Jessica Ridley has always known what she wanted in life. And she's never been afraid to go out and get it.
Growing up in a small town, Jessica has always had a soft spot for old fashioned manners and ethics. But don't let that "older-than-her-years" mentality fool you. There's a lot more to this girl than meets the eye!!
Pure country was the primary musical diet of her family growing up, and true to form, George Strait tops the list of musically influential celebrities. Reba, Sheryl Crow, Loretta Lynn and Shania Twain round out the female end of this spectrum. She's had the pleasure of being classically trained on the piano, while more recently taking up the guitar in a self taught environment. But singing and songwriting have always been her primary passion...
Recently Jessica was given an opportunity to record her debut project. This was a dream come true for the Canadian starlet. Adopting the mantra of "only the very best", Jess and her production team began work on crafting a very special record - one that transcends musical boundaries - touching down on the runways of pop, folk and bluegrass while taking off into the country marketplace. The album is saturated with the strongest set of songs seen on a debut album in some time. No surprise - given that the compositional contributors included the likes of Bill Champlin (former Chicago frontman), James Dean Hicks (Kenny Chesney, Jessica Simpson), Billy Simon (Mark Wills), Jeff Silvey (George Strait) and Bob Carlisle (Butterfly Kisses). The production values shine with a timeless essence, that truly makes repeated listenings a tireless joy. And it doesn't stop there...
While your ears are being tickled, feast your eyes on the critically acclaimed packaging, which contains plenty of tasteful eye candy for the visual learner. Each song is given its own unique page, and binds together to create a lush, eye catching booklet - worth the read!!
At the end of the day, it's always about connecting with people for Jessica. Professionally and personally she successfully bridges the gap between friends and strangers - familiar fans and musical tire kickers alike - in her concert performances. "There's something very special that happens every time I take to the stage - whether it's on a big stage with my band energetically tearing it up, or in a small, quieter, more intimate setting with an acoustic guitar and vocals. I can see it on their faces. There's an infectious quality to this music that draws people in right from the outset, and endears them to a singer they might just be getting to know.
No matter where her travels take her for the remainder of 2010, one thing is certain. This girl is not your typical "fresh off the farm" rural wannabe. She is, and always will remain, a genuine authentic individual, who believes that she can actually brighten someone else's day with something as simple as a smile and a song.
