First Posted: 10/20/2014
Jessie J released her third studio album “Sweet Talker” last week, buoyed by the hit single “Bang Bang.” The track features Nicki Minaj and Ariana Grande, but if it had gone as Jessie planned, there would have been even more features on the song.
“Once I heard Nicki and Ariana and how good it was, I almost wanted to do a remix with more artists,” the singer, nee Jessica Cornish, explained on “Ralphie Tonight.” “It hasn’t happened, but maybe one day it should.”
The “Domino” singer had an all-female cast in mind: Ellie Goulding, Rita Ora, Katy Perry, Rihanna and “whoever would be down really. I think it’d be kind of sick.”
If one thing is evident, it is that the UK artist loves to collaborate.
“It’s exciting to share talent and a moment of creation with people,” she said of her thought process. The album’s second single, “Burnin’ Up,” features a verse from rapper 2 Chainz. Other contributors include De La Soul and violinist Lindsey Stirling. But Jessie J is most proud of the fact that she is not just singing, but rather singing on her latest LP.
“I really dug deep and I pushed myself as a singer on this album,” she noted. “I really want people to know that about me: first and foremost I’m a singer’s singer and I write songs.”
Not only does she write songs for herself, but of course in that collaborative spirit she shares the love as well. Jessie J co-wrote Miley Cyrus’ “Party In The USA.” The irony was that at the time, Jessie didn’t even know if America would accept her as artist. Her thoughts on that have since changed.
“I feel like I’ve had a massive American hand held up to me and I’m holding it,” she responded when I asked if she felt accepted here. “The love I’ve had is unreal, and the amount of people that don’t need to go out of their way to make sure they tell me that is really special here.”
The songstress could have never expected that this would be the case three years ago when she released “Price Tag” in the States, but Jessie J usually keeps her expectations at bay.
“I never try to imagine anything,” she said. “I think you have to manage your own disappointment. I think if you kind of give yourself all these things that are going to happen and they don’t, you kick yourself. If you don’t, anything that happens is a bonus.”
In those terms, Jessie J is enjoying quite the bonus for her efforts.
