Her dream had always been to play music, but it wasn’t until her 14th birthday that her father reluctantly bought St. Edward’s University junior Jardin Telling a blue guitar from a pawnshop.  Thinking this a wild dream of any typical 14-year-old girl, her father refused to send her to lessons and instead left her with two instructional guitar books.

Despite her father’s doubts, Jardin’s devotion to her craft shined throughout high school as she learned guitar and wrote songs with her friend Lindsay Schulz.   Six years later, with an upgraded guitar, Telling, now 20-years-old, boasts a wide repertoire of songs.

Telling, a Global Studies major, describes her musical style as “acoustic fusion folk.”

“I’m definitely a singer-song writer, but I’m definitely not all folk.” Telling said. “It’s happy music, it’s a laidback style, but not Jack Johnson mellow.”   

Her biggest influences include Tristan Prettyman and Jason Mraz, whom she calls her “greatest musical inspiration.”

“I actually had the chance to speak and dance with [Mraz],” she said.

Telling lived in the Woodlands when she began writing music, but considers Austin to be her home now.

“Austin is fantastic for exploring your musical creativity, but at the same time everyone comes to Austin, regardless of age,” Telling said. “It’s frustrating… so it’s hard to pick out the really talented among everyone trying to make it.”

Telling has been fruitful in her musical pursuits in Austin so far, playing at Momo’s on Aug. 31 during happy hour. It didn’t come easy for her, though.  

“It’s about knowing people and getting contacts.” Telling said. “You have to be annoying.”

The key, she says, is persistence.

“It might take 15-20 times playing at the same place during earlier hours until you can get a later time…You just have to prove yourself,” she said.

Telling’s advice for other aspiring musicians is to be persistent.

“Don’t get down if you are looking for places to play and you can’t find any,” Telling said. “Opportunity is all around you, but it’s up to you if you want to reach out and take it.”

If given the choice of playing music as a career, Telling said she would jump at it, but regardless of what happens she says she will always own an instrument until the day she dies.

“I feel very connected to music,” Telling said. “It’s been my creative and emotional outlet, and I don’t think anything will replace that.”  

She is also hosting a free 21st birthday bash show at the Red Eyed Fly on Oct. 4, where Schulz and Austin band The Highway will accompany her.