BY LESLEY HASTINGS

Having launched her career just last year, rising country-pop singer – songwriter Jessie May is already making quite an impact, gaining recognition on BBC Introducing and being named as Artist of the Week on BBC Coventry and Warwickshire. 

Hailing from just outside Rugby, the 20 year old is now studying English Literature and Creative Writing in Belfast while also building a strong reputation as a live performer. She began writing songs aged 14 having grown up in a close knit family with eclectic musical tastes, but it was the country genre that particularly resonated and that affinity has only deepened in recent years. Like many artists, Jessie uses songwriting to help her make sense of her experiences and describes it as “a compulsion rather than a choice”. 

Her latest single “Over It” was released last week, and it immediately impressed me on many levels. 

Produced by First Time Flyers frontman Tim Prottey-Jones, this fantastic blues-infused country breakup anthem is full of attitude and defiance as Jessie leaves the listener in no doubt that she’s moving on with no regrets! Addressed to her ex who has labelled her “obsessive and crazy” she tells how she now realises he is “a born liar, deceiver and true manipulator” and wishes him “good luck in finding someone who’s gonna put up with your s**t”.  There’s a fair bit of vitriol in the vocals as I’m sure you’d expect but mainly I love how Jessie just sounds totally bored and done with the entire relationship ….yes, she really is “over it”. 

Listen here https://open.spotify.com/album/4Yr2DIMMSrVElci6Uhcr7s

If you are in the Rugby area, Jessie has several gigs throughout December, see below 

13th & 19th December – Quigleys – Rugby
24th December – The Half Moon (Rugby)
26th December – Quigleys – Rugby
27th December – The George – Kilsby
31st December – Napton Sports Club & The Raven – Coventry