Here is a beautiful East-Coast Canadian Singer-Songwriter that evokes the dreaminess of former Vercua Salt bombshell Nina Gordon’s solo works and Beth Orton’s fragile yet wistful style while paying tribute to Jewel’s vocal sensuality. with the release of her sophomore album Short Stories,Jessica Rhaye ventures into her most musically mature territory yet. An album that features an attractive mix of folk songwriting, modern arrangements and ambitious production, surrounded by Jessica’s magnetizing voice. One listen to the eleven hook-laden tracks of this album and you’ll be struck by the natural, warm, rich and personal songs of this talented singer songwriter.

“This record is really a personal step forward for me as an artist” continues Rhaye, “The songwriting alone was something that I really tried to build upon. I wrote, and for the first time co-wrote, the material over a period of years and I think each song tells a story that stands on its own, both in the melody and the lyrics.”

Short Stories was produced by up and comer Ed Woodsworth and engineered by multiple ECMA award winning technician Jamie Foulds, with additional recording and mixing by award winning producer Gordie Sampson. “It was a natural progression for Ed to produce Short Stories” says Jessica. “We began working together just after the release of my first recording and if anybody understood where I wanted to go with my new material it was Ed. He was always clear that only the strongest material would make it on the record.”

Short Stories was mastered at Bob Ludwig’s Gateway Mastering Studios by Adam Ayan whose mastering credits include work for Tracey Chapman, Indigo Girls and Phish, to name a few.

Under Woodsworth’s guidance, Short Stories brims with catchy hooks & draws you into Jessica’s melodic tales. Having grown up on a steady diet of singer songwriters like Bob Dylan, Joan Baez & John Denver, her songs cover a wide range of themes from the personal expression of “Only One” to the unique viewpoints of “Running for the Door” & “Holding Out”, a co-write with acclaimed singer songwriter Ken Tobias (Stay Awhile, I Just Want to Make Music).

These songs have sing-along choruses that are more upbeat than anything you’ve ever heard in the past from this singer songwriter, along with the euphoria of songs like “Wild Flowers” & the melancholy of “Where it all Begins”.

Jessica Rhaye’s previous 2000 self-titled release landed her a performance on the East Coast Music Awards plus three ECMA nominations, including New Artist of the Year, Pop Artist of the Year, & Female Artist of the Year. The track “Time Out” became a finalist in the folk category of The International John Lennon Songwriting Competition & earned Jessica a spot on CBC’s Great Canadian Music Dream television program as one of twenty-five featured performers from across Canada.

With the work on Short Stories, a title that as Jessica explains “evolved from the writing process”, now complete & given her early success leading up to its release, it is clear that this young singer songwriter is an artist on the rise & offering music lovers plenty to enjoy.

Short Stories
Jessica Rhaye
Original Release Date: November 15, 2006
Label: Jessica Rhaye
http://www.jessicarhaye.com/
http://www.myspace.com/jessicarhaye

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