Jessica Andrews – Interview 2003

I’ve had the new cd for a few days and I’m pretty surprised.

You were?

Definitely. The album isn’t completely country and that isn’t what surprised me, it was how mature it sounded compared to the previous record.

I know. I’m more mature and it’s part of growing up. I’m making music based on what is going on in my life right now.

How long did it take to find the songs? “Cowboy Guarantee” was a great song.

I like to spread my favorites through the whole cd. It takes a long time to make a great record. I was firm on the idea of taking time off and away from everyone. I’m not a superstar yet; it was time and record this album. I did grow up quite a bit while recording this album. It was a process for me that I wouldn’t have been able to go through if I was touring. It took me a year and a half to find these songs and I also did some writing. There have been so many changes in my life and it took time to perfect everything. At first, I never thought it was going to come together because I wasn’t finding songs.

“Cowboy Guarantee” is the kind of song, well you said you weren’t a superstar yet, that you’d hear on a superstar’s album. What I liked about the album was you could listen to it more than once and still enjoy it.

I know what you mean. I lived with the songs for a long time, some I cut over a year and a half ago. I worked hard on this album and wrote more on this and co-wrote the first single. My goal was to do more. I didn’t want to wait around for someone to write me a hit. I wanted to hone my craft. I didn’t want to write the whole album, rather to focus on great songs. One day I want to write a whole record, one day.

The genre you are in gives you the chance to look three albums down the line and write more songs. Until you write the whole album one day. Compared to pop where it’s now or never.

I think writing your own song is greater. The thing about writing your song is that no one knows you like you do. Sometimes you are the best to express yourself. It makes for a great song and sometimes others can’t do that for you. I want to write half my next album. I got the writing bug and I know what I want to do on the next album already.

Did the songs have to be a part of you?

I won’t even record a song that I don’t feel isn’t a part of me. I listened to over a thousand songs with this album and there were writers I worked with before and those I haven’t. It didn’t matter to me. I just wanted a song that I could add something to that is a bit of me.

Do you pick a song in the same way a fan would relate to it?

When I pick a song I put myself in a fans position when I listen to it. I listen as a fan and wonder if I’d listen to it on the radio or if I wouldn’t like it. I know it’s a matter of opinion, but I am still a fan of music and I want to record something I’d want to listen to over and over.

You really have some uptempo tracks to get the butts out of the seats.

I know. I do think about what songs would go over great live; something that will get people out of their seats.

Was touring tiring you out?

I worked very hard and have toured a lot, but I would never tour to the extent where I’d be burned out. Every year I go and tour for months. I never get to the point where I wouldn’t want to do it again. I do get homesick but you know, with all the time off I couldn’t wait to get back on the road, I’m a homebody more than you’ll ever know. I just couldn’t wait to get back out there. I was on tour with Tim McGraw and that was awesome, but I do still get antsy and can’t wait to get out there.

Do you see Dreamworks cross promoting this to pop and country?

There hasn’t been an effort to this point. The whole thing was to work it to country radio because that is where my fanbase is. I wouldn’t stop any station from playing my music. In the future if it crosses over to other genres that would be great.

I can’t imagine that pop fans wouldn’t like this. I mean is it the fiddle that keeps people away?

(We both laugh) You know what was funny is that when the Dixie Chicks released “Landslide”; it is obviously a monumental record and was when Fleetwood Mac did it. Maybe because they had to take the banjo out so it would get played on pop. So I’m thinking is the banjo really making people thinking ‘oh my God it has a banjo on it I can’t listen to this’. (We both laugh) It’s just funny how certain instruments can’t be on a record because it might classify it.

I have a friend, who doesn’t listen to country, but his girlfriend does and I always hear him say ‘I’m trying so hard not to like it’ but he has a hard time not being a fan. It’s pretty funny actually. Because he is embarrassed by it.

I know I’m telling you. Country gets tarred with that. People will say they don’t like country, but they like Faith Hill and Tim McGraw.

+ charlie craine