We all start out one thing.
For Jalesa Jessie, known to Austinites these days as Chief Cleopatra, she began as a Corsicana kid dabbling in piano, marching in her school’s drum line, listening to a lot of rock bands. Things happen, grab your attention, alter your perceptions.



Growing up in a small Texas town, Chief Cleopatra never quite fit the mold. 

It is this outsider status that has carried her all the way to the precipice of something big, with the release of her sophomore EP Luna, via Park The Van Records. Cleo is currently unsigned.

Since 2019, Chief Cleopatra has been a 5 time SXSW official artist, she was dubbed KUTX’s Artist of The Month, nominated for Best New Artist at the Austin Music Awards, joined the Recording Academy in 2022 and performed at LEVITATION in 2023.

With her iridescent style being hailed as Soul Rock.
Cleo has supported The Wailers, Girl Talk, Adrian Quesada (Black Pumas), Bas, The Bright Light Social Hour, Durand Jones, Danielle Ponder, Abraham Alexander, Jackie Venson, Seratones, Lukas Nelson along with many other notable acts.

Her third EP, Cold Dancer, is slated for release early Spring 2024.