Exclusive Interview: Los Angeles Based Pop Music and TV Icon Makes Strides Nationally and Internationally

By Naomi K. Bonman

 (EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)—- When an artist can make themselves known all over the world, that is true artistry because they have the gift of drawing in crowds from different demographics. Music Artist Jaclyn Bradley is that artist.

Bradley is an indie-singer songwriter and a published board-certified music therapist with a master’s degree in music therapy. She studies the effect of music on surgery patients and is a published music in medicine author. Her research has been published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, and Music Therapy Perspectives. She conducted the largest music therapy study in history to employ the use of live music in the surgical arena.

Jaclyn was the only participant from America as a contestant on the 8th Season of ‘The Voice of Holland’. Palmer currently resides in the Netherlands and is a native of Lorain, Ohio and resided in West Hollywood for five years.

Palmer’s music was featured on MTV, BRAVO’s “The Rachel Zoe Project”, VH1’s, ‘Breaking Bonaduce’, and ‘Random Acts of Music’ where she helped create a 12-episode voice lesson series.  Palmer was Danny Bonaduce’s personal assistant. Her music was also featured on TLC’s “The Hipsters” (starring Joan Rivers), and HGTV’s House Hunter’s International. She also completed her documentary ‘Made of Gold,’ which she made as a tribute to those who died in the USS Indianapolis in World War II.

I recently interviewed the international icon where she chatted on her inspirations and accomplishments. Check it out below:

How were you chosen to be a contestant on ‘The Voice of Holland’? Can You describe your experience with that?

When “The Voice of Holland” called me to audition last year, I was experiencing a creative resurgence from living in Europe- a dream I had always had since childhood. I had just released an album called, “The Dutch Sessions” and filmed “A Loaded Gun,” a musical film confronting gun violence which was an official selection at the Orlando Film Festival. 

Before my audition, I learned that “The Voice of Holland” was the original The Voice show, created by the media mogul who also created Big Brother, Deal or no Deal and Fear Factor. I had no idea that all these programs had originated in Holland, but I figured it would be an incredible production company to work with- and it was. I was initially a bit nervous about the language barrier, but it was an incredible experience. I made great friends, had a blast, and being the only American on the show, they gave me subtitles!

You currently reside overseas but have lived in West Hollywood. How different is the music culture out there? What are some of the pros and cons?

Music is a great connector of human spirit, uncompliant to borders and blind to geography. In today’s global world, I find that music culture is, at its core, similar no matter where you travel. With music as my first language, I always find amazing people and connections.  In both LA and Holland, I found a tribe of musicians to perform, record and write with, and because of that, I have always felt at home. 

The main difference in Europe, at least in Holland, is that the audience really is more respectful in club and concert venues, quietly listening and fully absorbing the musical experience.  Holland is also a freer culture overall, and that translates to music where there is never censorship of words or ideas on television or radio.  Since Dutch is not my native tongue, I thought that might hinder me here, but everyone listens to American/British music in Europe and because of that, even the Dutch singer/songwriters mostly write and perform in English. 

 Your music has been featured on a variety of shows on both MTV and VH1. How was your song selected? 

While living in L.A., I was hired by Partridge Family alum, Danny Bonaduce to be his personal assistant. Gretchen Bonaduce (his wife at the time) is a singer and I quickly became her friend and assistant, too.  It was a great job full of adventure and lots of music.  Danny played bass at my first CD release party and Gretchen and I sang live performances of my songs, “Goodnight” and “Lost Angeles” on episodes of Vh1’s “Breaking Bonaduce.”   From that opportunity, I got to know the Vh1 music supervisor who used my songs on Bravo’s “The Rachel Zoe Project” and TLC’s “The King of the Crown.”   My voice and music have also been featured on MTV’s “Date My Mom” and HGTV’s “Househunters International.”

Are you currently working on any new projects?

I have a Christmas Album, called “December” due out December 1.  It is crazy to be absorbed in Holiday music in the middle of a heat wave summer, but I am really excited about it!

Do you have any upcoming shows?

I plan to perform my “December” album in live performance venues and in living room concerts.

What notable artists/people have you worked with and/or are currently working with?

I have many friends collaborating with me on the new album, including Dutch Broadway star, Jeroen Robben who was my teammate on The Voice of Holland.  Through the show, I worked with several notable Dutch musicians including Sanne Hans, Ali B and Kira Dekker.  In the States, I have sung with Terri Nunn (Berlin), Vivian Campbell (Def Leppard), Ty Stone (Atlantic Records), Michael Satrazemis (The Walking Dead) and Gretchen Bonaduce whose book will be released in August… and I’m proud to be mentioned in it!

What are some of your other accomplishments, as far as awards, etc?

As a filmmaker, the documentary I directed, Made of Gold, won the “Award of Recognition” at the Hollywood International Independent Film festival.  My latest music video, “Love the Bodies We’re in” was named official selection at the Dances with Films festival and premiered at the famed Chinese Theater in Hollywood this past June. 

In 2016, Cleveland Magazine recognized me as one of the city’s “most interesting people,” and most recently, my hometown, Lorain, Ohio, inducted me into the inaugural class of distinguished alumni.  I shared the recognition with Saturday Night Live legend, Don Novello aka “Father Guido Sarducci”, which was quite an honor for me.

But my greatest achievement is something else. It is helping others through music.  I am a board-certified music therapist and have worked for years with patients in hospitals. I led the largest study in history to bring live music therapy into the operating room.  This research was published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology in 2015 and we helped hundreds of women facing breast cancer.  Helping others through music is my greatest joy, but it doesn’t just have to happen in the hospital. Last month, at the Dances with Films festival, a tearful girl came up to me after my screening and told me she was going through a hard time but that my music video had given her hope. To know something, I created with my heart, guitar and a pen, in a quiet room, was able to reach a major venue and touch the heart of another is a privilege that I’m so grateful for.  

How can people follow your music? Are you on social? Do you have a website? 

I am active on Facebook and Insta. You can also subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch my music videos and to view regularly uploaded singing/performance tips.  My website is at www.jaclynbradleypalmer.com