Jesse Matheson and his Midnight Snacks

What does Jesse Matheson mean when he says Pleasure Pounds?

"Pleasure pounds are something like a love handle," says the affable singer-songwriter. "They're those parts of a woman's body, well, womanly."

So is it safe to say, then, that Jesse's new album, which is entitled Pleasure Pounds, is a celebration of women's bodies?

"Well, that's part of it," he says. "That is definitely a part of it. But I'm not just about the female figure...I don't start there. I'm crazy about the way women's bodies get to be like that. I'm crazy about food."

Are you really crazy, Jesse?

"Have you heard 'The French Song'?" [in the French Song Jesse lists all 23 French Words he knows to seduce his female counterpart]

Good point. Tell me about that song.

"Oh, you know, I'm not just about women's bodies and food. But, for the record, I am about women's bodies and food. But I'm also about, you know, the work it takes to keep all of that going. You've gotta put in the effort for romance, you've gotta go for gusto. Even if you only know about 23 words in French."

Gusto, huh? How does that apply to the way you made this record?

"Gusto, yeah. I pulled out all the stops, called in every favour I had out there, and got some of the best musicians around to help me out [including Allison Russell of critically acclaimed Po’ Girl]. The result was the most earnest and fun record around, how could it be anything
else?"

Jesse has appeared at select Folk Festivals in Canada including the Regina Folk Festival. He plans on touring Western Canadian in March 2008 with an eastern campus tour next Spring.