Jessica Clemmons

As US pop sensation, Jessica Clemmons, releases her second album on 23 July, preceded by the single ‘Beautiful’, on 16 July, she reveals that her dogged determination is the rock-solid foundation of her professional success. Gifted with a unique songwriting talent and soulful voice, Jessica’s career has been a rollercoaster of knock-backs and sharp learning curves.

But when greeted with Simon Cowell compliments, stargazing predictions from Paula Abdul and blatant encouragement from Beyonce, this American songstress knew that a lifetime of blatant ignorance of her critics had all been worthwhile.

Jessica’s debut album ‘Permanent’, released last year, introduced a quality pop vocalist akin to the likes of Jocelyn Brown and Chaka Khan. But Jessica’s new album progresses this artist further, revealing a ‘bang-on-trend’ sound that’s currently being adopted by the likes of Beyonce. Reinvigorating the vibrant, up-tempo sound of mid-80s pop/soul, Jessica’s album has a strong resemblance to the likes of Vanessa Williams, Karen White, Shanice and even Kelly Clarkson.

Produced by top names including Philippe-Marc Anquetil (Tinie Tempah, Emeli Sandé), mixed by Larry Sturm (Mariah Carey, Beyoncé) and Roxy Harris (Jamie Woon, Mutya Buena), the album boasts the absolute best that the industry has to offer.

Seven tracks on this collection are Clemmons co- writes. Having recorded the first half of the album in Chicago, Jessica spent time in the studio with London’s Phrased Differently to write and record five new songs to complete the album. The album offers an eclectic feel that takes the listener from the punchy new single ‘Beautiful’ which rolls Jessica’s soul vocal into a rock/pop production, to the strong proclaiming vocals exposed in ‘Ready To Fall’.

Each track as diverse in sound as the next, but brought together they present an outstanding showcase of Jessica’s incredible talent.

This outstanding offering comes from a girl who’s talent was always knocked and quashed in her early years, by those who thought that a girl carrying a few pounds more weight than the average size zero pop star simply couldn’t crack it in show business. Boy, were they wrong...

"Wow girl you can really sing, you’re gonna be a star some day" the acclaim from Beyonce, following an audience stomping performance at a US rodeo, was enough to confirm to the talented Jessica Clemmons that she had what it takes to crack it on a global scale.

Until that point, Jessica, who had always been made to feel insecure due to her weight, with critical envious doubters constantly trying to knock her back. As Jessica sadly recollects:

"People have always judged me because of my weight. Somebody once told me that putting on make-up wouldn’t help - I was fat and nothing would hide that. I’ve had challenges in my life that have tried to halt my passion. For a weaker person they’d have crumbled, but that just made me more determined".

American Idol was Jessica’s first major step towards international stardom. Although she didn’t make it all the way on the show, the encouragement that she gleaned from the experience was enough to make her realise that she really did have glittering prospects ahead of her.

Teetering on the brink of bringing her through to the live shows, Simon Cowell only decided against this due to her nerves, whilst Paula Abdul oozed positivity, "We’ll see your name in lights one day", Paula predicted.

Boosted by this experience, Jessica stepped straight out of the American Idol studio and instantly went on to become a huge hit in her local town, singing the National Anthem for her local hockey team, the Houston Aeros as well as being etched in history with Houston's Soccer team, the Houston Dynamo's as their first ever Anthem singer. Most recently Jessica performed the anthem on National TV for the Dynamo's inaugural game in their new stadium.