Young musician flaunts a sunny outlook on life, finds success

An ordinary Fullerton College student with a not-so-ordinary passion for music recently became a finalist in the 2009 UK Songwriting Contest after submiting an original piece of music.    

Previously a member of various local bands, the 22-year-old finalist has been working on a solo project since earlier this year and after winning a free international song copyright registration as well as media support, Jake Davis hopes to be able to release a full album on iTunes by the end of the month. 

With the freedom of creating music independently within the comfort of his own home, Davis is able to fully express his creativity through composition and writing. He is able to experiment with both acoustic and electronic sounds, masterfully weaving together orchestral harmonies and synthetic beats. 

Lyrically, Davis draws inspiration from personal experiences ranging from the loss of a loved one and heartbreak to euphoric times of triumph. 

"No Regrets," a song which received the recognition of being in the top two percent in a pool of over 6000 contest applicants, was written for a suicide prevention taskforce and carries an uplifting message, Davis said.

"It was a song saying don't give up even if a lot of stuff has happened,'" Davis said. "It's a glory days kind of moment. Even if the bad stuff has happened, it helped shape who you are today. Don't give up too easily."

Despite aspirations of becoming a renowned artist, Davis is not actively seeking a record deal with a production company anytime soon. Instead he is focused on completing his education, refining his craft and ultimately composing music for film and television.

"You can put your own stuff on iTunes," Davis said. "It's really easy to do, and there's a lot of people who like to do that." Davis said if he were concerned about earning money with his music, he would definitely go the iTunes route, "but right now, it's more or less just about having fun."

Even while working two jobs and attending school full-time, Davis is able to explore his hobby with the support of his friends, expanding his skills and talents to a nearly professional level.

"I'm really hoping to get noticed by something because it feels really good to do something you love and actually have people appreciate it and connect with it," Davis said. "That's what it's really about—finding people that really connect with what you're writing about.

As a reflection of his positive attitude toward life, Davis shares a personal quote with fans on his MySpace Music profile, writing "Being happy is never needing a reason to smile." 

Davis' honest and carefree approach toward life is resonated in the optimistic attitude expressed in his music as well.