Jesso initially garnered acclaim behind the scenes as a songwriter before taking the spotlight in 2017 as the featured vocalist on Kygo's international hit "Stargazing." His own set of romantic pop anthems followed in the form of his debut EP, 2018's Let It Be Me.
A native of Chicago, Illinois, Jesso began writing songs at the age of ten, later studying songwriting at the Clive Davis Institute in New York. He then relocated to Los Angeles, California and began taking part in writing sessions. While tunes intended for Katy Perry and others were considered but never recorded, one of the songs he co-wrote for Ricky Martin, "Vente Pa' Ca," became a worldwide hit in late 2016. The following year, Jesso and his colleagues were nominated for a Latin Grammy for Song of the Year.
Later in 2017 and into 2018, Jesso landed on the singles charts on multiple continents when he was featured on Kygo's "Stargazing." Jesso also co-wrote the song. After signing with Columbia, he issued his first solo single, "My Body," which appeared on the four-song EP Let It Be Me in December of 2018. Also included on the EP was the title track, a duet with Scottish vocalist Nina Nesbitt. A standalone song, "The End," arrived in November 2020.
