***NEW ALBUM CURRENTLY IN PROGRESS WITH GRAMMY WINNING PRODUCER MARK NEILL (THE BLACK KEYS). To hear songs from previous folk album, go here. To keep up with the most current songs for her southern soul album, continue to check the "Video" section!***
"Jessie is one of the most amazing singers that I've ever heard! Her voice is both powerful and subtle and her stage presence truly lights up every audience." - Brett James, Grammy Award-winning, multi-hit songwriter, including Blessed (Martina McBride), When The Sun Goes Down (Kenny Chesney), Out Last Night (Kenny Chesney), Jesus Take The Wheel (Carrie Underwood), The Truth (Jason Aldean), and many others.
Dark green eyes, passionate voice of that deep-down Southern soul, sounding far mature beyond her years. This Georgia girl laughs; calls herself a “goofball” and then her eyes darken as she says “I love all kinds of music, but I resonate a lot with old slave spirituals, and old jazz music.”
Jessie Smith was born in Warner Robins, GA. As a child, Smith drew inspiration from vocal greats - Louis Armstrong, Anne Murray, Gladys Knight, Frank Sinatra, Mahalia Jackson, and Harry Connick Jr. “Singing or breathing – I don’t know which happened first.” Her angst-ridden school years provided magnificent inspiration for her music today. She sometimes still asks the same questions that haunted her in middle school; “am I doing this right?” Smith is an advocate for anti-bullying and eating disorder awareness, with her music becoming her message.
Smith earned a Vocal Performance degree from Belmont University in Nashville – “The thing that caught my ear is that she sings with her own style and she knows what she wants to say artistically. A little bit country, a little bit R&B and a lot of soul!" - Joe Fisher, Sr. VP A&R.
In March 2013, Jessie auditioned and was selected as one of eight participants to compete in a singing competition called “Smash Hit,” presented by the Nashville Predators and sponsored by Ford Motors. She sang for three different games at the Bridgestone Arena for 19,000+ Nashville Predators fans, and through text voting by the fans, she won the competition. As winner, Jessie earned an artist development deal with William Morris Endeavor, a fully paid-for showcase in Nashville, and $10,000 to go towards her album.
Jessie’s voice can be heard on Centricity Music, Universal Music, Compass Records, New Millennium Music and on her indie release "Song and Dance," an eight song folk/pop EP. You can also hear her work with the “Music City Hit Makers,” singing background vocals for mega songwriters Brett James, Hillary Lindsay, and Gordie Sampson.
Smith is excited to be working on a new album due out in 2013. In August 2012, she raised $12,000 for the project via a successful Kickstarter campaign. Her voice and songs then caught the ear of Grammy Award-winning producer Mark Neill (The Black Keys, Best Alternative Album, “Brothers”), and he is currently producing Jessie’s latest EP, due to release Summer 2013. She is confident in knowing it will be the most authentic reflection yet of her an artist.
Smith is touring, writing, recording, dreaming and she adds; “Oh yeah,“I’m also obsessed with Pinterest, the mountains, Earl Grey tea, and finding things to laugh at! When I was little, I accidentally swallowed bubbles, and when I yelled for my mom, a bubble popped out.” Beautiful, child-like, mysterious and unpredictable…..Jessie Smith.
Jessie Smith has advanced to the final round of the Smash Hit Vocal Competition! Jessie was 1 of 8 people selected out of many auditioners to compete in front of the Nashville Predators' fans at Bridgestone arena. The first week, Jessie sang "Gimme Shelter," and advanced to the semi-finals. The next week, Jessie sang "Jolene," and was voted into the final 2. On Friday, April 12th, she will be performing one more song for the Nashville Predators fans. If she wins, she will receive the opportunity for representation from William Morris Endeavor, a fully paid-for Nashville showcase, and financing to go towards an album.
Jessie Smith will be recording her next album in April 2013! It is being produced by the highly-regarded Mark Neill, producer of The Black Keys' "Brothers" album, among many others. Tentative release time is Summer 2013. Stay tuned for more details!
NEWS INTERVIEW!
"Jessie Smith in Concert at WR Civic Center Sat."
By Gary Harmon - Houston Home Journal
Jessie Smith, singer/songwriter, was transplanted to Warner Robins at the age of 5. Her dad decided he did not want to be a farmer like the rest of the family.
Smith knew deep down, even as a child, she wanted to be a musician.
She said, "I knew in my spirit and heart if I did not do this I would regret it."
Her first introduction to music was a karaoke machine that her parents gave her while she was in the first grade.
Smith took it into her room one evening and learned "Baby Baby" by Amy Grant. When her parents heard it they decided to get their child music lessons.
Smith started with piano and voice at the age of 9. According to Smith her biggest influence was her voice teacher, [Sharon] Broughton
Her mom, Karen, would take Smith to music stores at an early age. Jessie would sit in the floor and listen to CD samples as long as possible.
In elementary through middle school she became more involved with music by singing in the choir at church and also with the theatre.
She would also listen to old soul music her parents enjoyed.
Her high school years became an experiment in music. She listened to rhythm and blues, punk rock and jazz vocals, mainly Billie Holiday, Smith said.
With the full support of her parents, Smith went to Mercer University her freshman year on a voice scholarship and then trasnferred to Belmont University in Nashville to major in commercial music-vocal performance.
While in college she continued listening to old soul music, including Gladys Knight and Al Green, but also started listening to music that reminded her of her southern roots. Smith said she realized how important this was.
Smith has been performing in and around Nashville for seven years. According to Smith, her sound is southern soul, or "Swampy Music."
Smith said, "I want it to sound like you are sitting in a rocking chair on a front porch listening to someone telling their life story....The word [my team and I] have coined for our music is 'Swampicana.'"
Smith has also been performing with the Music City Hitmakers which, according to Smith, are the best of the best studio musicians and songwriters in Nashville.
Joe Fisher, senior VP (A&R) with Universal Music Group, said, "Smith is a powerful young singer with passion and conviction. The thinkg that caught my ear is tht she sings with her own style and she knows what she wants to say artistically. A little bit country, a little bit R&B, and a whole lot of soul!"
[Jessie's mother] Karen said, "I am really excited because she has worked so hard and paid her dues. She has done demos, worked at a radio station and even taught country star Blake Shelton's guitar player voice lessons. Now she has honed in on her sound and where she wants it to go. My dream for her is to do what she loves."
Smith will be returning home to Warner Robins for a concert this Saturday at the Warner Robins Civic Center. The show begins at 7pm. Admission at the door is $10.
NEWS INTERVIEW!
"Singer/songwriter Jessie Smith will perform Saturday at the Warner Robins Civic Center." - By Laura Shirley, Macon Telegraph
"With Saturday's concert at the Warner Robins Civic Center, singer/songwriter Jessie Smith proves you can come home again, and she can't wait to be here.
'I'm so excited. It's so nice to around the people I grew up with, and they love music in my hometown," she said. "I've wanted to say thank you to the people who trained me, supported me and always lifted me up.'
Smith is from Warner Robins, where after receiving a karaoke machine for Christmas in the first grade, she began to study pian oand voice and perform in her church choir. Since majoring in music at Belmont [University], Smith ahs lived in Nashville, TN, worked as a demo singer, performed with the Music City Hit Makers, and released one album, the folk/pop EP "Song And Dance." She is currently working on her second, to be released later this year.
Smith said her [new] music is often classiefied as Southern soul, not exactly country but "really soulful and a little gritty, really comfortable, and vintage. 'Swampy' is the word that keeps coming up," she said.
The show will feature music from both of Smith's albums, and local artists Ben Robbins Band and Casey Sams will open.
Doors open at 8! Ticket prices TBA!
8:30 - Copperbell
9:30 - Feedback Revival
10:30 - Jessie Smith
Putnam County Fairgrounds - Cookeville, Tennessee
www.uccmusicfest.com
SHOW INFO:
The Rutledge:
410 4th Avenue South Nashville, TN 37201
(615) 782-6858
$5 cover
Acoustic set.
More details TBA.
114 12th Avenue N.
Nashville, TN 37203
ph# (615) 320-3754
Doors open at 8PM
Copperbell - 8:30PM
Feedback Revival - 9:30PM
Jessie Smith - 10:30PM
Singing as part of the Nashville Predators' "Smash Hit" competition.
**UPDATE - Jessie won this round! Will be going to the semi-finals April 2nd.
Smash Hit - FINALS. Nashville Predators game.
501 Broadway Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 770-2000