Confessional Indie Singer/Songwriter Jo Potter Spins Gritty and Heartfelt Musical Tales Around In ‘8 Circles’

“Valentine’s Day Song,” The First Single From Her Debut Collection, Was #1 Most Added For Three Weeks and Is Currently At #36 On FMQB’S AC40 Chart, Alongside Superstars
Rob Thomas, Train, Chris Rice, Gwen Stefani and Michael Buble Miami-Based Artist Has Been AOL’s Musician of The Week, A Featured Performer On Artistlaunch.com and Freeworldradio.com, and Has Appeared Live at the Broward County Performing Arts Center, The Knitting Factory in L.A.
and Crash Mansion in NYC

The intensely emotional romantic relationship that inspired the 16 tracks of Jo Potter’s critically acclaimed debut 8 Circles may have ended, but she still had an incredible Valentine’s Day celebrating with (or, more accurately, alongside) some of pop music’s biggest superstars. “Valentine’s Day Song,” the heartfelt, acoustic guitar-driven first single by the Miami-based singer/songwriter, was #1 Most Added for Three Weeks Straight on FMQB’s AC40 Chart, and spent the week of Valentine’s Day at #36—surrounded by songs by Rob Thomas, Train, Chris Rice, Gwen Stefani and Michael Buble.

“Every man is just dying to know what a woman wants,” she says, “and what I’m saying in the song is what we really need are not materialist things, but to know the person who loves us is always there, by our side. That’s what really matters, and I think that’s why the song is resonating.”

With clever yet universal lyrics, strong hooks, a blend of gritty pop rockers and tender ballads, and an infectious, radio-friendly sound, it’s no wonder why so many of her songs have hit the Artistlaunch.com Top 40 playlist and have been popular on college radio stations like WVUM 90.5 FM. While she’s currently working with top national radio promoter Tom Mazzetta, Potter’s buzz on the web extends to being chosen AOL’s Musician of the Week, an in-depth interview by online tastemaker FreeWorldRadio.com and glowing reviews from DVD Movie Central. She has also licensed her music to Photoshow, a partner with Comcast offering free software that allows people to install Potter’s songs in a loop accompanying their slide shows; another company she has licensed to is Shutterfly.

A native of Maine, Potter—whose chief songwriting inspirations are Tracy Chapman and Sting--has lived in Florida for most of her life, and has naturally been a popular presence on the local music scenes in Ft. Lauderdale and Miami. She has performed at the Broward County Performing Arts Center, Downtown Live and The Beaux Arts Festival, and also participates in local fundraising events like Toys For Tots. Across the country, she has performed at Crash Mansion in New York City, The Knitting Factory and Cat Club in Los Angeles, and The French Quarter and Boardwalk Café in Nashville. Potter, who wrote the anthemic, uplifting rocker “Together” as an initial response to the Iraq war, has also been invited to participate in the USO tour to entertain the troops abroad.

8 Circles plays like an emotional chronicle of the comings, goings and roller coaster nature of human relationships, as seen through the prism of the one she had with a longtime boyfriend, whose Latin name roughly translates to “8 Circles” in English. “I have to live my life in order to write about it, and that includes the good, the bad and the ugly,” she says. “I sometimes wish it was something I could put away, because writing and singing about it can be draining, but in a good way…because creating music is like breathing for me.” The tracks stand on their own as snapshots, but together weave an interesting story, though not necessarily in chronological order.

“I want them to be as personal as possible, to let people know that I’ve gone through the same things they have,” Potter adds. “I know a songwriter named Richie Supa who has written songs for Aerosmith and Pink. He told me the key to good songs is to let them be confessional, and I took that advice to heart. I can’t confess something that never happened to me.”

“Round and Round,” which features the album title in its lyrics, is about the tumultuous beginning of a relationship when one’s emotions are pulling every which way. The mid-tempo ballad “You Don’t Have To Say,” which is one of the disc’s premiere showcase for the pure emotion of Potter’s voice, is about the importance of verbalizing “I love you” even when it’s implicit between two people. The bluesy, Melissa Etheridge flavored “Burn” is an example of Potter’s purely sensuous side. She even throws in the hidden track #88 “You Won’t See Me Cry” both as a tribute to her being a practical joker and a final goodbye to her ex.

While many up and coming indie artists are shy about discussing their day jobs, Potter’s is not only fascinating but taps into the human heart in a way that’s complemented by the emotional impact of her music. And wouldn’t you know, being a Cardiovascular Sonographer has to do with…sound?

She’s previously been a Director of Ultrasound for a large cardiology group and traveled around the country for years performing ultrasound on people’s heart, arteries, and veins. Potter, whose current position involves teaching others how to use ultrasound machines says, “Ultrasound is not just about watching babies kick. I’ve performed ultrasound on patients while having heart and brain surgery by surgeons in the OR. And along the way, I’ve actually saved a few lives. I’ve dedicated this career to saving and helping people, and my music is designed to do the same, only taking it one step further to heal them emotionally.

“It all connects somehow,” she adds. “I used to go around and ask people over 90 about the greatest lesson they have learned. The best answers were always about being honest in whatever you do. That’s something I’ve always taken to my songwriting as well, and I have realized that such honesty has the power to touch people deeply. Some of the greatest things happen to me when I’m performing. I remember one woman coming up after a show and singing ‘Valentine’s Day Song’ to me crying, like she understood and connected with my music. It was awesome to be able to create something that meant so much to her. As an artist, I have numerous professional goals, but nothing is more important than connecting with people on this kind of individual basis.”

For more Information log onto: jopotter.com.