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Between pop songs and tunes from the marching band would be a new addition — a song by Jess Christensen, dubbed “The MB,” a rap song about the Moule Building.

The song idea sprouted from him driving past the Moule Building one day. The thought sprang into his mind that he would one day own the building, though he’s not sure if he will start his own company.

It took Christensen 30 minutes to make the song, just before he went to bed on a school night. He came to activities director Nick Karn, asking if he could play it, and Karn was all in.

The song made its way to Stevens Principal Jocelyn Haffner, who came up to Christensen, telling him they’d play it, and ensured Karn mentioned who made it.

“It was the biggest crowd I’ve ever seen in my whole entire basketball career,” Christensen said. “Everyone knew it was my song, which was really cool.”

Christensen’s passion for sports and music has been intertwined throughout his entire high school career. Music has a huge influence on his life, he said, both in track and field — the sport he’s signed to compete in at Grinnell College in Iowa — and in basketball.

Beyond athletics, he’s also the first-chair jazz guitarist in the Stevens jazz band. He’s been a part of the jazz band for all four years of his high school tenure.

“Having both elements is really good to keep me in check,” he said. “Even if I don’t have the best performance athletically, I still have music. I can go home, play my guitar or listen to a song that cheers me up.”

He said it works the other way, too. When he’s in a creative rut, he can come out to the field and run and jump to feel physically great.

Christensen uses music during track and field meets to pump him up or calm him down, based on what he needs in that exact moment.

Christensen’s career making music

He started taking piano lessons from first to fifth grade, and guitar lessons for over a year. His time perfecting his craft has led to him making his own music, under the name “J4ss.”

The name came from his friend, Brady Rehorst, known as Lil’ Bädui, with whom he began making music during his freshman year of high school.

Rehorst made a song where he recorded Christensen singing without him knowing and listed his name as “J4ss,” and he just stuck with it.

Christensen’s favorite genres are hard rock and metal, but he doesn’t have the right setup to make that kind of music. He’s focused on making hip hop and soft rock in his short time writing and making songs.

“We released two albums and we sold a ton of CDs,” Christensen said. “We got like, 300 bucks, and we blew all of it on a steak dinner.”

The two chose the Alpine Inn as their steak house of choice, and he said the second time they went, the workers even recognized them.

His solo career began about a year and a half ago. Christensen was making songs on his guitar, and while it started rough, he said the process showed he was capable of making music.

In his short time making music, his songs “Fishing with Braiden,” “The MB” and “Who won?” are some of his fans' favorites. But Christensen’s favorite is “Overwhelmed,” a softer song focused more on his guitar and singing.

Finding his place and being a role model

Stevens jazz band director Jordan Seidel said Christensen has been a phenomenal student, trying to learn as much as he can while being a positive influence in his time with the jazz band.

Seidel said Christensen started off a little timid, like most freshmen, but began to click during his sophomore year.

“He was just really diving into the nitty gritty stuff about our jazz program,” Seidel said. “Finding all these different artists that he really liked and wanted to model his sound after.”

Seidel’s seen Christensen grow from a quiet freshman into an outgoing musician, auditioning for the all-state jazz concert and solos at Stevens’ concerts.

“Pretty much anything you ask him to do,” Seidel said. “He’ll do it.”

It didn’t take long for Christensen to become someone people gravitated toward, Seidel said. It was great to see him become a leader and influence his peers in a positive way.

Seidel said one of his favorite parts of teaching high school kids is seeing them branch out and discover artists and genres they like, and Christensen is no different.

“The amount of conversations I've had with him about different guitarists or different bands,” Seidel said. “It's honestly almost every day. It's a lot of fun to have those conversations and build those connections through music and other artists.”

Excelling in track and field

Christensen’s work ethic expands outside the music room and onto the field.

He achieved personal records to start the 2025 season at the West River AA Preview meet in the long jump and triple jump. His long jump of 21-feet-10.5-inches ranked seventh all-time in Stevens school history.

His PR of 43-feet-11-inches in the triple jump places him sixth all-time in Raiders program history.

Stevens track and field head coach Paul Hendry said he’s a great guy to have in the program and a well-rounded athlete.

“Just a fun guy to be around,” Hendry said. “Includes everybody, makes them all feel part of the team. Good leader by example.”

Hendry said what stands out about Christensen is his willingness to try different events. He’s primarily a jumper, but has tried the 110m hurdles and different sprinting and hurdle events.

“He’s like many of our kids that we get spoiled to work with,” Hendry said. “We’re spoiled to have a guy like that on our team.”

100% Jess all the time

Making time for music and sports isn’t easy, and it’s an aspect of Christensen’s life that he has to put extra focus on.

There have been days when he competes in a track and field meet, takes an AP test and finishes the day out playing bass guitar in a choir concert.

To make it all work, Christensen follows the same routine daily. He goes to his classes, gets lunch with his jazz band friends, goes back to classes, then uses his free period to play music and then track practice.

Despite the grind, Christensen wouldn’t have it any other way. He said he enjoys doing more and avoids sitting around for more than an extended period of time.

“That's just the true testament of just who he is,” Seidel said. “The fact that he can just dedicate himself to being present in the moment and being 100% Jess wherever he is at the time is very cool to see.”

Continuing music in college

Christensen said Grinnell College’s music scene stood out to him when he visited the school to see their track and field program.

He hopes to keep making music there and find people to start a band with, and also reach out to their jazz band director for opportunities.

He’s also hoping there will be opportunities to improve with the school offering free lessons for vocal practice and instruments.

“I might get vocal lessons,” he said, “or maybe trumpet, cause that could be fun, too.”

With his high school career nearing its conclusion, Christensen hopes to do the best he can in every facet of his life, whether that’s music, athletics or schoolwork.

“Just doing the best I can,” Christensen said. “It's my ideal way to go out.”