Jesca Hoop grew up in northern California with her Mormon family, who were music lovers themselves, and began singing and writing songs from a young age. She left home at 16 and spent time as a young adult living out doors and taking many jobs - including working as a wilderness survival guide, farming, and surveying - though her songwriting continued throughout.

She eventually moved to Los Angeles to work more on her music and in 2004, her friend and mentor Tom Waits sent her demo CD to his publisher, by whom it was then passed to a Southern California radio station where her music immediately captured listeners.

Hoop now lives in Manchester, England.