Today we’d like to introduce you to Jillian Eliza.
Hi Jillian, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always said that music wasn’t just a choice for me, it was how I grew up. My story starts back in Buffalo, New York, where I was the little girl watching my mom do karaoke and running around my grandfather’s bar. By the time I was 10, I was already writing my own songs, and at 13, I taught myself to play guitar. I’ll admit, I let the guitar gather dust for a while during high school because of sports and a bit of performance anxiety, but the urge to sing never really went away. At 18, things got serious when I joined my first band. We toured all over New York and the East Coast, and that was the first time I got a taste of Nashville. But my path wasn’t a straight line to where I am. I went through a really tough period after a three-year relationship with my former duo partner ended. I actually stopped playing music entirely for about a year—it was a total identity crisis. I eventually had to sit back down, reteach myself the guitar, and find my own voice again. It was scary, but within six months of picking that guitar back up, I was playing solo gigs and feeling more like myself than ever.
The momentum really shifted for me when I won the TOC Riser competition in 2019. That same year, I released my first single, “Heartbreak,” and things just started to snowball. I’ve been lucky enough to open for some pretty amazing artists, including Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, and Wynonna Judd. Today, I’m living and writing in Nashville, getting ready to release new music.
I’m just a Buffalo girl who took the long way around to find her place on the stage.
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?
I’ve definitely had my fair share of struggles along the road. Looking back, one of the earliest hurdles was my own head; even though I’d been writing songs since I was 10 and taught myself guitar at 13, I ended up putting the guitar down for years. Between school, sports, and a lot of anxiety about playing in front of people, I just stuck to singing and let that part of my musicianship stall. The hardest period, though, was when I lost music for an entire year. I had been in a relationship for three years with someone who was also my duo partner in my band. When that relationship ended, it felt like my music ended with it. I hadn’t been playing the guitar myself, so I was left with nothing. I spent a year trying to find someone else to play for me just so I could do duo gigs, but eventually, I realized I had to be the one to fix it. I had to pick the guitar back up, reteach myself how to play, and learn how to stand on stage alone.
Moving to Nashville was another big step that came from a place of feeling “stuck.” I realized I couldn’t reach my goals as a songwriter by staying in my hometown, so I had to take the leap and move away from everything familiar to push my career forward. While the move was a major step forward, it didn’t mean the struggles were over. Whether it’s heartbreak or professional setbacks, I try to put all of that into my writing so people know they aren’t alone and that things do get better.
Living in Nashville has meant working harder than ever to stand out. Since moving, I’ve focused on releasing new music that I’ve written while living here, as well as reworking unreleased material that people haven’t heard yet. My goal has been to take everything I’ve been through—the breakups, the hardships, and that feeling of being stuck—and turn it into something relatable.
I’ve had to navigate the pressure of “making it” while staying true to my sound, which blends country, rock, and a bit of power-vocal influence. Even with the successes, like opening for artists I admire, the personal challenge remains the same: I want to make sure anyone else who is struggling knows they aren’t alone. I write about the details of how those hard times felt because I want people to see that, even after a setback, it always gets better.
In 2020, right after I had moved to Nashville, I was in a car accident that left me with a broken wrist. I essentially re-learn how to play guitar, for a second time, after my reconstructive surgery. Months of physical therapy got my mobility back and I was playing guitar again, albeit not without some strain and pain due to muscle atrophy from being in a cast.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a Nashville-based country music singer and songwriter, and I specialize in a sound that is “not your average country.” My music is a unique blend of country, rock and roll, and blues, all topped off with the influence of powerful vocalists. I’m known for my high-energy live performances and my “impressive resume” of opening for some of the aforementioned major artists. While I’ve had some incredible moments on stage, what I am most proud of is the new music I have coming out. I’ve poured so much work into my recent songwriting and recording—reworking unreleased songs and writing new material since my move to Nashville—and I truly can’t wait for the world to hear it. Beyond the music itself, I’m proud of my resiliency. After going through personal hardships and the bad car accident that left me “relearning” how to work naturally with my guitar, being able to wake up every day and do what I love is a feeling I wouldn’t trade for anything.
What sets me apart is my commitment to relatability and detail. I don’t just write general songs; I write about the specific things I’ve been through, explaining down to the smallest detail how those moments felt.
• Genre-Bending: My sound isn’t strictly one thing—it’s a “fun, unique take” that combines the grit of rock with the storytelling of country.
• Vulnerability: I use my platform to talk about my struggles because I want anyone listening to know they aren’t alone and that things always get better. And invoking that connection draws in more fans who feel like they can relate to me as an artist and regular human being, like them. It puts us on the same level.
• Work Ethic: I’ve spent years “paying my dues,” from the bars in Buffalo to the stages of Nashville, and that passion shows in every performance. It’s the drive to excel and succeed in making my biggest dreams a constant reality.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
In the next five to ten years, I see my industry moving toward a space where the “walls” between genres finally come down for good. We’re already seeing it in 2026, but the future is going to be all about genre-bending. My own sound—that mix of country, rock, and pop—is becoming the new normal. Fans aren’t looking for a label anymore; they’re looking for a feeling and a great story, no matter what instruments are playing in the background. I think there are a few big shifts coming. Country music is no longer just a “Southern thing” or even just an American thing. It’s becoming a global powerhouse. I expect to see more international tours and collaborations that blend Nashville-style songwriting with sounds from all over the world.
The Return of the “Real”: Even as technology and AI become bigger tools behind the scenes for things like demos or fan engagement, there’s a massive resurgence of traditional and regional sounds. People are craving that “wood and wire” authenticity—real instruments and raw, honest performances.
The “Direct Artist to Fan” revolution is only going to get stronger. It’s about building a community where I can talk directly to the people who relate to my journey, whether through live-streaming or exclusive content that goes beyond the music itself.
Ultimately, I think the next decade will be about refinement and expansion. It’s an exciting time to be an artist who doesn’t fit into a tiny box, because the industry is finally making room for all of us to thrive just by being ourselves. And authenticity goes a long way.
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.jillianelizamusic.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/jillianelizamusic
- Facebook: Facebook.com/jillianelizamusic
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@jillianelizamusic?si=mltTrWGXXJZIVncj
