An Interview with Singer Songwriter Jaimee Harris

This interview was first published in the May issue of The Crazy Wisdom Monthly. You can read the full issue on our website.

By Lisa Viger-Gotte

Jaimee Harris is a Texas-born singer-songwriter. She’s known for her beautiful, soulful voice and raw, honest storytelling and was raised in Hewitt, a suburb near Waco, where she began playing guitar at age five. Inspired by Emmylou Harris and Fleetwood Mac, her music combines country and folk influences with her personal experiences and observations, which resonate deeply with her audience. Harris’ latest album is Boomerang Town, which explores the themes of family, small-town life, addiction, and successfully navigating the world beyond what we were born into.

Harris and her partner, singer-songwriter Mary Gauthier, collaborate in music and in life. In addition to their musical talents, they both advocate for mental health awareness and LGBTQ+ representation.

I attended Mary Gauthier and Jaimee Harris’s performance at the Green Wood Coffee House Music Series. It was like an intimate living room gathering where they shared their authentic stories and delightful melodies. Gauthier’s raw, confessional voice delivers profoundly personal narratives, exploring relatable themes like addiction, loss, and redemption. Harris complements this with emotive harmonies and adept guitar work. The two create a seamless collaboration and a deeply personal atmosphere, inviting the audience into their shared musical experience. Intrigued with their story, I interviewed both Gauthier and Harris. Here is my interview with Harris.

Lisa Gotte: Your music is deeply personal and often explores themes of pain and healing—how has songwriting helped you process your own experiences?

Jaimee Harris: It’s mysterious and immeasurable. It’s been my experience over and over again that the song contains far more wisdom than the songwriter. If I let the song be what it wants to be, midwife it instead of “write” it, I find that years later, it holds deeper meaning than I was aware of when I was midwifing it. The songs continue to be my teachers.

Lisa Gotte: You’ve performed at intimate venues like the Greenwood Coffee House in Ann Arbor, where the connection between artist and audience feels especially close. How does playing in these smaller, more personal spaces enhance the therapeutic power of your music?

Jaimee Harris: When I started playing music, I was in a duo. Then, I found myself in trios and bands. It wasn’t until 2018, when I started touring as a solo, acoustic, opening act for Mary Gauthier, that I found myself struggling to connect in small rooms. I didn’t have the songs for that kind of show. Playing in more intimate, troubadour-style venues has made me a much stronger songwriter. I had to learn how to write songs that stand alone with just my voice and acoustic guitar. By writing stronger songs, I connect more deeply with the audience.

Lisa Gotte: You’ve both been open about your struggles with addiction and recovery. How has music played a role in your healing journey?

Jaimee Harris: When I first got sober, there was a 24-hour coffee shop/venue near a 12-step recovery clubhouse. I spent my days in early recovery hopping between going to meetings and soaking in the great music at the venue; Eliza Gilkyson, Jon Dee Graham, Jimmy LaFave, etc. The music gave me something to hold onto in early recovery. Music continues to be the space where I feel the most understood. It’s how I communicate and move through the world. I find it impossible to untangle music from my recovery. They are both my lifeboats.

Lisa Gotte: Many of your songs feel like they offer comfort to those who are struggling. Have fans ever shared how your music has helped them, and how does that impact you?

Jaimee Harris: Oh, yeah. That connection is my favorite part of this job. It makes me want to get back to the next blank page and see how to continue to be of service through songwriting.

Lisa Gotte: You’ve said that writing songs requires honesty. How do you navigate vulnerability in songwriting while also taking care of yourself emotionally?

Jaimee Harris: I’ve had the great honor of assisting Mary with many songwriting workshops. One of the lessons she teaches is how the universal is accessed through the deeply personal. If I go deep enough with my work, I will access the universal human experience. The challenge is to go deep enough to find that truth that connects us all. Finding that connection helps me feel less alone, which is why I was initially drawn to this artform as a fan and later as a songwriter.

Lisa Gotte: If you could go back and give advice to your younger self when you were struggling, what song of yours would you want her to hear?

Jaimee Harris: “Catch it Now”

Lisa Gotte: What do you hope listeners take away from your music, especially those who may be going through their own difficult journeys?

Jaimee Harris: Literally anything at all that helps them. Even if it’s “man, I hated that song. She totally sucked. I think I can say it better” and then they become a songwriter!