by bill biss rage rhythms
Jessie James is the new singer to watch over the next few months. She has just
released her self-titled debut on August 11 and the first single “Wanted” is gathering
momentum on the radio and charts. If you haven’t heard it yet, check out the song
and the video on YouTube. Her voice is one that may remind you of someone. The
SoundS are in Session for September
comparisons are flattering but as Jessie herself put it in a recent phone interview,
“It doesn’t bother me at all that they say that because when Christina (Aguilera)
first came out, they were comparing her to Whitney Houston. They always have to
do that. Whenever somebody new comes out, they always want to compare them
to somebody because that’s the only way they can make a connection. That will go
away eventually. She’s Christina… that’s not too bad of a comparison.”
Her debut has such a wide variety of musical styles from country to pop and bal-
lads. Yet, it all flows together into one very enjoyable listening experience. Jessie
James explains her thoughts on putting this together in such a way. “That’s the way
I wanted to do it. I didn’t want to put myself in one box. That’s not me personally. I
didn’t grow up that way. It was a little bit of a struggle with the label at first because
they were like ‘who are you? You like to sing everything.’ But I am a southern girl. I’m
a country girl. I really wanted to maintain the country sound in the influences in the
record. So, I don’t think I’ll be going too pop or too country in the next record. I want
to have my own way and I want it to stay the way it is. The way I incorporated all sorts
of styles into one sound on one record. I don’t think I would change much. I love rock.
If anything there would be a little bit more southern rock on the album.”
Her next music video release is for “I Look So Good (Without You).” She is surely
excited about several things and says, “I already shot the second video for “I Look So
Good (Without You)” and it turned out really, really well. It will be out very soon. Then
we’re shooting a video for “My Cowboy” for CMT. We’ll be shooting that in September.
My song is being used for the Country Music Awards! I’ve got two new videos coming
out. I love “My Cowboy.” That’s the song that got me my record deal. John Rich who is a
massive country producer produced it. Jamey Johnson and Randy Houser co-wrote
that with me. There are such country boys…they wrote ‘Honky Tonk Badonkadonk.’”
As with any fresh new talent, Jessie James is making the rounds of promotion on
radio and television. Does she have any plans to do any of the late night shows? “Not
yet. I’m dying to do Chelsea Handler. She is my favorite! We’re doing a morning show
in New York for MTV. I don’t have anything in front of me. I really don’t know what is
going on until the day of.”
Although the public is just getting to know her and her talent, she has had this
dream and ambition to sing since she was a child. She explains a bit about what led
up to her signing with Mercury/Island Def Jam Records and Antonio L.A. Reid. “It was
such a long process because that wasn’t the first time I tried to get a record deal or
anything. I was going back and forth to Nashville starting at 15 (Jessie James is now
21 years old). I wanted to get a record deal in Nashville. It didn’t happen. No one would
E
EX
CL
USIVE
sign me there. I just continued working. I had written a song that was on hold for
R
AG
Carrie Underwood and it was sent to Island Def Jam and they heard it and they flew
me out immediately and that’s how I got signed. I’ve been working the whole time,
Jessie James
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I
ng
E
r
B
L
a
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ES
even before that. I’m been working toward this goal forever. It’s one thing I’ve always
A
nt
E
d
”
wanted to do my entire life. It’s never ever changed… the journey.” This journey has
S
t
“
W
a
L
t
r
a
ILS
taken her to a new fork in the road. Now that the album is out, she is enjoying the
Mo
rewards of her efforts. What was one special thing that she enjoyed the
nE
w
M
USIC
day her debut was released? She joyfully answers, “It was flowers from
Taylor Swift. It was really sweet of her. She’s a nice girl.”
september 2009 | RAGE monthly 23
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