Jessica Elizabeth Davenport doesn’t fit into a single box—and she wouldn’t have it any other way. As an architect, Davenport spent years leading the design of multibillion-dollar projects, like LaGuardia Airport, shaping airport cities with her vision. Today, she’s the creative force behind Strictly Elizabeth, a groundbreaking artistic project that blends music, architecture, comic books, and film into one immersive experience.
“Strictly Elizabeth isn’t a person—it’s a concept,” Jessica explains. “It’s a fictional band, the soundtrack to the stories I tell through comic books and film. It’s where all my creative pursuits converge.”
At its core, Strictly Elizabeth is a bridge between Davenport’s architectural roots and her passion for storytelling. The music, that she writes and performs, serves as the score to her comic book universe—a deeply personal world shaped by cycles of sexual and domestic violence, healing, and the timeless archetypes of Greek mythology.
From Airport Cities to Soundtracks
Jessica’s journey from architecture to music didn’t follow a straight line. For years, she excelled in her field, working on high-profile projects that demanded technical precision and artistic vision. But despite her success, she felt a growing void.
“I was designing these massive projects, yet I felt like I was disappearing,” she recalls. “I hadn’t picked up my guitar or written a song in years. I looked successful on the outside, but inside, I was starving for self-expression.”
That realization hit hard during a pivotal moment in Hong Kong. Exhausted from work on their airport city masterplan and struggling with jet lag, Jessica caught her reflection in a mirror and felt like a ghost of herself. It was a wake-up call: she needed to create, not just for others but for herself.
Balancing both worlds, Jessica incorporates her architectural expertise into her artistic endeavors. Terminal 9 serves as a perfect example, featuring her innovative designs from various competitions. Highlights include a Center for Urban Farming, a conceptual house she calls the Nomadic Machine, and an award-winning “napkin sketch” competition entry titled a Museum for the History of Petroleum. This fusion of architecture, music, and storytelling allows her to redefine how creative disciplines can intersect.
The Birth of Terminal 9
The cornerstone of Strictly Elizabeth is Terminal 9, a comic book movie and accompanying soundtrack that explores themes of sexual violence, resilience, and transformation. Initially conceived as a documentary about an architecture competition for a new terminal at LAX, the project evolved into a richly layered fictional universe.
“Terminal 9 is like a Greek tragedy in comic book form,” Jessica explains. “And Strictly Elizabeth is the Greek chorus, narrating the story through music.”
The comic book’s narrative is deeply intertwined with the soundtrack, creating a fully immersive experience. Each song reflects a pivotal moment in the story, while the comic’s visuals bring those moments to life. It’s an ambitious project, but one that feels like the perfect blend of Jessica’s architectural discipline and her artistic soul.
The first two volumes of the Terminal 9 soundtrack were released in 2024, timed with the year’s supermoons and alongside live performances at venues across the United States, as part of a series of mini-festivals showcasing local and nationally touring artists.
The third and final volume is set to drop in 2025, alongside the launch of the comic book’s first issue. Fans can also look forward to screenings of the Terminal 9 film, which Jessica describes as “a visceral, multimedia experience.”
Healing Through Art
Jessica’s work is deeply personal, often drawing from her own experiences and struggles. Through music, film, and comics, she tackles heavy themes like trauma and resilience, particularly as they relate to women.
“These stories come from a place of healing,” she says. “For me, creating is a way to work through pain and connect with others who might feel the same.”
One of her most powerful moments came after the screening of her film What Happened to Stephanie at the Dances with Films festival in Hollywood. A young woman approached her, inspired by the film to tell her own stories of human trafficking and sexual violence. “That connection reminded me why I do this,” Jessica reflects. “It’s about courage—not just mine, but theirs too.”
A Unique Sound
Musically, Strictly Elizabeth defies easy categorization. Jessica describes her style as eclectic and modern, drawing inspiration from artists like Joni Mitchell and Neil Young. Her recent focus on solo performances has allowed her to reconnect with her roots as a singer-songwriter while strengthening her core artistic identity.
“These solo shows are helping me understand who I am as an artist,” she explains. “At the same time, they’re preparing me for bigger collaborations, like bringing the Terminal 9 soundtrack to life with live musicians.”
She’s also breaking new ground with merchandise, including items inspired by the Terminal 9 universe. One standout piece? The “Resplendent Quetzal” chaise lounge, which appears in the comic book and is being developed as a real-world product.
What’s Next for Strictly Elizabeth
As 2025 unfolds, Jessica is fully focused on the release of Terminal 9 Volume III, the final chapter in the comic book and soundtrack series. “Terminal 9 is purposely experimental with technology,” she explains. “The process allows me to go from lyrical and musical concept to completion without the time and expense of traditional production. After the song is released, musicians then bring it to life for live audiences, shifting the emphasis to the live performance and human connection with the audience.”
“In this way, it’s less about replacing people with technology and more about preserving our humanity,” Jessica adds. “There is some irony in the fact that this approach has given me more time and bandwidth to create songs in what some might call the old-fashioned way. It’s a return to stream-of-consciousness songwriting that artists like Bob Dylan embraced, where the immediacy and rawness of emotion drive the process.”
In addition to this, Jessica plans to perform in comic book shops and record stores, introducing Terminal 9 to new audiences in unconventional spaces. She also plans to include sheet music in the comic books, inviting other musicians and bands to interpret and perform songs from the Terminal 9 soundtrack. These performances are about connecting with people, creating shared experiences, and blurring the lines between artist and audience.
“I’m at the dawn of a new chapter,” she says. “One where I can finally be seen fully, without hiding pieces of myself to survive.”
The Artist to Watch
Jessica Elizabeth Davenport’s journey from architect to artist is nothing short of remarkable. With Strictly Elizabeth, she’s creating a body of work that’s as multifaceted as she is—a seamless blend of music, storytelling, and visual art that challenges and inspires.
Whether you’re flipping through the pages of Terminal 9, listening to its haunting soundtrack, or catching a live performance, one thing is clear: Strictly Elizabeth isn’t just an artist to watch. It’s an experience to feel, a world to explore, and a story that stays with you long after the last note fades.
