrying on the tradition of writing music of the people, for the people.

Aspen tells stories like a country artist, and speaks her mind like a folk musician. Her personal and progressive original songs recall the approach of Joni Mitchell, and Ani DiFranco—two artists steeped in music history but not bound to it. Aspen is also a gifted instrumentalist who plays acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, mandolin, piano, keyboard, and ukulele, and she also contributes these skills as an accompanist and arranger for other people’s songs.

To date, Aspen has released two critically-acclaimed EPs, and her songs have garnered prime recognition and nominations from such prominent songwriting competitions as the Independent Music Awards; Alternative Country Best Song Category; Blues & Roots Radio's Song Contest; and International Songwriting Competition's Teen Category. Aspen was awarded a scholarship to attend the Singer-Songwriter program at the Interlochen Arts Academy, one of the most prestigious boarding fine arts high schools in the United States. Most recently, Aspen has the distinction of being one of six singer-songwriter finalists in the YoungArts 2022 program, a competition which receives more than 7000 applications per year.

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