Idol Chatter & Voice Views

We met lots of singers with guitars again during American Idol’s auditions in Atlanta.

Only one — Jess Meuse — was brave enough to audition with an original song.

Jess Meuse earned a golden ticket to Hollywood at American Idol’s Atlanta auditions.

And pretty soon, the gal who entered the audition room proclaiming she’s going to be either “a successful musician or a broke one” was off to Hollywood with three yes votes and compliments on her original music.

On Facebook, Jess describes her music as a blend of southern rock with alternative and rock and roll influences.

She writes that she was 18 “when I got really mad and wrote my first song.”

You guessed: It was “a man-hatin'” song called “What’s So Hard About Bein’ a Man.” Jess writes that it went on to become the title track of an EP, though I couldn’t find it on iTunes.

Jess says she’s working on another EP. Oh, she also plays piano and violin. And the young lady with the rocker edge is also a former member of the Montgomery (Ala.) Youth Orchestra.

In her Road to Hollywood video, Jess says she tried out for Idol after being poked and prodded to do so by friends. She calls the comments about her original music “beyond flattering.”

As musical inspirations, she points to Brent Smith, front man for the rock band Shinedown, and to listening to lots of heavy rock.

“I’m already doing music for a living,” Jess says. “And I write my own music. I like to write real things, and try to let people know they’re not alone. And I really sing my soul out.”

You can hear lots of Jess’s music on her YouTube channel and her ReverbNation page (you’ll find “What’s So Hard …” there).

Here are links to her Facebook page and Twitter account (@Jessinat0r).

Now, some samples of her music, including the full version of “Blue-Eyed Lie”

“Blue-Eyed Lie” (an original)

“Sick and Tired” (an original)

“Wash Me Down” (an original)

“Radioactive” (Imagine Dragons cover)