Jessica Simpson
Sweet Kisses
She is bright, beautiful and blessed. She possesses a voice that is
capable of expressing the heartache of first love and the wondrous
possibilities of an everlasting tomorrow. Her live shows have been
marked by a youthful exuberance coupled with a seasoned
professionalism that belies her 19 years. In an era of pre-fabricated
wind-up divas, she is refreshingly honest, remarkably focused and
positive, and true to her self, her beliefs and her heart.
She is Jessica Simpson and Sweet Kisses, her Columbia Records
debut, is an appealing and satisfying blend of pop, R&B and
gospel-infused music that heralds the emergence of a bright new
star.
"Recording Sweet Kisses is the culmination of a dream," Jessica
offers, "not only because people will get the opportunity to hear my
music but also because I'm hoping that my fans will also see that you
can be a good person and lead a good life and still have fun!"
The first single is "I Wanna Love You Forever," a soaring, passionate
ballad written and produced by Sam Watters (of Color me Badd) and
Louis Biancanella (Mariah Carey)."The song is so beautiful," exclaims
Jessica. "It's so romantic and that's the kind of singer I am. I love
passion and I love love because I am such a sucker for that sort of
thing. It's a song about having a love for someone for the rest of your
life. That can apply to family, a guy, a friend, whomever. That universal
emotion really appeals to me."
Another track that touches Jessica's heart is "Where You Are," which
pairs Jessica up with 98 Degree's Nick Lachey. "I toured with 98
Degrees this past spring. It was my first tour ever and it was just an
incredible experience! Watching 98 Degrees perform every night, I
had this idea that I should record something with Nick and when this
song came along it was perfect!"
"Where You Are," another emotional ballad, also speaks to universal
feelings. "It's a song, quite honestly, about death but it examines it
from a positive, spiritual way," Jessica explains. "I think anyone who's
gone through the sadness of that sort of loss will be able to draw
peace and comfort from this song."
Jessica co-wrote "Heart Of Innocence," which she dedicates to her
future husband, no matter who he might be. "I believe in one true love,"
Jessica declares, "so I really wanted this song not to be cheesy or
preachy but rather just truthful, because I do believe in abstinence and
commitment. The lyrics come straight from a dream I had and are so
personal and real to me, because I know that innocence can be sexy
and that you can be confident and at ease with your sexuality and your
womanliness without having sex. I am."
It's not just on powerful ballads that Jessica shines: she also rocks the
house on tracks like "Woman In Me," which features labelmates
Destiny's Child. "'Woman In Me' is a very inspirational song because
it address issues of self-esteem and self-worth. It's so important to me
that people love themselves for who they are and that they appreciate
all of the beauty that's in their souls."
It's the desire to make her music more than just cute radio fodder that
drives Jessica, who has viewed singing and performing as her life's
work since she was a young child growing up in Texas.
A native of Dallas, Jessica first developed her singing skills in the
local Baptist church where her father, a psychologist, also served as a
youth minister. When Jessica was 12 she auditioned for the Mickey
Mouse Club. Jessica's talents and presence took her all the way to
the finals, where she admittedly freaked out during her last audition. "I
froze, she laughs, "but the experience made me even stronger and
more convinced that I was on the right path"
The following year while attending church camp, Jessica, who had
always loved to sing along with the radio, delivered an a cappella
version of "Amazing Grace" for one of the camp's guest speakers,
who was in the process of launching a gospel music label. Jessica
signed to the label and worked on an album for three years during
which time the small label folded. The setback didn't deter Jessica
one bit and she took the material she had worked on and began to hit
the Christian Youth Conference circuit, singing her inspirational and
upbeat odes to audiences of upwards of 20, 000. With her
grandmother paying to press and release her ill-fated record, Jessica
and her father hit the road, with her father speaking and Jessica
singing to delighted crowds throughout the country. After the show
Jessica's homemade album would be sold and very quickly this tiny
project took on a life of its own. News of the teenage Texan with the
grown-up voice soon began to filter out of the religious world and into
the pop music realm and it was only a matter of time before the major
labels expressed interest.
"I was determined that I be able to stay who I am if I signed to a
non-Christian music label," Jessica says firmly, "and when I met with
Tommy Mottola (Chairman and CEO, Sony Music Entertainment) he
was genuinely impressed with my beliefs and was completely
supportive. I remember singing for him and he told me, "you are going
to change the world with the power of your heart and your music.
When he said that, I knew that I had a home with Sony."
Already an established star in the Christian music world, where she
often appeared on bills with Kirk Franklin, God's Property and Ce Ce
Winans, Jessica's next challenge came in taking her faith and
spectacular voice to a wider audience.
"I knew that in pop music I had more of a chance to reach more
people," Jessica offers, "I knew that somehow, it was all in God's plan
for me to make the music I make and to touch the people."
As one might expect from an artist so focused, this is one young
woman who refuses to be content with the flash and burn of teen
sensation status. "I feel like I can bring a freshness, no matter what
age the person listening to my music is. And I think that freshness and
that innocence is something that is missing from a lot of female
singers. I'm certainly not denying that I'm young, but I'm not fluff."
Filled with undeniable spirit and bolstered by a soaring sumptuous
voice that defies comparisons, Jessica Simpson is a young woman
who can not be denied. "I know it sounds crazy, but I just love this
record so much! And the thing that I'm most proud of is that when you
listen to it, it's like you're on an emotional ride. My music takes you
somewhere and, at the end of the day, that's what's so awesome
about making music. That it has power and it's something I'm so
proud to share."
