Creativity with a conscience: Civic-minded songwriters turn heads
Published in the Teton Valley News, Story by Alta Olesen

In addition to being recognized by their peers as great singer/songwriters, the local music listeners are also taking notice of Jessica Kilroy and Michael Batdorf, both of Victor, who have joined the fast-growing artistic community here in Teton Valley.

Batdorf was born in Ohio but was raised in Western Pennsylvania where he bought a guitar and a four-track at age 12 because he wanted to learn to do everything himself.

"I wanted complete control of what I was doing," Batdorf explained.

He attended college at West Virginia University and also attended recording school at Middle Tennessee State University. In January of 2004 he decided to move out west to hone his musical skills. He ended up in Idaho Falls until he discovered Teton Valley. He fell in love with this area and moved here six months ago.

Although Batdorf played music in Idaho Falls, he felt that it was hard finding his niche there. He played many gigs, but said that the only places he really liked playing at were BJ's Bayou in Roberts and the Purple Gecko in Idaho Falls.

"It was tough exposing myself in Idaho Falls. I naturally gravitated here," Batdorf said of the valley.

Batdorf feels that Teton Valley is much more accepting to his blues, folk and jazz styles than was Idaho Falls.

"I feel like people appreciate it here," Batdorf added.

Jessica Kilroy's roots were planted here when she was born in Rexburg and spent the first two months of her life in Victor before moving to Montana, and later, to California. Eventually, Kilroy and her family moved back to the Teton Range where she attended high school until her junior year.

Kilroy started playing guitar at age 13 with her younger brother, Jason, on a broken guitar. In high school she bought an old Stella guitar from a thrift store. She played and wrote songs with her friends, and remembers playing at open mic night at Tony's Pizza when she was young.

As a senior in Montana, Kilroy began getting serious about her musical future. Her choir teacher, Michael Atherton, believed that she could go places with her talent and encouraged her to, telling her that she owed it to society to pursue music.

"He's the coolest guy ever, my largest inspiration," Kilroy Said. " I always knew that I'd be involved in music, but it wasn't until I was a senior in high school that I got serious about it."

After high school Kilroy went to college in Missoula for a while and then decided she wanted to be with her family here in the mountains so she recently moved back to her hometown.

Poetry is very important for both Batdorf and Kilroy, and both believe writing poetry has helped them with songwriting. Kilroy started out writing poetry and turned her interest to songwriting while Batdorf felt that writing poetry helped him develop as a songwriter.

"I wrote to express myself and to change the world," Kilroy said of her early experiences with lyrics.

Both Batdorf and Kilroy's passions for songwriting comes out in their songs and those lyrics have turned the heads of many a listener. They write about personal experiences and about local issues facing their generation. Batdorf, a natural storyteller, has written a song about Teton County that sends out a message to take care of what we have in the beautiful place he has come to call home.

Batdorf feels that writing songs is his way of getting his ideas and thoughts out to the public. He has a strong desire to put out his message any way he can.

"I feel obligated to say something," Batdorf said.

Recently, Big Hole Music in Driggs has been hosting evenings of music by local entertainers and this is where Kilroy and Batdorf first met and decided to play music together.

"I heard people talking about Jessica so I went to her second show at Big Hole. I definitely found an echo with what I was doing." Batdorf recalled.

Kilroy also saw Batdorf at a show at Big Hole Music where she was impressed with is musical skill.

"He's out of my league." Kilroy remembered thinking, but after speaking with Batdorf she felt extremely respected and a musical friendship grew.

"Michael encourages me to do things I am not used to doing," Kilroy said.

Kilroy and Batdorf also play music with other musicians around the valley and they want to encourage artists to build a community in order to raise awareness of what is going on around us.

"Just hearing another voice that echoes what I'm trying to say is very important," Batdorf explained, emphasizing that the people who he comes in contact with are very inspirational to him.

Both Batdorf and Kilroy enjoy what they do, performing their own original songs. They think that it's important to get their messages out.

Kilroy currently has one album recorded called "Before Dawn." She recorded the album in 2003 with the help of her mentor, Michael Atherton. Batdorf plans on having a self-recorded album out soon called "When the Mountain Calls."

Be sure to look out for the posters featuring these two talented musicians. They are sure to inspire and awe any listener in any venue.

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