Having been performing since she was four, rising country star Jessica Lynn is so stranger to the stage. Currently on tour across Europe with her band which includes her parents and husband, she released her EP Look At Me That Way in the UK earlier this year while she’ll share the collection with her US fans on September 1st. Inspired by the likes of The Beach Boys and Shania Twain, Lynn took time out between shows to chat with Thisisthelatest about her new single, her dream of playing MSG and what she’d like her future to hold.
TITL: At what age did you first realise you wanted to make music a career and before that, did you have any other ambitions?
Jessica Lynn: I have known for as long as I can remember that I wanted to be a singer and songwriter. My parents have home videos of me as young as about three years old singing and playing my toy piano, writing songs, and putting on “performances.” It was just always my passion. I never felt that I truly wanted to do anything else in life but make music, but I do love working with children and I have a Bachelor’s degree in mathematics and education, and a Master’s degree in Special Education!
TITL: Which bands or artists most influenced you growing up and how, if at all, have those influences changed over the years? What impact do they have on the music you make?
JL: I have always had a very varied and eclectic list of musical influences. Some of my strongest growing up were Neil Diamond, Barry Manilow, Richard Marx, Phil Vassar, The Beach Boys, and No Doubt! I loved how they told stories with their music and talent and I studied the great singer/songwriters like Diamond endlessly as a child. Great harmonies have always fascinated me and I really credit The Beach Boys for how harmony-heavy my music is today, and I always LOVED how energetic and fun Gwen Stefani was on stage. There is a piece of each of these influences behind the artist I am today. My influences haven’t really changed throughout the years. I find myself listening to the classics and older performers more and more as modern music keeps becoming more and more of the same.
TITL: Which band or artist might you say you sound most similar to?
JL: Many people compare me to Shania Twain, who has always been one of my favorites and it is a HUGE compliment. She created a sound that was all her own and I do feel that my brand of country music is not quite like what else is out there now. Her music has always been a mix of many different genres, and I definitely feel like it would be difficult to pigeonhole me in to just “country” as well!
TITL: To what extent do you think the likes of Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood, together with upcoming artists such as yourself, are helping to put country music back on the map?
JL: I think that one of the major pluses of country music becoming so mainstream these days is that it has reached such a broader audience than it used to. With artists that are pushing the boundaries of what was always acceptable in country music, it is opening up the genre to becoming more popular and relatable to the masses and I think that is a really cool thing.
TITL: How would you sum up your new single “Crazy Idea”?
JL: I would sum up my new single “Crazy Idea” as a feel-good song that reaches in to both the country and pop genres with a storyline that I think we all can relate to. We have all at one point or another had feelings for a friend that you knew could be the perfect person for you. The thought is that the “crazy idea” of being together or doing something new and unexpected may not be so crazy after all.
TITL: The song is taken from your EP Look at Me That Way. Is there a story behind the title and could you pick your favourite track of the 3 on the collection?
JL: I would have to say that my favorite song off the EP is actually “Look at Me That Way.” The reason is that it was the very first song that I wrote with the team in Belgium that co-wrote and produced the EP so it holds a special place in my heart. When I was touring in France for the first time last year, I went to Patrick Hamilton’s (the producer) studio to somewhat “audition” and see how we worked together. We all immediately hit it off and this song flowed out in such a short period of time. The feelings of excitement and looking forward to what was to come are definitely feelings that are stirred within me when I hear the track still.
The story behind the title of the song is truly just about the power of love and how you can feel so helpless when it comes to your feelings for someone and vulnerable because of something as simple as a “look” in someone’s eyes.
TITL: Who or what most inspires you lyrically and with that in mind, which song would you say is the greatest ever written and why?
JL: My life and my experiences are really what inspire me lyrically and musically. For me, there is no better way to express myself and how I’m feeling than putting it in to a melody. That is such a hard question! There are so many incredible songs, but I would have to say that one of my favorites of all time is “God Only Knows” by The Beach Boys. It is such a beautiful story and concept lyrically and also was so expertly and innovatively put together by Brian Wilson, a true musical genius.
TITL: You’re currently touring around Europe. Have there been any particular highlights so far?
JL: We have only been on the road a week at this point but already have so many memories that we can’t believe it has been that short of a time period. It was really special for me to go to Italy. Being Italian, it was incredibly cool to get to go to the country that my family is from, hear the language so regularly, eat REAL Italian food, and also the team from the Voghera Country Music Festival was truly amazing and felt like family. Being there was definitely a highlight so far. Thanks Gio.
TITL: What’s it like touring with a band that includes both your parents and husband?
JL: It is so special getting to share such amazing experiences with the people that you love the most. Traveling the world, meeting so many interesting people, and getting to play music, while being up there stage with your Mom, Dad, and husband, is a feeling I can’t quite describe. It is definitely not the same sharing these memories with them in person than it is telling the stories afterwards. I feel very blessed.
TITL: Which venue, anywhere in the world, would you most like to play and why?
JL: I would LOVE to get to play Madison Square Garden. I was lucky enough to get to sing the national anthem there twice, but to actually play a concert there would be a dream come true because as a New Yorker, it is so iconic, and really symbolizes success on such a large scale!
TITL: If you could share a stage with four acts, living or dead, who would they be and why?
JL: This is such a cool question! 1. Neil Diamond – because I just LOVE his voice so much. Every word that he sings, even if it’s the word “the” has so much emotion behind it! That is a very special talent. 2. Shania Twain – I have loved and looked up to her ever since I was little girl and it would be such a dream to get to sing with her. 3. The Beach Boys – Their harmonies have just been so inspiring to me my whole life and I would love to see what it would be like to harmonize with them. 4. Elvis Presley – He is such an iconic figure and truly a pioneer in rock n’ roll!
TITL: How do you feel about social media and what impact does it/is it having on your career? Do you think it’s possible for artists to succeed without it?
JL: I talk about this all the time at my live shows! Social media has so many good and bad aspects. It is such a great thing because you can connect with people from all over the world, however, the amount of negativity and hatred that is spread by people hiding behind their computer screens is so sad. I never understood why people would want to go out of their way to be so cruel to others. It is so important to always be kind. In this day and age I don’t believe an artist can succeed without social media. In the past, definitely. It is the easiest and most efficient way to reach your fans and to gain new fans and it is right at your fingertips.
TITL: What does the rest of the year have in store for you? Do you have any other plans/projects in the pipeline?
JL: We plan to do a USA tour when we return from the European tour! This is something very new for me as up until this year, we just toured the states all summer! Putting together two tours at once is definitely a daunting task. My new single “Crazy Idea” just came out in Europe and it will actually release here via all digital distributors on July 7th followed by the whole EP September 1st in the USA. We will be working on music videos to support the singles and the first music video for “Crazy Idea” is actually going to be a tour diary video of our European adventure!
TITL: Finally then, looking ahead 20 years from now, where would you like to see yourself and, further on from that, what would you like people to remember you for in terms of both your life and your music?
JL: I would love to see myself in 20 years still making music and traveling. Music is what keeps my heart and soul alive and being able to make music and share it with the world means more to me than I could ever express. Feeling your hopes, dreams and goals coming true via hard work is one of the most special feelings I have ever experienced. I would love for people to remember me by songs that made them feel something when listening, and also, by being a kind-hearted and genuine human being, which is the most important thing of all.
