Life & Work with Jacob Stanifer

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacob Stanifer.  

Hi Jacob, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Hey, I’m Jacob! I’m an artist, producer, and songwriter based here in Nashville. I make Indie Pop but my goal is simply to make music that makes you feel something. 

I grew up outside of Columbus, Ohio. As one of three homeschooled kids, I had a lot of free time to explore different hobbies and interests—but the one I kept coming back to was music. I hated piano lessons as a young kid, but I loved composing my own songs and playing things by ear… Music quickly became an outlet for me to tell stories, convey emotion, and express my thoughts. That’s still what I love about it today. 

As a young teenager, I discovered a built-in 5-track recorder on my family’s keyboard and figured out how to record some of my original songs. This sparked the beginning of my love for recording and production—being able to capture stories in the medium of music. Over the next several years, I spent most of my free time learning the art of production and continued to write music. 

After high school, I studied production at Visible Music College in Memphis, TN. During my time there, I continued releasing original music and growing my artistry. I also launched my production business and began producing for other artists. 

Last year I made the jump to doing music full-time and my newlywed wife and I moved to Nashville. By day I’m a producer and songwriter in Pop and CCM, and by night I’m an indie artist telling stories about life as I see it. I’m blessed to be able to wake up and make music every day! 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
To be honest, one of the biggest challenges I’ve had to overcome is the infamous “imposter syndrome.” It’s real, especially in a town like Nashville where thousands of musicians and artists move in every year, hoping to make their mark. I remember feeling a bit overwhelmed when my wife and I first moved to Nashville—it’s so easy to compare ourselves to everyone around us. However, the more people I met, the more I realized two things: 

1. Everyone deals with imposter syndrome. You’re not as “alone.” as you might feel.

2. Everyone’s success story is different. Your path to “making it” will be unique to you!

I have to remind myself of those things often, but they’ve been a game-changer. 

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My journey as an artist/producer has led me across multiple genres, but I primary write Indie Pop these days. I just recently released my debut album “Full Circle”, which features 14 songs written, produced, and mixed by myself over the past couple years. Many of the songs talk about the feelings, emotions, and challenges we’ve all experienced since 2020 and a sense of longing for things to be “normal” again. But I think it’s an album with something for everyone. My goal as an artist is simply to reflect life honestly, make the listener think, and point people towards truth and hope. 

When I’m not writing for myself (and I am, 2022 is going to be a fun year!), you can find me writing and producing for other artists here in Nashville and across the US. At the end of the day, I think I just love helping people tell their stories, and music is a pretty incredible way to do that. 

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I’m excited about where the music industry is headed. I’m not sure there’s ever been a better time to be an independent artist. The world is hungry for live music again, and there’s potentially some really cool technology on the horizon. As blockchain technology and NFTs become more mainstream, I think we’ll see a shift towards adding real value to music again and putting control and ownership back into the hands of artists, creators, and songwriters. But the music industry is alive and well. It’s also been exciting to see Nashville become one of the new hubs for Pop music, too. 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jacobstanifermusic.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jacobstanifermusic/
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6vOLg94b2uu3742kkSkRBl?si=wMCmvYiAQjutZB-IFTjRww

Image Credits
Brooke Stanifer
Jacob Stanifer
Matthew Knudsen