TWIST recently chatted with singer Jessica Jarrell! Jessica told us about her biggest influences, her future projects and how she got started in the music business! She also talked about her involvement with The Dove Movement for Self-Esteem, a campaign that inspires girls to develop a positive relationship with beauty. Jessica will participate in Dove's 3rd Annual Self-Esteem Weekend in October. To learn about Dove events near you and awesome self-esteem building activities, keep reading TWIST and check out our conversation with Jessica below!
XOXO,
TWIST
TWIST: How did you get involved with The Dove Movement for Self-Esteem?
JJ: I was talking to Dove about a year ago and I brought a song that I had called "Shoot for the Stars" which totally fit the whole movement. Eventually we just decided to work together. I really wanted to do something like the self-esteem movement. I think it's so important to inspire girls and help make a difference in their lives. I'm just really excited to be a part of it!
TWIST: How did you get started in the music business?
JJ: I really started with singing when I was 11. Eventually, I put a video on YouTube of me singing this Beyoncé song. My producer discovered me and I was so surprised that he actually looked at the video! We just started working together and I signed with Island Def Jam and went on tour with Justin Bieber! It just kind of all went up from there!
TWIST: Do you write your own music?
JJ: I do, yeah. I write most of my own music. Some of it I don't, but I like to be involved in the writing process.
TWIST: What is your writing process like?
JJ: When I write, situations or things that happen in my life or my friends' lives really inspire me. I feel like if I can relate to it, it's easy to write. That's where I really pull inspiration for my songs. I always think about what is going to be relatable because most people go through the same types of things in life. It's just things that I go through or things my friends tell me about or things I hear about. That's what I write about.
TWIST: Do you have any musical influences?
JJ: I love Beyoncé! She inspires me musically. I also love Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey. I just really like different artists that are doing their thing and are unique in their own way. Lana Del Rey even inspires me. I think she's so unique and special! She does her thing and she doesn't really worry about what other people think.
TWIST: What can our readers expect from you in the future?
JJ: I'm doing a self-esteem weekend with Dove in October. Also, I just did a new photo shoot for Pastry for the back-to-school line. And then my music video for my song "Glow" is coming up!
TWIST: We can't wait to see it! Thanks for chatting with us, Jessica!
JJ: Thanks, TWIST!
Photo: Courtesy of Startraks