After touring and writing with her friend Michelle Branch for years, Jessica Harp joined her to become a new duo called the Wreckers. When success came fast and quickly for the duo, their solo careers were put on hold. In an interview with Roughstock, Jessica Harp discusses how she went back to her solo roots after the organic duo experience, how she had a pair of country music heavyweights appear on her record and how her producer/artist collaboration with Jerry Flowers recalls another famous producer/artist pair.
Matt Bjorke: Your first exposure to country music fans was as ½ of the duo the Wreckers with your friend Michelle Branch. You achieved so much in such a short time, with a gold album, successful tours, and a number one single. Why did you decide to be a solo artist instead of staying in the Wreckers?
Jessica Harp: It was never becoming a solo artist as we were solo artists before and actually, making the Wreckers album was completely selfish for us. It was two friends who’d written a bunch of songs together after years of knowing each other and we really just wanted to make a record together and had no idea all the success you just listed would happen to us. And truly, each and everything that happened, we were pinching ourselves. Wow! This is way bigger than we ever imagined it would be.
So when it came time to start talking about the next record, it was more of a creative musical decision. She was sort of leaning one way; I was sort of leaning the other way. Because our record “Stand Still, Look Pretty” was so special to us, we didn’t want to force a second record because the first record was so organic and real and just us. If the second record wasn’t going to match that or do better, we weren’t gonna do it and we were gonna wait for the right time. So, that’s when we ultimately decided to make separate records and explore what each of us separately wanted to explore.
People say to us “Why did the Wreckers break-up?” that didn’t really happen. The wreckers still exist. They’re just getting double Wreckers albums…
Matt: Who were some of your influences growing up?
Jessica: Really a variety, it was country music for me from day one from my mom. Reba McEntire was my first concert ever so she kinda became my goddess. The Judds and then Wynonna, George Strait, Alan Jackson, Garth Brooks; those were my top 5. Then from my Dad’s side was Bonnie Raitt and James Taylor. That’s where I got into blues, rock and ultimately folk singer-songwriter stuff. And that’s ultimately where I really wanted to become a songwriter, to play guitar and write songs. Really, between my parents they have interest in all genres and that’s where I gained a well-rounded taste in music. That’s where I think that kinda comes into play with my music. I have songs that are very, very country and some songs that are a little bit bluesy, a little bit rock and a little bit folk and I think all of that is fused into my music.
Matt: You recently completed your debut solo album, “A Woman Needs.” Who did you work with and what can you tell us about 
it?
Jessica: The record was produced by Jerry Flowers who’s actually a long-time friend of my husband’s. They’ve known each other for a long time and when we found out the Wreckers were touring with Keith Urban, Jerry plays bass for Keith and my husband said “you have to write with my friend Jerry, he’s amazing.” So we started writing and instantly clicked as songwriting buddies. Then I found out that he ultimately wanted to get into producing so this record is really special in the way that it’s my first true real stab as a solo artist and it’s his first real stab at producing a record and we did that together. A lot of the chemistry and magic of the record, for me, comes from the fresh take of Jerry and I writing the songs together and singing together
I keep forgetting to mention that. There’s really no real female harmony on the record. We decided to do a very Shania/Mutt thing; it’s Jerry singing all the harmony.
Matt: I remember him singing harmonies on the Ranch record…
Jessica: Yes! He’s an amazing singer and our voices blend really well. So that’s another really special thing about it, for me. As for guess stars, with the Keith Urban connection, you know, he played guitar on “Boy Like Me.”
Matt: And I can picture that song being done by Keith, I thought Jerry maybe wrote it for Keith…
Jessica: Actually, he didn’t. He just wrote that song but when we got done cutting it, we both said he has to play on this, because it sounded like one of his records. It wasn’t like a “hey come play on this.” Jerry played it for Keith, and Keith genuinely liked the song and genuinely wanted to play on it.
The coolest thing about that day was that he brings in 15-20 guitars with him…
Matt: Sounds like him…(laughing)
Jessica: I know, it does, just to play one guitar track. All these guitars and he picks up one and says “how ‘bout this one” and picks it up and fiddles with it for a minute and then he picks up another one and fiddles with it and then he picks up another and says “it’s this one.” So it’s cool that he knows the right guitar for the right part.
The other amazing thing that I have to mention is that Vince Gill sang harmony on a song called “Home Made Love.” He was a Wreckers fan and he found out we were making solo records so I approached him and asked him if he would one day sing on said record. He promised that he would and, true to his word, he did. He and Keith are so talented that it literally only took both of them about 30 minutes to do what they did.
Matt: How many songs did you write for the album?
Jessica: I co-wrote all but three. The three outside songs, “Boy Like Me” is one and the other two were just found by just going from publishing company to publishing company.
Matt: And you have some great A&R people at your label…
Jessica: And that! They listened to thousands of songs for me; I listened to about a thousand other songs myself. Being a songwriter, I have to feel like if I’m gonna cut an outside song, vocally it’s going to sound real coming out of my mouth. I have to relate to it in some way and all three outside songs completely match that description.
Matt: Your first single, “Boy Like Me” has been just released to radio, what is it about this song that makes it the perfect introduction into Jessica Harp, particularly since it’s different from the Wreckers.
Jessica: It’s very different and that’s probably why I chose it. For two reasons, one, for the Wreckers fans that knew very well this side of me that loves to write, deep and sad, introspective songs. Still do and there’s still that on the record but I wanted to show as a solo artist that that’s not the only thing I am as a musician; that there are many sides to my personality and fun loving and sassy are definitely part of my personality. Between that and wanting to reflect where I’m at in my life, which is happy and at peace and wanting to have fun, that song was the perfect song to lead-off with.
Matt: How has the internet helped you and your career?
Jessica: The internet is such a huge tool for musicians, the best thing that I love the most about it is the communication with the fans, it can be constant. I try to do as much as possible. I have live chats on my message board with my fans and answer every question that they poste for three hours. And I love doing that because I love for them to feel like they know me.
And beyond that, I’m now really getting into blogging, which feels like my public journal; I have a personal journal but the blog is the public journal and my way to speak to fans. I also have a video blog and youtube channel because I already feel like this experience of working this record, my first time out as a solo artist, is going to be a special experience for me that I want to share that with those who want to come along for the ride, so between the video blog and blog, which they will be able to come along with me.
Matt: What would you like to say to readers who are hearing about Jessica Harp for the first time?
Jessica: Well for the girls, and for the guys (laughs), I called the album “A Woman Needs” because it really covers so much different material about women. From reflecting on your past and to where you are in your present to looking toward your future and different emotions women go through, whether it’s being hurt in a relationship or being in love or being fine and independent on your own. The record has a really broad picture to me that, I feel like, that any given woman and any given age can relate to.
For the guys, if they want to find out what woman need, they should probably go buy the record because they can learn a few pointers.
Matt: Or buy it for their girlfriends…
Jessica: Or for their girlfriends, it can be a joint experience (laughs).
To buy the single of "Boy Like Me" click the single cover image above.
To read the Roughstock single review of "Boy Like Me" (click here)
To watch the "Boy Like Me" video (click here).
To find out more information on Jessica Harp, go to her website or myspace.
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