We chat with JESSICA CLEMMONS who is currently touring the UK supporting BOYZONE
Jessica Clemmons
Backstage Pass were delighted to catch up with Jessica Clemmons who is currently touring the UK with Boyzone as they celebrate their 20th anniversary. Lisa Davidson finds out more...
You've been on the road for a few weeks now, how's the tour going so far?
It has been absolutely amazing.
We're looking forward to catching up with you when the tour arrives in Glasgow, what can fans expect from your set?
Can't wait to see you there. It's a really fun set full of energy. It really makes a huge difference having a band with me and that helps to bring things to life even more.
Are there any venues on the tour that you're particularly looking forward to playing?Honestly I look forward to every single venue but the LondonO2 and Wembley is kind of a dream come true to perform in.
How do you feel about the fact that concerts aren't just one moment now, they're filmed on cameras and shared online sometimes the same day?
I think it's fantastic. There is nothing like the power of social media and that is another way someone else can be introduced to my music.
What's the one thing that you would like the audience to take away at the end of your concert?
I hope they take away the new EP "What If" :-). Every show I do I try to make sure that the audience has a wonderful night from start to finish. I'm very aware that I have some work to do to win them over as the support artist so if they enjoyed my set and loved the music, then I've done my job.
Following your debut album Loving This Day's release in 2012 you have spent a lot of time working on your upcoming EP What If (due for release in 2014) and it's a very personal production, is there a track that you're particularly proud of?
Hands down it would have to be the title track 'What If'. That song exceeded my expectations. I was able to completely pour my heart out into one of the most personal songs I've ever written.
Country music isn't widely popular here in the UK but artists like Lady Antebellum, Kacey Musgraves and the TV Show Nashville have been leading the charge to bring it mainstream here, and we at Backstage Pass love it, what is it about country music that appeals to you so much?Growing up in a place like Texas, country music had always been a part of. I love the storytelling aspect that you get in country music that you don't get in normal pop music.
Boyzone are on their 20th anniversary tour (a fact that's making the team here feel positively ancient!) and their fans have grown up with their music. What music influenced and inspired you growing up and what influences and inspires your music now?
I love music, all kinds of music! For me it was everyone from Celine Dion and Whitney Houston to Trisha Yearwood and Wynonna Judd that I grew up listening to. These days I listen to artist like Emeli Sande, Kelly Clarkson and Lady Antebellum.
Country music has some incredible stars and you've worked with some fantastic people to date, is there any artist in particular that you would you love the opportunity to collaborate with?
Wow that's a tough one. Michael Buble has always been on my list of people is love to perform with. In the country world Blake Shelton would be a fun one to work with.
Great music tells wonderful stories, what's your favourite country song?
Oh another tough question. The House That Built Me by Miranda Lambert is an incredible song. It's definitely hard to choose one!
If you could choose another time period of music that you'd love to be a part of when would it be and why?
Probably the 1950s because music was so pure back then. It was real music and real instruments. Something that's becoming sadly a thing of the past these days.
And finally, where can we buy the EP because we can't wait to hear it?
It is currently available as a limited physical copy on the Boyzone Tour. It will will also be available on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify as well as other streaming services but you can take an advanced listen to a couple of the songs at www.soundcloud.com/jessicaclemmons
28th November DUBLIN, The o2
29th November BELFAST, Odyssey Arena
1st December CARDIFF, Motorpoint Arena
2nd December CARDIFF, Motorpoint Arena
4th December BOURNEMOUTH, Int. Centre
5th December BOURNEMOUTH, Int. Centre
6th December BIRMINGHAM, LG Arena
8th December LIVERPOOL, Echo Arena
9th December LEEDS, Arena
10th December NOTTINGHAM, Capital FM Arena
11th December BLACKPOOL, Winter Gardens
12th December ABERDEEN, AECC
14th December NEWCASTLE, Metro Radio Arena
15th December GLASGOW, The Hydro
17th December BRIGHTON, Centre
18th December BRIGHTON, Centre
20th December LONDON, The o2
21st December LONDON, Wembley Arena
I hope they take away the new EP "What If" :-). Every show I do I try to make sure that the audience has a wonderful night from start to finish. I'm very aware that I have some work to do to win them over as the support artist so if they enjoyed my set and loved the music, then I've done my job.
Following your debut album Loving This Day's release in 2012 you have spent a lot of time working on your upcoming EP What If (due for release in 2014) and it's a very personal production, is there a track that you're particularly proud of?
Hands down it would have to be the title track 'What If'. That song exceeded my expectations. I was able to completely pour my heart out into one of the most personal songs I've ever written.
Country music isn't widely popular here in the UK but artists like Lady Antebellum, Kacey Musgraves and the TV Show Nashville have been leading the charge to bring it mainstream here, and we at Backstage Pass love it, what is it about country music that appeals to you so much?Growing up in a place like Texas, country music had always been a part of. I love the storytelling aspect that you get in country music that you don't get in normal pop music.
Boyzone are on their 20th anniversary tour (a fact that's making the team here feel positively ancient!) and their fans have grown up with their music. What music influenced and inspired you growing up and what influences and inspires your music now?
I love music, all kinds of music! For me it was everyone from Celine Dion and Whitney Houston to Trisha Yearwood and Wynonna Judd that I grew up listening to. These days I listen to artist like Emeli Sande, Kelly Clarkson and Lady Antebellum.
Country music has some incredible stars and you've worked with some fantastic people to date, is there any artist in particular that you would you love the opportunity to collaborate with?
Wow that's a tough one. Michael Buble has always been on my list of people is love to perform with. In the country world Blake Shelton would be a fun one to work with.
Great music tells wonderful stories, what's your favourite country song?
Oh another tough question. The House That Built Me by Miranda Lambert is an incredible song. It's definitely hard to choose one!
If you could choose another time period of music that you'd love to be a part of when would it be and why?
Probably the 1950s because music was so pure back then. It was real music and real instruments. Something that's becoming sadly a thing of the past these days.
And finally, where can we buy the EP because we can't wait to hear it?
It is currently available as a limited physical copy on the Boyzone Tour. It will will also be available on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify as well as other streaming services but you can take an advanced listen to a couple of the songs at www.soundcloud.com/jessicaclemmons
28th November DUBLIN, The o2
29th November BELFAST, Odyssey Arena
1st December CARDIFF, Motorpoint Arena
2nd December CARDIFF, Motorpoint Arena
4th December BOURNEMOUTH, Int. Centre
5th December BOURNEMOUTH, Int. Centre
6th December BIRMINGHAM, LG Arena
8th December LIVERPOOL, Echo Arena
9th December LEEDS, Arena
10th December NOTTINGHAM, Capital FM Arena
11th December BLACKPOOL, Winter Gardens
12th December ABERDEEN, AECC
14th December NEWCASTLE, Metro Radio Arena
15th December GLASGOW, The Hydro
17th December BRIGHTON, Centre
18th December BRIGHTON, Centre
20th December LONDON, The o2
21st December LONDON, Wembley Arena
22nd December MANCHESTER, Arena
