JAKE SCOTT in New York City

Jake Scott took the stage at the Mercury Lounge in New York City on August 16.

I just knew Jake recently through a friend; she was into his music. I remember her singing “Forever 22” with her guitar, and she was so good at playing and singing. Let me tell you where my story started before I hit the road to photograph Jake. I was in the gym working out to start my day, and my Spotify was filled with Jake’s music. When I heard his acoustic version of “Favorite T-shirt,” I thought, “Wow! That music reminds me of my ex-girlfriend who loved the t-shirt I gave her.” All day, my Spotify was filled with Jake’s music. Lol.

At 5 PM, I boarded the train to Gramercy Theatre, where the concert was supposed to be scheduled. As I got closer to the venue, I wondered why it was still closed and why there was no Jake Scott name on the roof. They changed the venue without announcing where it would be held, so it was at the Mercury Lounge. I had to travel for 30 minutes, and when I got there, I remembered there were only 5 songs left. Lol.

Anyway, back to Jake’s performance: he was good and entertaining, and he could play the piano as well. I think I was the only person who wasn’t with someone; everyone else was with a partner, like a boyfriend or girlfriend. Lol. Whenever he waved, made eye contact with someone, or approached a specific part of the stage, that area of the audience erupted with greater enthusiasm than the surrounding crowd. Witnessing the reactions of concertgoers always brings a smile to my face, as I understand that experiencing your favorite artists live is truly one of the most exhilarating feelings! He consistently engaged with his fans throughout the event, which was truly commendable.

The performance concluded slightly earlier than expected. As I exited the venue, I found myself in awe of the sheer number of love songs someone could compose and perform. While I truly admire Scott's abilities as a singer-songwriter, I hope he discovers new sources of inspiration for his upcoming projects.