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United States Justin Jesso is a Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter known for his contemporary pop sound and collaborations with global artists, transitioning from behind-the-scenes writing to a celebrated solo career.
Justin Jesso co-wrote the global hit "Vente Pa' Ca (feat. Maluma)" for Latin American Grammy-nominee Ricky Martin, which jump-started Jesso's second career.
Justin Jesso is recognized for his collaborations with global pop acts, including co-writing for The Backstreet Boys.
Justin Jesso co-wrote Kygo's global smash "Stargazing" and was the featured vocalist on the track, leading to over 113 million YouTube views and numerous gold and platinum awards worldwide. Jesso also toured with Kygo for two years.
Justin Jesso collaborated with Norwegian producing duo Seeb on his track "Bigger Than," which accumulated almost 1.5 million Spotify streams in one week and entered the Top 50 in Norway.
Jesso has also collaborated with acts such as Alle Farben, contributing to his unique blend of emotion and drive in his music.
Justin Jesso released a duet titled "Let It Be Me" with Scottish singer-songwriter Nina Nesbitt.
Justin Jesso collaborated with Michael Bolton on the song "Beautiful World."
Justin Jesso collaborated with Sam Feldt and Parson James on the song "Lonely Tonight."
Justin Jesso collaborated with Boris Way on the song "Save Me."
Justin Jesso collaborated with Andrea Berg on the song "I'll be there."
Justin Jesso collaborated with Petey Martin on the song "Time Machine."
Justin Jesso collaborated with 220 KID on the song "Sleep Alone."
Justin Jesso collaborated with Said The Sky on the song "Are You With Me."
Justin Jesso, born Justin Stein, grew up in Glencoe, Illinois, near Chicago. His family had a strong musical background; his great-grandfather was a bandleader, and his grandmother encouraged his early stage performances. From a young age, Jesso demonstrated a clear passion for music, choosing a toy microphone over a football and writing his first song by age nine. He also engaged in Chicago theater productions, performing in multiple shows by the age of 14. This early exposure to performance and songwriting laid the foundation for his professional music career.
After an initial debut album release at 18, which garnered attention from Disney talent scouts, Jesso faced a setback when his management contract ended. He pursued acting at the Meisner Acting Training in New York City but eventually rediscovered his primary passion for music. Following this, he applied to the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at NYU. Despite an initial rejection, his persistence led to his acceptance into the program, where he further developed his skills and made industry connections through internships at a booking agency and a publishing company.
Jesso’s career progressed significantly when he relocated to Los Angeles and participated in songwriting camps. In 2016, he co-wrote “Vente Pa’ Ca (feat. Maluma)” for Ricky Martin, which achieved commercial success and a Latin Grammy nomination in 2017. His breakthrough as a featured artist came in 2017 with Kygo’s “Stargazing,” which he co-wrote. This track accumulated over 113 million YouTube views and earned multi-platinum certifications. Jesso subsequently toured globally with Kygo for two years, performing in arenas across Asia, Australia, North and South America, and Europe. He has since released solo material and collaborated with various artists, including The Backstreet Boys, Nina Nesbitt, and Alle Farben.
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