Product Description
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U.S. pressing of this five track EP from the British
Pop/Hip Hop sensation. Features two versions of 'Domino' plus
'Price Tag', 'Who You Are', 'Laserlight' and 'My Shadow'.
About the Artist
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With an infectious laugh, 6-inch heels and a perfectly
styled bob, she walks into the room and goes straight to the
piano. Possessing a good sense of humour, a raw British accent
and an un-doubtable eye for fashion, Jessie J has arrived. "I
can't play...man, I wish I could. I just like to pretend I can,"
she smiles.
Jessie J is not just a great pop artist...or a great R&B artist,
or even a great hip-hop artist. The British-born, Essex-bred
vocalist is malleable enough to encompass several genres, while
displaying vocals reminiscent of Motown-era greats. Although she
may not be able to play the piano, Jessie is armed with the chops
to blow people away, and the song-writing skills to pen a
worldwide hit. After one listen, it's clear the extraordinary
Jessie J stands alone. For Jessie, her Lava/Universal Republic
debut album, WHO YOU ARE, showcases the skills of a gifted
lyricist while highlighting an unforgettable journey.
While Jessie's road to success hasn't always been easy, she's
quick to emphasize the normalcy of her childhood. Growing up the
youngest of three children, Jessie's mother was a nursery school
teacher and her her a social worker. "My family is very
creative, but no one in my family sings... I was the only one who
put my life to a melody..."
For Jessie, melody has been the driving force behind her
successful career as a singer/songwriter. At 17, Jessie wrote her
first song "Big White Room." The song was inspired by real life
events--specifically the time she was hospitalized at
11-years-old while sharing a room with a younger boy who sadly
lost his life.
"I knew I wanted to write a song about that experience," she
divulges. The song has followed Jessie J throughout her career,
and it remains a YouTube and crowd favorite when she performs it
live. Her YouTube rendition has been viewed nearly 300,000 times
and has garnered over 50 covers ally without radio
airplay. "'Big White Room' is my comfort blanket, and I'm so
happy that people can personalize the meaning of the song..."
states Jessie.
Around the same time, Jessie J was signed to a short-lived
independent label deal. She toured with various high-profile
artists including Macy Gray, Sugarbabes, Girls Aloud, Chris
Brown, Jools Holland, Cyndi Lauper and Taio Cruz. While
showcasing her diva-infused voice and infectious songs, she had
the freedom to explore her sound and a chance to teach herself
how to adapt to diverse audiences. "I never had a band. It was
me, my CD, my heels and a huge stage to fill. I loved that I had
no one and nothing to hide behind..." The label eventually went
bankrupt and closed its doors.
Still armed with a SONY ATV publishing deal, Jessie continued to
hone her writing skills. It wasn't long before Jessie had
rtunities thrown at her by the dozen. One of her songs, "Sexy
Silk," was selected by NIVEA for a worldwide campaign. "I
remember seeing the ad at the cinema and wanting to tell
everyone, 'That's me! That's me!"
In the last few years, Jessie has penned songs for the likes of
Chris Brown and Lisa Lois the Holland X Factor winner. Her life
also inspired the melody of a major hit record, "Party in the
USA," sung and performed by Miley Cyrus. "When Dr. Luke texted me
saying my song was #1 on iTunes, I thought it was a joke!" she
laughs.
Now, Jessie's signed worldwide to Universal Music Group. In the
US, she inked a deal with Lava/Universal Republic Records and
Island Records in the UK. "I feel like my album is an example of
what exists in the world of music right now. It's like my album
is an iPod... it's like when you go clubbing these days, you
don't have a pop room and a separate R&B room, they're all
together. People just appreciate great music..."
The title track "Who You Are" is about a point in Jessie's career
where the singer's aspirations were hanging on a thread. "The
most important thing in life is to be happy, but everything had
become too 'business' and sterile. I really thought I was going
to quit--not music, but the music industry...it wasn't easy,"
Jessie states. "I was really down, but when I'm down, I write a
song about it."
Not all of Jessie J's songs are built around hardship. Much like
Jessie herself, a lot of songs on WHO YOU ARE, are of the fun,
upbeat variety she displayed in previous songs such as, "Party in
the USA." Other songs that have had immense reactions on YouTube
include "Rainbow," "Stand Up" and "Whose Laughing Now"--all
written about personal times in her life.
Mix a bit of Rihanna with Gwen Stefani, add the charisma of Pink,
and you will start to get an idea of what kind of girl Jessie J
is. As much as she can be a voice for the hard times, those
soulful, Aretha Franklin-esque vocals can also soundtrack the
best of times too. Take the Dr. Luke (Katy Perry, Kelly Clarkson,
Miley Cyrus) produced song "Price Tag"--an upbeat, energetic
dance number that highlights Jessie's booming voice and can still
stand out amidst glossy production.
There's also the live ste, "Mamma Knows Best," which showcases
her hair-raising range and is an extremely funky ode to her
loving parents. "My mom and dad always know best. I hate to admit
that sometimes, but the song says it all. I base my confidence on
purity and I want to be a role model... I want people to know
that I am an unedited version of myself. I plan to expose the
good and the bad to show that life is about being WHO YOU ARE..."
