An Interview With JESSICA JARRELL, A R&B Pop Artist & Social Media Influencer!

The pop-urban singer, Jessica Jarrell is known for her collaborations with Justin Bieber, Sean Kingston and Cody Simpson when she was with Def Jam Records.

Now, she is branching out on her own and showing the world she isn’t a girl, but a strong, hot independent woman! Managed by a very powerful management and licensing firm, Primary Wave. Jessica was recently featured on a hot new track by Fabian Mazur titled “Sideways” (https://youtu.be/HR_UyfJabhY) and her latest solo track “100 Percentin” (https://youtu.be/jk13Ye-Kqoo) audio premiered with OKAYPLAYER and her views and streams continue to rise!

Check out her music: 

• Lately https://youtu.be/qmohNVknBFE

• Come Closer: https://youtu.be/B5SUsrKmXs8

• (Oldest) Gravity: https://youtu.be/fy3lmwLZnBg

Connect With Jessica Here:

Twitter / Instagram / Facebook

Learn more about Jessica Jarrell in the following All Access interview:

Thanks for your time! So where does this interview find you today? Is there music playing in the background? If so, what is it? What’s a song you are loving these days? What music instantly lifts you out of a bad mood?

I actually just peeped this email while I’m in my kitchen cooking dinner. I’m waiting for the timer to go off for my potatoes in the oven lol I’m listening to “No Limit” by G Eazy and Cardi B! I’m obsessed with her!! Bodak Yellow is my obsession right now. I literally listen to it every time I’m getting ready it just makes me feel bomb and ready for the day! I’m kind of weird in the sense that, if I’m in a bad mood I tend to listen to sad songs because I know they’ll make me cry and then after I’m done crying I won’t be in a bad mood anymore lol 

Did you approach the start of this year any differently then you did last year? What have been some of the highlights for you this year? What are you excited for in 2018 which will be here before we all know it?!

I definitely did. I think I went into this year with a lot more patience because I tend to be a really impatient person and while that’s not always a bad thing, there are more situations than not where patience brings much greater things to you than trying to rush something to happen. So with that being said, I think with my music I just decided to be more patient with myself because I realized I don’t always know what I want to do and sometimes it takes a minute to understand yourself where you can create a sound that you love..and nothing’s wrong with taking your time to figure that out. I turn 23 on Jan 1st, so that’s the first thing I’m excited for! Jordan yeeaaarrrrr!! But I’m also excited for the music I’m gonna be putting out because I feel like I’m writing cool stuff now so I’m probably gonna be writing and releasing even cooler stuff then. 

Growing up, did you always want to be a musician? Can you recall your earliest musical memory? Was there ever a time where you thought about doing something completely different? What do you think it finally was that pushed you to this career?

No I used to want to be a doctor actually lol I didn’t realize I could sing until I was 11, because my friends forced me to audition for the school Christmas play with them and we meant to go to the acting auditions but, we accidentally went to the singing auditions. They made us stay and audition anyways so I just got up there and went for it and when I was done all the kids at the school were like “oh my gosh Jessica can really sing.” I just fell in love with it from there and told my parents I was gonna be a singer and that I wanted to really pursue it. 

I always like to know how a particular city has influenced an artist. How do you think your hometown has affected the kind of music that you are making today?

It’s interesting because I live just outside of LA in the suburbs but I spend a lot of time in the city. It’s really quiet and calm where I live which allows me to think and just breathe and relax. Some of my favorite songs I thought of the concept while chillin’ outside of Starbucks watching the train go by. I really enjoy things like that. And then there’s LA where you can go anywhere and get dope inspiration. Being in LA is such a vibe and it puts this new type of hunger in you..it really has a special energy and it’s infectious and inspiring. 

What does it feel like to finally be branching out on your own with the single, “Sideways” with Fabian Mazur and “100 Percentin”? How did these songs come together? What was the inspiration for your solo single, ³100 Percentin²?

It feels really good and I love both of those songs. It’s interesting because “Sideways” isn’t my genre but I feel like if you can do a lot of different styles you should because I know I don’t listen to just one genre of music, and I think it’s fun sometimes to be able to play around and write something different than what I normally do. “100 percentin” was so much fun to write because I got to write an anthem for my girls out there who realized their dude wasn’t shit lol which happens a lot cause I had so many friends that called me when it came out like “giiirrrl did you write this for me?” Haha. Not dissing the guys by saying that by the way because I was really inspired by “More Life” when I wrote it and I think my melodies in the song reflect that. But it was fun to make a song that empowered girls and women to stand up for themselves and realize their worth. 

How do you think that you have grown as an artist over the years? How does your newest music reflect that growth and change?

It’s funny because I always reach these points where I feel like “wow I really know myself,” and then I grow more and feel kind of lost all over again. But I think that’s the beautiful thing about life. We’re all constantly growing and re discovering ourselves. My music is ever changing. I don’t wanna keep writing about the same situations and picking out tracks that sound the same because for one, I would get bored, two, so would everyone else, and three, l like to make relatable music and I can only be relatable by being truthful and open. Just because I’m writing songs doesn’t make me more special than any other girl. We are all here finding ourselves, enjoying our friends, getting our heart broken, or falling in love with someone. I just happen to be writing about it. 

You have collaborated with some of the biggest musicians at Def Jam Records. What was it like working with them? Can you pick a favorite collaboration out of them all to talk about a little?

Oh my gosh everyone was so much fun to work with! Obviously I just loved working with Justin Bieber because we’re around the same age and we just had so much fun pulling pranks and just being young. But I also absolutely loved working with Ne-Yo. Omg I secretly fan girled when I worked with him. He’s such an incredible writer and such a humble person. I was really surprised at how funny he was. He would tell jokes all day which made writing with him feel so easy.  

Now that the summer is over, what was something fun that you did or tried for the first time? Did you get a chance to play out live much?

I actually went to the British Virgin Islands for the first time to perform and co host at a fashion show which was also a first. I had never hosted anything before so I was terrified but it ended up being fun. The BVI was breathtaking. I can’t even begin to describe how gorgeous the Islands were and the water was so blue, it just all looked unreal. I was heartbroken seeing the devastation the Hurricane caused. 

How do you think being a musician gives you all the most joy in life today?

I always say that music is home because no matter what’s going on in your life you can’t wait to get home and just be able to relax and unwind and recharge. Music does that for me..no matter where I’m at in the world or in life I can sit down and write/sing or listen to something I already wrote and feel at home.

Do you believe that the music being created right now will be greatly influenced by the intensely politically charged times we live in right now? How has it affected you as a musician in general?

I think politics have always influenced music in many ways. Artists as far back as Marvin Gay with “What’s Going On” to Michael Jackson  “Heal The World” to NWA with “Fuck The Police” which dealt with police brutality that was going on at the time, and we’re still dealing with that problem today. Now we have people like Kendrick Lamar, Chance, J Cole…so many artists talk about what’s going on because we’re story tellers. We have big platforms to convey a message or comment on something that we feel is important through lyrics, good situations or bad situations, if it’s important to us we’re singing or rapping about it. 

What artists have continued to inspire you and your music? Who would you absolutely love to work with in the future?

I love Drake he’s a big inspiration to me. I love his flows and how he’s not afraid to take chances and experiment with different sounds. I would love to work with him. Also Cardi B cause her music is so dope and she just seems like the coolest person ever! 

What advice would you give to a young person who is considering becoming a musician one day?

It’s a tough industry, it’s rewarding eventually but it’s a hard journey so it’s important to love it with everything in you. You have to be willing to sacrifice a lot and work really hard everyday. 

At the end of the day, what do you hope your fans take away from your music? What do you hope is the message of your songs?

Honestly, that we are all human and going through things and no ones perfect. We all have amazing times and terrible times. That’s why I’m an open book with my music. I’ve had a lot of times in my life where I’ve felt alone and it’s the worst feeling in the world. That’s why I write about real situations, to show that I go through all types of things too. I don’t want anyone to feel like they’re alone. 

Is there anything else that you would like to share with our readers about yourself or your music

Yea I have something fun to share that I’m so excited about! I cook anytime I’m free, so I have an Instagram and a YouTube channel where I do tutorials of the food I love to make. The Instagram is @spicecabinet and YouTube is Spice Cabinet. I love to not only make food that tastes amazing but also has a stunning presentation so if you’re having a dinner party or you just wanna impress your man or your girl, check me out cause I’m the plug on how to get it done! Lol And stay tuned for new music…I’m working on some really cool things!