Kat Harlton
Singer and multi-instrumentalist Jessica Lynn is on her way to becoming country music’s next biggest star. She has been seen by millions on the road and in her three full-length nationwide concert specials. Besides being a successful performer, Jessica is also an advocate for many humanitarian causes, such as the military and the arts. She serves as a mentor for young women and children worldwide, and has even been invited to the United Nations for Women’s Entrepreneurship Day.
At the beginning of the Covid19 crisis, Jessica wrote and recorded single “Run To”, which was released earlier this summer. We had the opportunity to chat with the rising star about her music, career highlights, and what she’s learned along the way.
Kat: Can you talk about the inspiration behind your single “Run To”?
Jessica Lynn: I took the first two weeks of 2020 to do nothing but write and to write honestly. I decided I wasn’t going to feel confined by genre or what I thought would be good on the radio or on a big festival stage, and I think I wrote some of the best stuff I ever have with that mentality. “Run To” was one of the first songs that came out of that period and it’s about wanting to just feel so deeply again, which is kind of how I felt writing all of this music.
Kat: In addition to your songwriting skills, you play the piano, guitar, harmonica, and the drums. Can you talk about your songwriting process? Does it vary from song to song?
Jessica Lynn: Actually, my songwriting process is to have no process. I am not the type of writer that can sit down and say, “I am going to write a song now.” I need to feel something and then it sparks the entire chain-reaction of the song coming and I usually write very quickly and everything at once: both music and lyrics at the same exact time.
Kat: You’ve shared stages with some of the most recognizable names in country and rock music, including Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, ZZ Top and the “Queen of Country” herself, Loretta Lynn. You’ve also penned multiple songs with top hit writers in Nashville and Europe, including your last two chart hitting singles ”Crazy Idea” (Top 50) and “Let’s Don’t” (Top 40). What has been a highlight for you? What have you learned along the way?
Jessica Lynn: There have been so many highlights along the way that it is difficult to choose honestly! For me, I would have to say a highlight was opening for Richard Marx this year. He was my very first concert when I was only 5 years old and to then share the stage with him so many years later, really felt full-circle for me and made me very emotional thinking about my journey and very proud of all my hard work.
Kat: Can you talk a little bit about your musical inspirations and role models?
Jessica Lynn: I have so many different and varied inspirations musically and I believe it’s because I grew up as a New Yorker, which is truly a melting pot of all things. That lifestyle and culture definitely infused into my music and my biggest musical inspirations growing up were acts such as The Beach Boys, No Doubt, Neil Diamond, Shania Twain, The Temptations, Phil Vassar, and Richard Marx amongst many others!
Kat: How are you staying connected to your fans and the industry during Covid-19? What’s next?
Jessica Lynn: I have always been extremely active on my social media channels but with all of my touring being cancelled, it gave me even more time to engage with my fans online. I turned to doing many livestream concerts and zoom interviews and tried to continue as “normal” as possible throughout the pandemic. I took on every virtual event that I could and was able to share something special, a connection, with everyone that we are not able to get in the real world at this time. I am currently in the studio working on lots of new music and my full-length album due out soon. I am very excited!
For more on Jessica Lynn please visit: https://jessicalynnmusic.org