Jacquie Roar Establishes Her Solo Career with “Learn About Love”
Born in Chicago, Illinois. When you were an infant your mom took you to Los Angeles, to the Granada Hills/Hollywood area. Every summer you would go to your grandmother’s house there. “I used to go to Santa Monica pier with my mom and brother. Even a few times with my grandmother. I just love the ocean air no matter what state I am in. The beach is where I go to pray and God, I am thankful.” “Simple Man” by Lynyrd Skynyrd is a song your mother dedicated to your brother long before you started singing it. The song, about a mother talking to her child about life. What makes this song so special for your mother and you?
It doesn’t hold meaning for my mother and I. We don’t have a song, but that doesn’t mean she hasn’t instilled a lot of wisdom in me. She’s always been hard on me about working for what I have and not depending on others. It’s definitely helped me as an artist and the never-ending hustle.
“I am so much like my grandmother. We wear our hearts on our sleeves. We love to entertain. We are strong.” Your family loves music — what songs were your grandmother’s favorites to listen to when you were young?
We would always listen to the Gipsy Kings. We played the album every time she would drive to and from work with me in the backseat singing along. However, her favorite song to play (and even cry to) is “Mama I’m Coming Home” by Ozzy Osbourne. Of course, lots of Polish music as well — but, Gipsy Kings and Ozzy was hers and mine.
Around ten years old you moved with your family to Oregon. Which music venues would you take a first-time visitor to in Portland and the surrounding area?
I would say the Crystal Ballroom. It has a unique floating floor and it’s one of the last of its kind. It fits about 1500 people and huge artists have played there, including Lainey Wilson most recently.
You auditioned for Season 11 of American Idol. During Hollywood Week many of your group round members were hit with a flu bug, resulting in many members, including yourself, to be eliminated. More recently the pandemic robbed you of a chance to open for Lainey Wilson and Parmalee. How do you take lessons learned from experiences like these to make yourself an even more resilient artist?
Unfortunately, you can’t control everything. I wanted those opportunities so badly. I cried quite a bit over catching Covid at the wrong time. I have to believe there is a reason for everything. It wasn’t my time. I wasn’t ready. But, now I am and I won’t allow myself to fail over getting sick anymore. I have taken up IV therapy and heavy-duty vitamins to keep me on the up-and-up.
Singing the National Anthem before concerts by Alan Jackson, Martina McBride, Kelsea Ballerini and before a Portland Trail Blazers game. Where would you like to sing the Anthem next?
I don’t want to sing the National Anthem anymore. It’s so much pressure. The last time I sang it in a very public place was at a Blazer Game. It was sold out. A blood vessel popped in my eye because I was so stressed out. You’d think after singing on a national television show that your nerves would go away, but no. The pressure to remember all the words and not mess up the most important song to America is intense for me. However…if I was asked to sing it at The Super Bowl, I would not say no lol!
Fronted a band called Lace + Thorn (“Medicine Man”). “They sing about broken hearts; I sing about avenging them.”
First solo single, “Fire on the Mountain.” How did you choose this song as your solo debut?
I actually have a lot of songs that I’ve recorded and that I’m sitting on. “Fire on the Mountain” was something I threw out there just to have a song for people to listen to while I was on The Voice. It’s more of a sync song, so I have recently taken it down and replaced it with my fresh singles — “Bad Habit” and “Learn About Love.”
Raised by a single mother. Learned about the struggles as well as the strength and hard work involved. “When I became a mother, it changed my life.” You put your music career on hold for a time to raise your daughter, Leilani. The Voice. “Women are doing more things that they haven’t done before. There’s a lot more bravery. I think that a chair turned for me would be the ultimate reward, especially because my daughter’s going to be watching and I want her to be proud of me, I want to be a role model. I want her to know she can do whatever she wants. I would just want her to run out on the stage and hug me because that would be the most for me.” What would you tell your younger self about how music would impact your life?
My younger self loved to sing just to sing. After my childhood trauma, I had no confidence and actually refused to sing in public. I had horrible stage fright. If I could talk to my younger self, I would tell her not to be afraid and that music would release her from her shame. That I would find my strength, confidence and purpose. That music would make me a better person because I wouldn’t be hurting all of the time. I would be a lot further than I am now if I could talk to my younger self. I would show her what I’ve achieved despite my fears and in spite of those who said I would never reach my dreams.
“My original plan for my blind audition outfit was this silver textured dress but during wardrobe, we concluded that pants were the better option for me. I move around way too much for such a short dress.” Reba loved your outfit and commented, “Well, I’ve heard of dropping the mic but never dropping their earrings.” Besides the physical reason for the change, how do wardrobe choices impact how you feel mentally on the stage?
I have to feel like a rockstar so I can get my head in the zone while on stage. My outfit, which means head-to-toe rhinestones, fringe, and leather, is like when Clark Kent turns into Superman. It’s my superhero uniform.
“I tried out for The VOICE every year for nine years, and I got told no over and over again, and finally they said yes to me, and it was the best experience I’ve ever had. I’ve made amazing friends. The staff was incredible. Just respectful. They care about you… And the coaches are incredible.” Reba bestowed the title of ‘country-rock diva’ on you. “I feel like the country world doesn’t have any kind of female artist like me. The grit, the growl, the dark lyrics. I am a little rock, a little country, and a whole lotta party.” I love blending music, so I pull inspiration from Adele to Fleetwood Mac to Gin Wigmore to Alice In Chains to Gretchen Wilson.” What is the best advice Reba has shared with you to date?
“Just have fun.” I was always so stressed out about making the next round and doing a great job so I wouldn’t get cut.
On “Wildflowers and Wild Horses,” she told me “just have fun” and I did. I had so much fun. It changed a lot for me. I always go on that stage ready to have fun now.
Your latest song, “Learn About Love,” was co-written by Jaden Michaels, Molly Reed, and Jason Mater. “I learned invaluable lessons during my time on the show, and I’m immensely thankful for the platform it provided. But now, as a new chapter unfolds, I’m thrilled to embark on this exciting musical venture.” Picking up where Gretchen left off. “Learn About Love” even has its own line dance, created by Line Dancing with Kat, that fans were encouraged to learn. How does this music represent a new chapter for you?
It’s not just cutting the umbilical cord from The Voice. It’s also truly establishing my solo career. Right when I was about to drop my very first solo EP is when I got the call to come to The Voice so I haven’t had the opportunity to show who I am without Lace + Thorn and who I am without The Voice. “Bad Habit” and “Learn About Love” are songs that show my versatility. It gives you a taste of my songwriting, my flavor, my sassiness…it’s a taste of more to come. I’m not quitting now. I’m almost there.
The Three Amigos, Bias, Huntley, and you. Working on new music together?
Bias and I wrote a song and he recently released it as his first solo song since The Voice. Next is Huntley and I. We are currently scheduling some work days to write and record. Whether or not you will get a duet is still in the stars. We are going in to work organically. We’ll see if it’s a sync, a solo song, or if something rears its head and develops into a duet.
Bring the party! “Music, singing and performing is who I am and who I was always afraid of being. Not anymore. Big things are coming, and I can’t wait to show you the REAL me. … One thing I love about playing new venues, is that I love to meet new people.” You’ve performed at the CRS (Country Radio Seminar), the Oregon Jamboree, the famed Ponderosa Lounge & Grill, and headlined at Music & Brews. Million Dollar Cowboy Bar in Jackson Hole, WY is your favorite venue to date. Your performance there was the first time on the road playing in another state at a venue you booked yourself. Bucket list venues you hope to play in the next five years?
I absolutely love to play for my Oregonians. It’s been a blessing to rock such a tough town to please musically. CRS was its own experience in Nashville, as was playing at Whiskey Jam with Jamie O’Neal. I had a blast networking and making new friends. But, if I’m being honest, Jackson Hole has been the most fun to date. I love it when the crowd dances and gets crazy. Most of my shows, people sit and watch it like it’s a movie. They tell me how much fun they had and I’m thinking to myself, “you didn’t even dance!” Lol! If you come to my show, please have fun!
Special talent is your ability to impersonate Britney Spears, Shakira, and Cher. “Most of the time I am a rebel heart full of rock n roll and ambition but once in a blue moon, you might catch me enjoying the still of the night with some soft classic rock.” What are some of the songs on your soft classic rock playlist?
This list could get long, so I’ll drop 10 — which doesn’t even scratch the playlist I’ve created!
Harry Nilsson “Everybody’s Talking”
Seals and Croft “Summer Breeze”
Eddie Rabbit “Drivin’ My Life Away”
Jimi Hendrix “All Along The Watchtower”
And of course anything Fleetwood Mac.
“Food is my love language.” Hobbies include fishing, cooking, pickling, and shopping. A go-to seafood boil recipe for fans to try?
Trying to steal my recipe, huh? I’ll give you a single-portion recipe I make when I’m alone and craving some seafood.
I take a big piece of foil and I put butter, Old Bay, garlic, salt, 1/4 sweet onion, 1 corn cob cut into 3, 1 crab cluster (thawed or fresh), 6 shrimp, 1 andouille sausage link, and a couple of tiny red potatoes. You can add a lemon slice if you’d like. I close it up and either pop it on the grill or pop it in the oven for about 30 minutes at 350 degrees. You can boil it, too, but to each their own.
“Finding out how hard I can push myself. Finding out who my real friends are. Figuring out how to balance regular work, music work, family time and finding time with friends.” Enjoying family time with your boyfriend, Jesse, daughter Leilani and your bonus daughter, Georgia. Besides Uno, which card games are your favorites to play?
We don’t spend much time playing board games, but when we do the girls like to play Labyrinth or Clue and a card game called Queens. We usually take our side-by-side out and go riding at the beach or we’ll take them to swim at Grandpa’s pond. We have water kids, so I bought these huge blowup water slides we set up during the summer so they are worn out by day’s end. We play quite a bit as a family and they love to travel. It’s definitely going to be easy touring with my family!