I am sitting on a very uncomfortable chair..which I do quite a lot when I get busy at my desk. I end up crossing my legs and sitting in the most uncomfortable position. It’s like I forget that I have a body and I am just a brain when I am typing away.

I had a great weekend in Vancouver. I spent my time there writing with a bunch of people, meeting with my band, and giving a talk to a bunch of musicians at the Michael J Fox Theatre in Burnaby, BC. It was the first talk I had given in a long time and I really enjoyed meeting the people in the audience and sharing my experiences with them. And learning (and relating to) their struggles and successes.

I hope to get the chance to talk at another workshop. I really enjoy it. Thank you Carla Catherwood and “For the Luv of it” for having me at your event!

I get so many messages online from upcoming musicians and these messages really helped me when deciding which subjects to focus my talk on.

I also went to visit my gramma. We had tea and cookies and I noticed how protective her little dog has gotten. Yikes! He doesn’t like anyone coming within a couple feet from her. This has happened since my grandpa passed away, so I am happy she is being loved and looked after. I suppose you are just doing your job little barking Charlie!

This is a bit embarrassing but, I’m a pretty nervous driver, especially in the dark and the pouring rain so I was pretty proud that I was able to not get lost while I drove from Vancouver to Surrey to Burnaby then back to Vancouver. It’s not that I can’t do it, it’s just that I usually get so lost that I shed a few tears, hyperventilate and then get back on the road. But not this time!!

I am back at home on the Island and it was such a beautiful day. Grey with little bits of sunlight reflecting off the water.

I’m prepping for my show of the year in Calgary (it’s a private show, otherwise I’d give the details) on Saturday and I picked up a very cute little velvet black jacket to wear over my dress. I’m going to do a few alterations to it tomorrow and then it will be good to go. I love to sew and plan on making some of my future dresses..I am starting to design them now…

I got a bunch more adds this week (adds are when radio stations decide to play your song) from all you wonderful radio stations THANK YOU!! I really appreciate it!

But I still really need your help my beloved web friends ..all you guys and girls who are sending me messages on facebook saying you like “ Nobody Says No” …pleasssse call your local stations and request it. This will help boost it into the #20s on the charts!!

The Video is now at #10 yahoooo! Thank you CMT and everyone for requesting it.

As you may know, I love tea and I love drinking tea with friends. You may or may not know that I have tea parties at my shows. I am very excited because (drum roll please…) I am working with a tea company that is creating a tea just for me!! My very own tea! I have never had anything named after me! Since one of my songs on my record is called Lavender Tea, I am thinking there will be lavender in the blend! I should be getting the samples any time…I like to think that I will be helping put the Tea in Country!!

It’s dark here and I am still tangled up at my desk. It’s time to put some candles on and make dinner.

Lots of love to all you beautiful good people out there. I look forward to seeing you soon.

We are working on a small tour in BC & Alberta coming up and I’m looking forward to seeing you soon!!!!!

Xoxo Jessie

Have you had your PUG today? This is the phrase on the notepaper I am looking at to the right of my computer ( I got this notepaper for xmas)…funny how when you love something like Pugs or Pigs or I don’t know…frogs you end up getting things with that animal on it forever. I remember when I was a kid that my mom loved ducks and her nickname was Ducky…and boy did she get a lot of Duck gifts!

Now that I live more in the country than in the city, I have learned how important online shopping is. I am not a big shopper and I don’t like going to malls so I figure that online shopping may be the way to purchase things..and it’s really fun to walk to the mailbox, open it up and get a gift from the mail gods.

I recently purchased, through amazon books a diary called Keel’s Simple Diary. I read about this new way of writing in a diary where you fill in the blanks and it gets you thinking and I need to get thinking so I bought it and I’m going to try it out.

I had a really lovely catch up chat with Aaron Pritchett a couple of days ago. He is one of those people that has always been very supportive and generous with me. When I started in this business I learned a lot from him. I am very excited for him and his new album that he is working on. I hope I get the chance to do some shows with him again. I wish him lots of success with this new album he is working on.

I am still doing hot yoga. The way I look at it, it’s kind of a cross between being bossed around and feeling free and getting really sweaty. I like it. And since I just bought a month pass ( and it aint cheap) I figure the more good stuff I say about it, the more I’ll want to do it. No but seriously I love it.

Now that I am living in a house, I have recently found a few new passions…being handy. I got myself an exacto knife and a hammer and a screwdriver and I really love being a Ms. Fixit around the house. I never thought I’d say it but I kind of want my own tool kit.

I ripped the carpets out of the hallway the other day and pretended I was on my own hgtv show…so proud to have “discovered” hardwood floor underneath the dirty old carpet!

Green goooood

Next month I am going to try and live a whole month without plastic. If you see me at an airport eating with chop sticks out of a bowl I brought from home…just give me a hug cause it’s not going to be easy living with no plastic! Also, I have gotten into the habit of unplugging things from sockets at night. Only recently I found out that those plugs are alive and energy is wasted even when your toaster is plugged in at night. Is this true?? Weird. They should have made plugs with light fixtures so you can turn them off like you do lights at night…maybe I will let “them” know.

I’m heading to Vancouver in a few days to speak at a youth event called “ For the Luv of it”, I have a bunch of meetings and then I head to Calgary to play a show. I’m looking forward to it.

I’m really loving dried mango slices right now and I just can’t get enough cinnamon for some reason..
Also astro cappuccino yogurt is really good.

Oh ya and Avatar was amazing! I had no idea it was even going to be good. So I got a large popcorn and just planned on tuning out…but me LOVED it! So magical! WOW WOW.

“Nobody Says No” my second single off of my album “Good Bad & Pretty Things” is moving its way up the charts. Thank you everyone so much for requesting it at your local stations! And thank you to all the stations who have added it and who continue to be so supportive!!! I am so grateful!! I think this song is getting the best reaction I have ever had. Thanks for all your facebook messages everyone!!

Well that’s it for now…

Lots of LOVE,

Jessie

It’s Tuesday morning…grey and cold and wet outside. Rupert is asleep on my feet while I sit at the computer. I just spoke with Jay Bedford at 1035 The Eagle in Sydney, Nova Scotia..funny how we are on different ends of the country but yet we are both looking out at the water and at a grey and rainy day…ughh it’s definitely a grey day!

I went to hot yoga again last night..it was so hot I had 2 moments were I thought I saw myself freak out and run out of the room but somehow I didn’t. I stayed and got through the 90 minute class. I’ve still got to get used to seeing guys in spandex shorts and no shirts around me sweating. I know it’s hot in there but..well I guess I better get used to it.

I’ve been home for over a week now which is a nice change from the go go go schedule I have had over the last few months. It’s funny how you have to adapt to travelling but you also have to adapt to not travelling…The pugs look at me strangely every time I pick up my guitar case or grab my keys..they immediately think I am leaving for 3 weeks rather than to go pick up some groceries.

I’m rehearsing at home for the Christmas show me and my band are playing Dec.11th with JRFM to raise money for basics for bambinos ( I mean babies). It’s a great cause. It should be a fun evening and The Higgins, Jaydee Bixby and Chad Brownlee will also be there.

I know this show is on the same night as the Lady Gaga show in Vancouver SO I have decided that if you chose to come to this show instead of Lady Gaga, I will wear a mask to honour Lady Gaga and to thank you for coming to my show instead.

You’ll just have to facebook me and tell me that you came to my show instead..so that I know to start mask shopping! But seriously I will do it! What do you think..feather mask maybe?

I’m also trying to write as much as possible while I am at home. Everyday I turn my phones off and write. I have called my new handmade stripped socks my lucky writing socks..so come on socks write me some hits!!!

There are some really great shows on tv right now..I laughed out loud while watching that Modern Family show and In The Middle…funny funny!

It’s so close to Christmas now..only a month away! Wow. What I know for sure is that mittens make me really happy in this weather and so do my stripped handmade socks.

Oh and so do chocolate covered jubejubes…weird I know but really good!

Xoxoxoxo Jessie

I wanted to share my updated bio and a new picture from my recent photo-shoot with Jeremy Cowart. I’ll be finding a permanent place for the bio on my site soon.

In 2007 Jessie Farrell’s debut album Nothing Fancy had elevated her into Canada’s country A-list, yielding a top 10 single with “Let’s Talk About Love”, a top 5 video for “I Guess”, and winning three 2008 CCMAs for Female Artist of the Year, Rising Star, and Top New Female Talent of the Year, not to mention scoring a 2009 Juno nomination for New Artist of the Year.

When it came time for Jessie’s follow up sophomore album she was determined not to fall into the dreaded “Sophomore curse”. “ I knew that I had a lot to live up to after winning all those awards so quickly. I wanted people to know that it wasn’t a fluke and I was here to stay. Around that time Lady A’s album had come out and I fell in love with it and saw Victoria Shaw listed as producer. I was already aware of Victoria as a hit songwriter, but I was blown away by the production and I loved the idea of working with a woman in the studio. So long story short, I basically “stalked” her till she said she’d produce my album” Farrell says laughing. Jessie traveled back and forth between Vancouver and Nashville for 6 months while they wrote and recorded songs resulting in her brand new Cd GOOD, BAD & PRETTY THINGS.

“When I’m giving something every bit of energy I have, I used to find myself getting short of breath,” she reveals, with a giggle “I’ve done it since I was 12 years old. At the end of this record, after working with my incredible producer, I came away from it singing better than I ever even knew I could! Victoria kept saying “Just breathe Jessie. You can take on the world!. So “Breathe” became my mantra in the studio so much so that on the last day of recording, I went and got ‘Breathe’ tattooed on my wrist. It calms me and yet makes me feel powerful every time I look down at it.”

GOOD, BAD & PRETTY THINGS is filled with a musical potpourri of contemporary country songs for today’s listeners. Jessie exclaims “My shows are very fun and upbeat and I wanted to make sure that this album would be a lot of fun too. However, even with some of my uptempo songs I was able to dig a little deeper and share a lot of life experiences. Like with the song NOBODY SAYS NO I was able to show my “feisty” side and tell a little bit about my journey here. I mean, I really did sell “bagels to bedding”! BURN SO BRIGHT was actually inspired by talking to Victoria (and co-writer Gary Burr) about my brother who passed away in 2001. I was saying that he was such an incredible bright light in my life and I think he inspires me to always try my best. That’s what that song is all about and I really hope it inspires the listener to go out and shine as bright at they can. That’s why we’re put on this earth. One of my absolute favorite songs on this project is SOBER. Its by far the most powerful song I’ve ever written. As a songwriter you always look for a way to say the “same old thing” in a brand new way and I really am proud of how this song came out. I lose myself in that song every time I sing it. And the reaction from the fans tells me that it connects with them in a very deep way. That’s all I want to do is connect with my audience and night after night I am so moved when I see them singing along to these songs that started out on a piece of paper in my room”.

“The key word is ‘authentic’,” she says. “As a writer and a performer you just want to get that much closer to expressing yourself in a natural and authentic way. That’s all I’ve ever wanted to do.”
Mission accomplished. If Farrell is genuinely concerned that her rise to stardom has been too precipitous, or that the awards, plaudits, and success has all been “premature” (her word), well, Good, Bad & Pretty Things should give her some peace of mind.
In other words – time to breathe easy, Jessie Farrell.

I’m very excited and honored to be headlining a benefit show for JRfm’s Basics For Babies charity. To date, Basics For Babies has raised over $1.56 million and hundreds of pounds of baby items.

Joining me for a great night will be my friends The Higgins, Jaydee Bixby and Chad Brownlee. Doors will open at 7pm and the show will start at 730pm on December 11th at the Bell Centre For Performing Arts in Surrey.

Tickets go on sale tomorrow and $5 from every ticket will go to the Basics For Babies Fund.

Tickets can be purchased as of 10am tomorrow morning (Saturday, November 14th) at the following link: http://www.ticketmaster.ca/event/11004366999A82D2

I hope to see you there!

Ever since I discovered Twitter, I really haven’t been actively posting new blogs. Since most of my blog entries have been about what I’m doing during the day, I’ve found Twitter (which updates directly to both my Facebook pages) the easier way of communicating. Rehashing what I’ve done in a day or what’s going on into a blog post just felt repetitive.

So I’ve decided to focus this blog on something I hope will be helpful to others. Whenever I get a chance to talk with people who know my music, I get a lot of questions from others who are pursuing careers in the music industry.

I don’t have all the answers and I’m not an expert and finally, I still have a long way to climb up the ladder to reach all of my goals but I do have some experiences and strong opinions formed out of those experiences that might be helpful to share with people who are pursuing careers in this crazy industry.

So this blog is now going to be focused almost entirely on sharing those music industry experiences and opinions and answering those types of questions that come through Facebook and email.

I can’t promise I won’t throw in the occasional picture of one of the pugs or a good recipe here and there but for the most part, I’m going to try and keep it focused on sharing my experiences in the music industry for those pursuing similar goals.

My first post is on its way. I’m calling the new blog “Sing For Your Supper”

xo Jessie

I wrote this this morning but have been running around all day!

I’m up an hour early for press on the day of my new cd release! Standing in an empty lobby all dressed up and nowhere to go.. I suppose me standing in a big empty lobby is kind of like all the little plastic wrapped CDs sitting there on the shelves getting prepared for their first day of cd players… I don’t know..I guess a cd can’t prepare itself! Must have more sleeeeep.

Anyways I just wanted to send a note out on the day of the release of “Good, Bad, & Pretty Things” and say that I put my favourite songs I have written on this record and I am nervously and (well honestly I am freaking out a little) awaiting your responses!!!

I hope you love it.

Thanks to all you early birds who downloaded “Things” and sent me a message last night..you helped me sleep better. Seriously you did!!

Now I’m going to sit in a coffee shop ( if they are open at 5:30am???) and appreciate the fact that I got the chance to make this album and that soon enough ( fingers crossed) if i should be so lucky…the cover of my cd ( which includes me lying in the grass) will in actuality be lying cracked and worn next to your driving fav’s on the floor or side pockets of your trucks,mini vans,beaters, and bugs. Xoxo

This would be an honour!!

Happy Tuesday!

Jessie

What a Bee You tea Full month it has been. The sun has been working overtime. I have developed a whole new appreciation for locally made honey (my neighbor is a beekeeper), I got a really lovely new tea from a fan at a show made of flowers and hibiscus and roiboos. It’s been a fun full month preparing for the release of my brand spanking new album on OCTOBER 6th!!!!!. After a lot of walks and listening to the songs over and over in sequence, I came up with the title ” Good Bad & Pretty Things”. I just thought that this title sums up what this album is all about. And it is kind of a play on the movie title.. and a female version of ” The Good, The Bad, & the Ugly”.

The CCMAS were so much fun and it’s funny how it feels like a life time ago now. It was nice getting a chance to see so many friends! And a highlight of my night was definitely meeting a and doing a skit with Martina and Reba and having Reba watch my sound check and tell me that she thought I sounded great..WOW this was a moment I will never forget AND I admit I teared up!

I just got back from Oro, Ontario ( near Barrie) where we played a show with Toby Keith and Aaron Pritchett and the Roadhammers. It was lots of fun and nice to be playing another show with Aaron and Toby! Thanks to everyone who came out to the show. I loved singing with you all!

It’s Sunday and I try not to think on the weekend when I come home but I really wanted to put an update up and also say that I am really excited to head on the road and play for most of October with Doc Walker! We are putting all the dates up on my site tomorrow and please feel free to facebook me any questions cause I am happy to direct you to the shows cause I want to see you all there!! It’s going to be a really fun tour.

Sending lots of love out to all my friends on this beautiful Sunday afternoon.

xoxoxoxoxoxo Jessie

I wrote this earlier today but haven’t had an internet connection until now…

Sitting in the vehicle driving to the next gig. Feeling exhausted and trying to muster up a bit of energy to plan and play my set for tonight. I realized that I can’t just play a show and move on from what happened at BVJ last night. What I really want to be doing is staying in Camrose. I think I may fly in next week so that I can..I don’t even know what I can do to help???? But I know my instinct is to be there.

I am recounting how the day went from blue grey skies in a minute to such a devastating and destructive storm.

I was out signing at the autograph table and someone said it looks like a storm is coming. I turned around said goodnight walked into the trailer and boom! Wind and sand took over the area. The circus tent outside my window flew off like it was made of paper and big metal poles flew around recklessly.

People were yelling and organizers were trying to grab hold of poles..
Then I looked over and right in view was the main-stage being thrown around and tumbling down.

We got pulled out of the trailer and left to run through rain and sand and find our own way.
We caught up with one of Billy Currington’s band members who was shaken up and worried about their bass player who was hit by something onstage and missing.

Me and an 11 year old embraced while she shook in the rain and we tried to come up with a plan as to where we should all go.

A whole bunch of the people on the grounds ended up drenched dirty eyes full of sand and scared waiting for an update in the trade centre, the safest structure on the grounds.

We were all told not to panic and told to take a seat where the hypnotist stage was..surreal

Anyways it was and is all very weird and sad and yet again I was reminded of how precious every moment is while we are here.

I know this sounds selfish but I keep thinking that I might have made a human connection with the person who died and the people who are injured. I sang with them up on that stage or worked with them. And it is so upsetting that they are hurt and for one person their life has ended. I still can’t believe it.

While we don’t know who it is yet, I guess the only thing I can do tonight is have a moment of silence during the show I’m doing tonight and sing to the people in Fisher River and keep everyone affected by what happened at Big Valley Jamboree close to my heart and in my prayers.

xo Jessie

I’m in the lobby of my hotel in Nashville. I couldn’t sleep so I
figured I would write an update and let you guys know what’s happening
in my little world. I played a show in Haggersville, Ontario with
George Canyon and Aaron Pritchett last night. The weather was pretty
nuts..it was storming like crazy so we had to improvise a bit. Aaron
and I and some band members played a show under a tent for the fans
who had stuck it out. Thanks you to everyone who stayed with me and
made it thru the storm! It was a lot of fun. I love nothing more than
to play an unplugged impromptu ( sp?..I like this word but I never
know how to spell it)set under a catering tent. And the food was
really really good and homemade. And when it’s cold and rainy, a hot
meal sure makes you feel comforted and energized. And being able to
sing to everyone all hudled together was really fun for me so thanks!

Anyways..as we were finishing our accoustic set, the sun came out and
we were all able to get up on the big stage and play some more music.
I am so glad our sun dance worked. I just hate having to cancel a
show. I’d rather squish everyone into a tent and sing than go home
without playing. To this day, I have never cancelled a show due to
weather and I hope never to have to.

After the show, I slept for 3 hours and then got to the Toronto
airport at who knows…about 5:30am. So early that I was impressed
with my motor skills…putting one foot infront of the other while
sleep walking! Pretty amazing.

I do the same thing everytime I have to catch a really early flight, I
ask everyone working at that hour how they do it and I tell them how
impressed I am that they are able to wake up every day at like 4am..I
especially think they deserve a frickin medal during the winter
months!

Ok so then I got to Nashville at 9am this morning. I am here in
Nashville just for 32 hours to shoot the pics for my album. I really
love Jeremy Cowart ( a photographer from Nasvhille who I tracked down
on twitter). He really is an incredible photographer and I love his
twitter updates! He seems to be very bright and clever but down to
earth and that’s the part that I really need when i am working with
someone new. I’ve got to feel like they are real down to earth people
cause otherwise I get freaked out.

I’m really enjoying playing my new single live! ” You Make Me Feel”
has been out on radio for about 10 days now and it was a lot of fun to
see people dance around in the rain while playing the show last night.

Thanks to everyone who has requested my new song and for everyone who
has gone to itunes and “clicked it up”..I just made that up..you know
like clicked on it and picked it up…bought it…sorry i’m tired
oyyy.

I planned on heading down to the gym and doing what I call a lonely
midnight workout now but hitting the pillow is starting to sound
pretty darn good right now..

Speaking of storms..It is so rainy here that the lobby of the hotel
got flooded because the wind is so strong and the rain comes spinning
in thru the doors.

Oh and I want to thank all the stations and music directors who met
with me while I was touring with cmt’s Karaoke star. I really enjoyed
coming in an giving you all sneak previews of my new songs.

Lots of love!

Hope you are all getting good use out of your blenders ( margaritas),
your shorts, and your sundresses. See you next in Sterling!

And have you checked out the moon lately..it’s incredible!

xo Jessie