New York-based nation crossover Jessica Lynn — topped “The New Queen of Nation Rock” by Ramblin’ Man Honest — has had a productive and busy 2023. With a relentless worldwide touring schedule of 14+ nations, a pair of Prime 40/Prime 50 singles on nation radio, and three full-length live performance tv specials airing nationwide within the USA, the New York singer-songwriter has been changing into a family title. Her music does certainly attraction to followers of Nation, Nation Rock and Americana, but it reaches past these genres to wider Rock-loving audiences.
She has been featured on the covers of Maverick Journal & Guitar Woman Journal and shared phases with a few of the most iconic names within the enterprise (equivalent to Brad Paisley, Keith City, Loretta Lynn, ZZ Prime, Richard Marx, Lonestar, Montgomery Gentry, and others). Her dynamic, high-energy performances — which showcase her highly effective voice and a number of instrumental skills, enjoying piano, guitar, harmonica, and drums — have garnered rave critiques from critics worldwide and constructed an enormous, loyal, world fanbase that may be seen in her social media presence, reaching over a million individuals a month on Fb alone.
After the success of her 2022 debut album ‘Lone Rider’ and a string of singles in 2023, The Rockpit thought it about time we had a chat with Jessica to learn how she finds time to suit some a lot in, all of the whereas striving to proceed on to the following chapter, no matter that could be. We tracked Jessica all the way down to her studio, the place she was getting ready content material for her forthcoming US Christmas reveals to debate touring, ‘Lone Rider’, her ardour for music and naturally, her dinner friends.
Sean: Hello Jessica, it’s Sean from the Rockpit over in Perth. It’s great to lastly get to speak to you. It’s been nice to get your music coming down right here to Australia, and we hope we’ll get to see you down right here in some unspecified time in the future as effectively, as a result of I do know you’ve been frantically touring this yr.
Jessica: Thanks Sean, you too. Australia’s on my record of locations to see and go to, I might completely like to, and my streaming numbers are so excessive in Australia, so I’ve my fingers crossed for a visit quickly.
Sean: Well we’ve bought some great nation festivals right here now, it’s actually changing into an enormous style down right here in Australia, with that nation/rock component crossing over, it’s unbelievable stuff. We first heard about you on the Rockpit after we bought to see the press launch about ‘Lone Rider’, which was out final yr. How was the reception for the album?
Jessica: That album exceeded any of my expectations – it was a pandemic challenge, a real ardour challenge, as a result of it was in the course of the pandemic, and I’m an unbiased artist, I wasn’t in a position to get on the highway and actually put the cash behind a report launch that I wanted to, so it was simply one thing I actually needed to do, and when it got here out, I used to be completely shocked that it went primary in a number of nations, and on a number of platforms, and it’s persevering with nonetheless to chart around the globe, so it’s been an unbelievable journey, and one I’ll bear in mind ceaselessly.
Sean: Unbelievable, so if you put the songs collectively, did it take lengthy and was there a whole lot of collective work on getting all these songs collectively. Did it take some time?
Jessica: So, as a result of my touring schedule is so loopy, I often take the primary month or so of each new yr, it’s my purpose to only sit down and do nothing however write, no different distractions, I simply wish to sit with my guitar each single day. So, in 2020, that’s what I did, and that’s the place that assortment of songs wound up coming from. It was solely purported to be a six-song EP known as ‘Lone Rider’ that we had been taking up the highway with us after we did our big European-UK tour, and when every part bought cancelled resulting from COVID, I used to be like, , let’s do one thing with this time, let’s make it a full-length report, as a result of now we’re dwelling. So, we recorded the complete factor proper right here in my dwelling studio, and it was simply an unbelievable journey that adopted.
Sean: Properly, we heard a few singles come off that, ‘Blended Singles’ was one which I completely beloved, however then after all you simply touched on it, you went off and did the UK tour, which, being from the UK initially myself, nation music by no means ever gave the impression to be that huge nevertheless it now has an actual type of affect that’s around the globe – it’s simply rising in every single place.
Jessica: It’s, it’s been superb to see, regardless that I grew up as a New Yorker the place nation music was not well-liked, I at all times beloved it, I at all times felt so linked to it due to the track writing and it’s actual music, , it’s actual singers with actual devices enjoying, and I grew up as a rock and curler, so for me it was like, wow, that is cool, this is sort of a little bit extra of storytelling, nonetheless with that sort of rock component and instrumentation beneath it, so I at all times was in love with nation music, and I knew it was solely a matter of time earlier than the remainder of the world adopted go well with.
Sean: It’s nice. I’ll be trustworthy, it’s a style I by no means actually listened rather a lot to, however the final couple of years that has modified. We’ve had a few nice singer-songwriters which can be very well-known right here, a man known as Andrew Farris from INXS, who has fully left that rock world and moved into nation. He goes over to Nashville, he track writes on the market in addition to right here, he lives out fairly distant right here at Tamworth, which is famend for its nation music right here in Australia right here, and it’s simply, it was what turned me on to listening to a bit extra of it, it’s unbelievable.
Jessica: You recognize, I believe with nation music, it’s a must to discover one track or one artist that basically piques your curiosity, and then you definitely sort of go down a rabbit gap, the place you’re like, wow, that is actually nice. For me, there have been just a few that did that, one was Shania Twain, two was Phil Vassar, he’s sort of like a Billy Joel of nation music, so for me, it crossed genres, and was like, oh wow, that is fascinating, this isn’t what I believed nation was. And I believe that’s the issue with lots of people that don’t wish to give it an opportunity, they only suppose it’s that previous type, which is fabulous, , for those who love actual nation music, however the style has come a really great distance, and I believe persons are beginning to realise that, and realise it’s truly fairly cool.
Sean: I’ll need to examine him out, as a result of I’m an enormous Billy Joel fan.
Jessica: You’ll love Phil Vassar, he’s an unbelievable songwriter, and considered one of my greatest nation music influences, and I truly bought to play with him, and share the stage with him, which was a really, very cool second, considering again to little previous me listening to his information within the automotive.
Sean: Wow, how unbelievable. I’m an enormous fan of Kenny Wayne Shepard, and as a guitar enjoying rock and curler, I like his nation influences that stream into his music typically, which is nice.
Jessica: Yeah, we bought to share a invoice with him twice, as soon as in England at Ramblin’ Man Honest, and we did Bethel Woods right here in New York, I opened the Backroads Blues Competition that he was a part of.
Sean: I bought to fulfill Kenny when he was right here final time, I’ve interviewed him a few instances, such a fully unbelievable man, very humble, and what a tremendous story he has. However let’s get again to you. You’re new single ‘Not Your Girl’ has simply been out, which is nice, however you’ve revamped, revisited a monitor, I noticed it was a fan favorite, and there’s a little little bit of a narrative in regards to the recording course of with it as effectively, out at Sweetwater Periods, studio classes there, what occurred? As a result of I hear you had slightly little bit of a particular one thing with the method.
Jessica: Yeah, so Sweetwater is likely one of the most notable names in music gear distribution, and so they have an enormous facility in Fort Wayne, Indiana. So not solely do they maintain instructional seminars, they’ve Sweetwater Studios, which each and every A-list movie star has gone and achieved one thing there at one level or one other. So ‘Not Your Girl’ was my very first single when my profession first began again in 2016. And since we first launched it, the track has come to date, my voice has come to date, and matured a lot, and the instrumentation and the assault, the way in which we play the track, it’s all modified through the years and years of touring, and it’s change into a fan favorite. I imply, in every single place we go, individuals wish to hear ‘Not Your Girl’. And it’s considered one of my favorite songs to play reside too, as a result of it has a whole lot of vitality. So Sweetwater, earlier than our tour this yr, invited us to return to Sweetwater Studios, and so they needed to do a recording workshop round a recording session with us. So there have been about 15 or 16 college students of all ages and expertise ranges within the studio with us whereas we recorded the monitor, studying from the grasp engineer and producer that did the track for us. So that they had been like, that is going to be a really fascinating course of, “Select a track that’s particular. Select one thing which means one thing.” So I used to be like, what? What a cool method to put a brand new spin on this favorite that we’ve been eager to do for therefore a few years. So we bought to report it in a top-notch studio and have the enter of actually 15, 16 individuals whereas we did it.
Sean: Wow. That’s unbelievable.
Jessica: It was a really cool expertise. I imply, the blokes and the women, they had been all so good. You recognize, I might sing one thing, I’d be like, what do you guys take into consideration that one in there? And it was simply, it was actually cool to have all these associates, , be part of this course of and to work with Sean Dealey, the producer. He’s labored with so many various, superb artists. To get his new tackle an previous track was additionally very thrilling for us.
Sean: So what has the remainder of the yr bought in maintain for you? I do see there’s some Christmas dates developing. How may or not it’s Christmas developing already? It’s been a loopy 2023 [laughs]
Jessica: It actually has been. As you’ll be able to see, my background is all Christmas colored as a result of I’m filming all promotional supplies for that right now right here within the studio. However this yr has flown by. We now have not rested. I imply, I don’t suppose I’ve had a time off since like January, nevertheless it’s a really massive tour this yr. I began a Very Merry Nation Christmas, it’s known as, seven years in the past. And it has become a full blown Christmas spectacular with particular results, snow machines, choirs, dancers, you title it. The present has it. And we’ve established it in New York. Nonetheless, final yr was our first mini tour. This yr is a giant tour. Subsequent yr will probably be an excellent greater tour. And it’s been such an thrilling expertise to look at like this little child that I had this concept of develop into one thing so huge. And it’s a toy drive for Toys for Tots. So we assist youngsters in want all through the complete tour. And it’s truly change into their largest fundraiser of the complete season.
Sean: That’s great. We’ll make sure that we get the hyperlinks up about that, as a result of we do have readers and viewers within the States in addition to within the UK and Europe. We’d like to get that as much as help the fundraising, charity work, something to do with that, which is nice. And also you’ll need to convey it all the way down to Australia at some point as a result of it is going to be fully completely different. You all performing with snow machines in 110 levels [laughs].
Jessica: I do know, proper [laughs]. We’ve been excited about that. You recognize, we’re simply beginning to develop it right here within the States to an increasing number of cities. We went from one present to then three to now eight. Subsequent yr, we plan to convey it into the kids. However there’s so many props and results and issues like that. We’ve been sort of brainstorming, like how may we truly convey a present of this scale abroad? We’ll need to determine it out.
Sean: Properly, as I’m positive , us music followers are all grasping individuals. ‘Lone Rider’ was solely out final yr. Something in retailer for a observe up album?
Jessica: Yeah, we’re within the studio proper now recording a bunch of recent singles and issues like that to all come out this upcoming yr. So numerous new music tour dates, every part. We’ve been very, very busy.
Sean: We’ll make sure that we put your web site hyperlink on the backside of the interview just below right here someplace. Simply earlier than I lose you, as a result of I do know clearly you’ve bought a busy day recording. I’ve simply bought a few common questions to complete with. My first one, my restaurant query. When you may invite three musicians lifeless or alive, previous or current, to hitch you for a little bit of dinner, who would you want sitting on the desk with you?
Jessica: Neil Diamond. I’m an enormous Neil Diamond fan. Elvis Presley, additionally an enormous Elvis fan. And possibly Shania Twain, as a result of she’s been considered one of my greatest influences.
Sean: I had ‘Sizzling Summer season Evening’ on solely the opposite evening. I got here dwelling from work, fired it up as loud as I may.
Jessica: He’s such an unbelievable songwriter and I realized a lot about singing from him. The factor that basically attracts me to Neil Diamond is that he has a lot emotion in his voice. You recognize, he says the phrase the and it’s probably the most emotional you’ve ever heard. And I believe that’s one thing so particular and distinctive to him and his music.
Sean: I bear in mind my dad enjoying ‘The Jazz Singer’ round the home. That was the primary time I’d heard his voice. And yeah, I mentioned that was sort of considered one of my responsible pleasures rising up. All my associates had been listening to Iron Maiden and Bon Jovi and my little responsible pleasure within the background was Neil Diamond.
Jessica: I don’t blame you. Mine was, too. So, judgment has handed [laughs].
Sean: What was the final album you listened to, Jessica?
Jessica: Oh, what was the final album I listened to? Most likely as a result of I used to be selecting songs for this yr’s Christmas present, the Elvis Presley ‘Christmas Album’.
Sean: Oh, cool.
Jessica: Sure, attempting to get some concepts.
Sean: Good. And at last, the final query, as a songwriter, this needs to be simple for you. When you may very well be credited with writing any track ever written, what track would you decide?
Jessica: [laughs] Straightforward. ‘Don’t Cease Believing’ by Journey. It’s such an enormous, I imply, mega hit. Simply to write down one thing like that that has change into so legendary can be superb. You possibly can simply hear that first piano notice and what it’s immediately, don’t you? Yep. A songwriter’s dream, actually.
Sean: That’s great. Jessica, I can’t thanks sufficient for becoming me in to your busy schedule, as a result of I do know you’re going to be flicking this digital camera off and turning the cameras again on that facet to report extra promo on your Christmas present.
Jessica: It was so good attending to lastly meet you and I recognize you having me so, a lot. Thanks a lot.
Sean: Properly, I do know it’s solely October, however we want you a really, very Merry Christmas. We are able to try this as you’re prepping on your reveals and we do hope we get to see you down right here in Australia someday quickly and we’ll discuss once more if you get nearer the brand new album.
Jessica: I might love that, Sean. Thanks so, a lot. That’s superior.
Sean: Take care, Jessica. Thanks very a lot. Bye.
Jessica: See ya.
For extra about Jessica Lynn go to under:
Leave a Reply