Kat Harlton
Photos: Provided via artist/PR Team
Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jessica Sevier recently released her edgy new single “Motel” (The Orchard) on March 28th via all streaming platforms.
Co-written by Jessica with Andrew Allen (multi-platinum singer-songwriter) and Ron Lopata (Jully Black, Matt Dusk), “Motel” has a mid-paced swagger, blending country, roots and Americana with rock energy and R&B flair. It is all about confronting insecurities and a toxic relationship, laced with sultry vocals and determined lyrics like “your right hand left a hole in the wall and now you’re calling out for me to stay. The old me mighta played that game, but it’s changing, oh I’m changing”.
Jessica crafts edgy, raw music that reflects her lyrics – celebrating strength and vulnerability in a way that is clearly about and for real people. Although she started in the country pop world, “Motel” is a departure from her past work and is the first taste of new music from her forthcoming EP.
At age 18, she released her debut single “Ghost of Tom,” and has since garnered over 1 million career streams. Jessica has grown her fanbase through live performances, sharing the stage with artists such as Jason McCoy, James Barker Band, and Tim and the Glory Boys, and showcasing during Canadian Music Week and Nashville’s Whiskey Jam.
I had the opportunity to chat with Jessica about her new single, her musical journey so far, and what’s next.
Kat: Congratulations on your new single, “Motel”! Can you share the inspiration behind the song?
Jessica: “Motel” came to be after I had left a toxic relationship that had really taken a toll on me. I felt very broken but knew I had made the right decision to leave. “Motel” moves through those emotions of leaving then finding strength in that choice. Along with my co-writers Ron Lopata and Andrew Allen, I think we perfectly encapsulated how I felt at the time – hurt but hopeful.
Kat: How do you typically approach songwriting; do you start with lyrics, melody, or something else? How did this come into effect with your new single?
Jessica: Songwriting for me always starts in different ways. Most of the time I start with a lyric and then figure out the melody around that. However, “Motel” started with a melody. I was having a very emotional moment and sat down at my piano and just started playing a chord progression that just felt like how I was feeling. I then started singing nonsense that eventually turned into the first verse of the song.
Kat: Can you share a bit about your journey into the music industry? What were some key turning points?
Jessica: I started writing my own music when I was 14 and playing my songs for anyone who would listen. I then went on to record my first batch of original music when I was 18 and releasing my first single in 2019. I released a handful of songs in the following years but the biggest turning point came with the success of my 2022 singles “Confetti” and “See You There” accumulating just shy of 1 million streams between the two. “See You There” went on to be my first single at country radio. With these successes I have been able to play large festivals and continue to record and release new music, landing me where I am today – releasing my new single “Motel” with the help of an incredible team behind me.
Kat: How would you say your sound has evolved since your debut release, and what influences have shaped this growth?
Jessica: My sound has evolved and matured immensely since my debut release. When I first started releasing music it leaned into the singer-songwriter realm with some hints of pop-country, heavily influenced by Bruce Springsteen. I then ventured fully into the pop-country space with my singles “Confetti”, “See You There” and “Legends of the Summer”. I felt like I had found a sound that resonated with my fans as well as myself at that point in time. However, when thinking about my next project I felt as though I had outgrown my sound and knew that the most authentic thing to do was to go back to the drawing board and create something new. My new sound is collection of my strongest influences, the music I grew up on as well as music that I love now. This includes artists like Bruce Springsteen, John Mellencamp, Lainey Wilson, Morgan Wallen, The Eagles and more. This upcoming project blends country, roots and Americana to create a sound that is uniquely me.
Kat: If you could collaborate with any artist, living or dead, who would it be and why?
Jessica: I would collaborate with Bruce Springsteen. Bruce is one of the biggest reasons why I started writing music, his lyrics and stories spoke to me like nothing else and all I wanted to do was create something as magical as he had done. To have the chance to sit in a room with Bruce and collaborate on a piece of music would be a dream come true. To learn from him in any way possible would be life changing.
Kat: What else can fans expect from you this year, both in terms of new music and live performances?
Jessica: Fans can expect lots of new music! “Motel” is the first single off my upcoming EP which will be rolling out throughout the next year so there will be lots of music and new content that I am super excited to share. I will also be performing around Ontario as well as in Saskatchewan this summer and will be playing all of my new songs, so if anyone wants a sneak peak of what is to come, make sure to catch a show!
Connect With Jessica
Facebook: /jessicaseviermusic
Instagram: @jessicasevier
Website: www.jessicasevier.com