BY LESLEY HASTINGS
Jillian Jacqueline is an artist I’ve been a fan of for quite some time, having captured my attention initially via her 2017 release “Side A”. Seeing her perform the following year at C2C in the tiny NY-LON lounge and also witnessing her debut UK headline show in 2019 made me admire her even more as an artist whose rawness and vulnerability shine through in both her lyrics and delicate, heartfelt vocal delivery.
Having parted ways with her record label, Jillian released her debut album “Honestly” via a deal with Virgin Music IN 2022, and as one of my top albums of that year her EP “Bright Eyed Baby“, which dropped last week, had a lot to live up to.
And wow, does it deliver with themes of self-discovery and self-belief recurring throughout the five tracks, emphasising the importance of finding the inner strength to walk away from relationships or situations that are stifling you either personally or professionally.
Jillian describes the songs as “the most creatively free I’ve ever felt as an artist“, and that definitely shines through in the no-holds -barred lyrics and varying arrangements .
Opening track “Year Of The Dragon” incorporates some dramatic staccato cello which grabbed my attention from the very start and which contrasts beautifully with Jillian’s smooth, dreamy voice which soars beautifully during the song’s chorus as we hear her singing about pushing the reset button and taking back control. “Never more scared but I never felt more free” she tells us, which seems to perfectly describe how she feels heading into her new era of music.
The song contains some gritty words about her past experiences, including maybe my favourite lines on the album “Memories cling to me like a wet bathing suit, kind of cold I want to peel them off my body” .
“Stroke Of Genius“, a song about surviving self-doubt and keeping the faith, is an ethereal, lilting track with some beautiful violin adding wonderful atmosphere. I love its uplifting message ….you never know what is round the corner, so even when you feel like quitting hang on in there!
The EP’s title track is up next, and what a phenomenally honest account of Jillian’s experiences trying survive the often brutal music industry. Gritty lyrics as she tries to convince herself to bite her lip, put on a brave face and toe the line….then comes the killer punch line “While they eat you alive“. I love the boxing analogies that are cleverly interwoven throughout, particularly the lines “be grateful you’re in the ring even if you’re bleeding”.
In true Jillian Jacqueline style, while all five tracks have their poignant moments it’s the next song, “More” that played on my heartstrings the most. A really powerful write that reflects on a past, pretty toxic sounding relationship which she settled for at the time as she was not aware she could do better. “I didn’t know I could want more, I didn’t know I could have more” Jillian tells us with feelings of angst and frustration coming through because she now realises how unhealthy the situation was. And yes, she now knows she can both want and have “more“.
Which leads us perfectly to the closing track “Fantasy Girl“. The only solo write on the EP, it is a beautiful thank you to her husband for loving her despite her shortcomings . Wracked with insecurities about falling short of his expectations, and doubting he could ever really want her the way she is, this acceptance amazes her. “When you stay and let me fall apart in your hands you are changing everything , you are changing history” .
Its message really sums up what the entire EP is about as far as I’m concerned…surround yourself with people who love and respect you for who you are, no one should feel forced to change to please others.
Thank you Jillian (and all involved) for giving us this truly uplifting EP. Hopefully your own voyage of self discovery and self belief will help inspire others. Oh and please pay us another visit on this side of the pond before too long!
Stream/Download ” Bright Eyed Baby” here https://jillianjacqueline.lnk.to/BEB