"I know exactly what I want to do: I want to hear my music on the radio, I want to tour. I want people weaving up and down the grocery store isles to sing along to my songs. I have put every single cell of my body into this; I feel like I’ve put my recipe together, and this is my cake."

Ladies and Gentlemen, meet Jessie Farrell.

Jessie is passionate about her music, and that emotion infuses her whole musical package, whether listening to her powerfully-candid melodies or by witnessing one of her goose-pimple-inducing live performances. As the loyal fan base she has cultivated would attest to, Farrell makes the kind of imprint that keeps people interested and inspired.

In recording Nothing Fancy (604 Records/Universal Music Canada), the CD that now sits within your reach, Jessie was clearly focused on her gut instinct when it came to capturing these new songs. The result is a wonderful collection of joyful country -pop that is often attempted, but rarely successfully attained; a Dixie Chicks/Shania/Alison Kraus-esque magic that a wide variety of ages and audiences are drawn into. Mix that cross-genre appeal with Jessie’s chemistry and magnetism and you have a force to be reckoned with; radio has warmly embraced this young artist, and her live show – which includes opening slots for Tim McGraw/Faith Hill, Johnny Reid and Emerson Drive – continues to draw excitement and attention to her career.

After releasing her first, independent CD in 2002,, Jessie found an ally and fan in the form of songwriter Jim Vallance, whose music has been recorded by everyone from Tina Turner to Bryan Adams to Bonnie Raitt and beyond. “I say that I went to the school of Jim Vallance,” laughs Jessie, “because I spent a good solid year with him, working regularly and learning a lot. I wanted to make pop radio-friendly music, and to learn from somebody who obviously had some kind of ability to write strong hooks. A song from our writing sessions will appear on this new record. I’m very grateful for that opportunity.”

Nothing Fancy was recorded in a number of studios, from Vancouver’s The Armory and Nashville’s Sound Emporium to Naval bases and basement apartments. “It was about the musicians,” explains Farrell. “It was about finding them and going to where they were.” From Paul Franklin (Sting, Barbara Streisand) to Rob Hajacos (Garth Brooks, Shania Twain) and beyond, the quality of the production and performances all collectively contribute to the strength of Nothing Fancy. Farrell admits that the greatest thrill in the recording process was working with legendary producer Garth Fundis (Emmylou Harris, Alison Kraus) laying down the vocals for four of Farrell’s songs – including the infectious first single “Let’s Talk About Love” -- at his legendary Nashville recording studio. “I sang that in the room where “The Gambler” was sung! It was really magical to be in such a special place with such an amazing producer.”

Farrell was very involved in all aspects of the CD, working closely with both Fundis and the disc’s other producer, Jared Kuemper (Tegan and Sara.) “I really love pop music and wanted to do something that sounded intimate, but at the same time, wanted to make it as radio friendly as possible. We obsessed about it, and wanted to be able to compete with the big records that are out there. In the end, I truly believe we accomplished that.”

With her future bright and opportunities wide open, Farrell is very excited to take her new music out on tour, giving her the chance to interact with those who have been affected by her songs. “I love going out into the audience after a set to talk with people who have connected with my music! There’s a real interaction that goes on and it allows some form of closure at the end of the night. I don’t feel empty, I leave feeling full.”