"I am a woman in love with the soft rock of my youth"
Edition 3: An interview with music supervisor Jessica Dierauer
In early 2016, I was sitting on a bench waiting for my first ever pre-natal yoga class to start, lycra stretched over my expanding belly, feeling a little awkward as other people with varying bump sizes began to cluster near the door to the studio, when a red head with the face of an old-timey movie star sidled up to me to chat. That was the day I met Jessica Dierauer (‘Jess’ to me, or ‘Cool Red’ to her husband), and I am so glad she decided to platonically pick me up.
Since our babies became “belly buddies” in those early days, our families have grown up together and she has become one of my closest friends: from holding my hand while I was prepped for the birth of baby number two, to holding my drink while I applied more sunscreen on a girls’ trip to Miami. Plus, Jess is one of the most talented people I know — a music aficionado who champions emerging talent from across the globe, and a kickass business-woman to boot. After a successful career producing commercials for some of the biggest ad agencies in the world, Jess took over the Music Supervision department within Young & Rubicam and went on to set up and run her own consultancy Multiverse Music, where she currently works with cutting-edge creative agencies like Mother and businesses like Target to spark music matches made in heaven.
I will admit that I didn’t know the job “music supervisor” existed until I met Jess. If you’re in the same naive boat as me, here’s an oversimplified definition of the role: the people who source the perfect music for content like ads, TV shows and movies. In reality, what Jess does is so much more nuanced: constantly discovering new artists, maintaining a huge database of tracks and relevant metadata, connecting labels and agencies and clients and talent, negotiating complex contracts for each piece of music she recommends, and much more. Her work has won many awards, including a Golden Pencil for a sweet, progressive Cheerios ad, and she even scored a number one Billboard hit by masterminding the 2020 Sam Smith cover of Donna Summer’s “I Feel Love”.
Jess was born in Brooklyn, and grew up in Virginia. Her southern roots run strong — her daughter takes her first name from the Grammy-award winning country music star Emmylou Harris — but Jess now splits her time between Brooklyn and a home in Palenville, NY. From chatting to the ladies at Palenville’s popular Circle W store/cafe, to befriending the owners of the delicious upstate food delivery service Hennings Local, Jess builds community wherever she goes.
Jess and Emmylou at their place in Palenville
AJL: Welcome to the Catskill Culture Club, Jess. I get so excited when you send me tracks and playlists to listen to. What artists are you loving at the moment?
JD: My taste is all over the place. I listen to a lot of pop music for my job so in my time off I love to cleanse my palette with Celeste, Arlo Parks, Lucy Dacus, Mountain Man, Bonnie Raitt and my all-time fave John Prine (RIP).
Have you always been a music lover? Who are the artists that inspired you when you were growing up?
Music was big in my house growing up. I have 18 cousins and we all used to have dance parties, create dance routines together and watch Soul Train, Solid Gold. My family always had music on in the house, in the car. We loved going to concerts. Music is also very personal to me. We moved around a lot and it’s always helped me through hard times.
Growing up I listened to a lot of stuff from the 50s/60s with my parents, but also The Talking Heads, The Rolling Stones, Depeche Mode and Joan Armatrading. And also Barbara Streisand, Neil Diamond and Greek singer Nana Mouskouri because I am a woman in love with the soft rock of my youth.
Tell me the story about how you became a music supervisor. I think it involves practically stalking someone in the business?!
Yes, I used to produce commercials but always loved the part where we would figure out the commercial’s soundtrack. Once I realized it was an actual job, I tried to hunt down one of the music supervisor’s whose work I loved. I would go to the record store he frequented in Soho (RIP Rocks In Your Head) and try to make my own luck. I’d wait and wait. I never ran into him there but one day I picked up the phone and called information and got his home phone number. I stopped short of calling his house cause that’s crazy. I eventually met him through a director friend and was able to hire his company to work with me on an ad. I ended up becoming best friends with one of his producers and she became my music mentor.
When I was an Executive Producer at Young + Rubicam, we had a Music Supervisor within the Production Department. When he left the agency for another gig, I made a play for his job and transitioned over to music supervision. I was lucky to be given the chance to do this. I am not trained in music theory and I don’t really play any instruments. I just have a strong love for music and a strong sense of production and have been able to come at the job with that perspective.
You guys bought your place in Palenville a few years ago. What drew you to life upstate?
Needing a contrast to city life and more time in nature. My husband Robbie and I have both spent a lot of time upstate before we got together and as a couple. We both love spending time outdoors and hiking. We came up a lot on the weekends and finally came to terms that we would be able to buy a house in Greene County. We did that right around the time Emmylou was learning to walk. Now she is almost five and she loves being a country mouse and spending time there as well. I also have a lot of family in The Berkshires, so it’s easy to go visit Great Barrington and Lee from Catskill.
Jess and family outside Sister Salvage, on Main Street in Catskill
You are a big supporter of local business, wherever you go, and one of my most trusted taste-makers with awesome recommendations on things to do and try. What are some of your favorite places and experiences in the Hudson Valley right now?
I love spending time in Round Top at The Glen Falls House. We love Greg and his crew there, the waterfalls and hiking but also the pool, and music scene. I also love being in Kingston and popping into the shops in the Roundout and the Stockade. And I always find a reason to hit the Village Coffee and Goods and their new spot Village Grocery and Refillery. There are so many creative folks doing great things all over. And we really love Catskill and supporting the shops and restaurants on and around Main Street.
I know you love outsider art, and have some work by the great southern artist Steve Keene in your home. Are there any outsider artists upstate that you are into?
Yes, I used to see Steve Keene’s work in Charlottesville, Virginia. Julia from Roundtop Recommends gifted me a few of his pieces during the pandemic. They are meant to be shared like trading cards.I also love Earl Swanigan’s art. My friend Philip Loeb introduced me to Earl way back in the day. He’s got a great Earl collection. I loved going to Hudson and looking at his art. One of my life’s biggest regrets is that I didn’t buy some portraits he did of Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglas about nine years ago. On the art tip, we also love checking out the art exhibits at The Thomas Cole House in Catskill and visiting places like Art Omi. One place I am keen to check out soon is ArtPort in Kingston.
A painting by Earl Swanigan, a prominent “outsider artist” who lived in Hudson, NY
Having lived in the Catskill area both pre and throughout the pandemic, have you noticed the area changing in response to the incoming wave of former city dwellers?
Yes, I am noticing that a lot more now that businesses are opening back up and new ones are popping up. I am hopeful that maybe certain things become easier or more convenient for all, but I want each town to retain what makes it quirky and approachable and not become just another Brooklyn outpost. I realize that’s a tricky balance. We need to contribute to the communities here and stay true to what makes these places so special and drew us here in the first place.
You spend a lot of time both in Brooklyn and upstate. What do you get from each place, and do the different locations have an impact on your work and creativity?
I definitely get a different energy from each place and it impacts my work in funny ways. In Palenville, I feel like I can listen to music more openly and out loud. It can surround me. There’s not much else competing for my attention here. And I don’t have to worry about offending neighbors listening to the same songs over and over. Upstate, I can be less in my head (and my ear buds). In Brooklyn, I may be drawn to music that’s more electronic and has more of an energy and a tempo. Up here the pace slows down and my choices (at least personally, if not for work) lean toward music that’s more acoustic and soulful.
Jess growing up in Virginia
We are on the cusp of summer when so much comes alive upstate. What are you excited to do up here this season?
Right now I am especially excited about kicking off the summer by picking strawberries at Story Farm! I can’t wait to be out and about exploring more as things open up again and connecting with friends. Now that my daughter is older and a better ambler we plan to go on more hikes as a family and camp up at North South Lake. Emmylou’s learned how to ride a two-wheeler during the pandemic so I look forward to hitting the rail trails with her. I also love to ride horses, so I'm looking to take some lessons again. And of course, we’ll be hitting some swimming holes in our area and catching as much live music outdoors as we can. Hearing live music in great spaces like Opus 40 is such a treat.
I can’t wait to pick strawberries with you and Emmy this summer Jess. And thanks for mentioning ArtPort — our next edition will feature none other than ArtPort’s Founder and Director, Laurie De Chiara.
Till then, Happy Memorial Day everybody! If you enjoyed this, please subscribe to make sure you don’t miss out on more from Catskill Culture Club.