Tag: New Jersey

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By: Gregg Keniston

Growing up on 90s women in music, specifically country music, I can’t believe I never came across Jo Dee Messina until AFTER college. Well, better late than never! I say this because, just from seeing her profile on Instagram, she is always upbeat, smiley, and vibrant; as I try and hope to be to audiences close and afar. Her hits like “Heads Carolina, Tails California” and “I’m Alright” shine through this album with the continuation of overall brightness, and Messina’s spunky attitude. Bridges reflects growth without changing your sound, and sometimes, that just works!

Welcome to the Show

Lyrically, I immediately thought of Circus by Britney Spears and Funhouse by P!nk because of the carnival-themed phrasing. That caught my attention first-hand because who doesn’t love a good big top visual? The colors, the kooky, the imagery is enough to entice you in. Then you get Jo Dee Messina’s tonality like a carousel, in an up-and-down motion. The best part, like most of the record, the sound and production are simple and not overdone, allowing her vocals to playfully shine. It is a gold-star opener.

Some Bridges

The title-track sets ablaze for freedom. Taking advice and following the best route to the ‘T’ is the easiest, safest method to get through the day-to-day. But, then you’ll never build a durable framework in lessons and growth. Messina sings of going down both pathways and finding trial and error through both. But, ultimately some bridges are meant to burn for the better. “Some Bridges” steadily keeps the listener’s ear with encouragement and a forward mindset.

Days You Don’t Get Back

Man, if this song isn’t a slap in the face, in a good way. We spend so much of our time anticipating 18 and 21 respectively. When we get here, we are dumbfounded where the time’s gone and what’s coming down the line. And yes, the fun is certainly rooted in the journey as much as the arrival. But, this song is a good “bridge” between tracks especially for the younger crowd, as it’s a signal to just slow down a bit and enjoy. Is it a highlight track? Maybe not, but the sound and lyrics lay a memorable flashback for us millennials and older while, teaching a mini lesson.

Where the Cowboys Ride

This song is playful at its finest, mixing in some grit and manual labor. Messina, won’t be looking for a suit-and-tie, prim and proper man. She, like many, want to get back to the rough wranglers and dirt divers that built the strongest backbone of yesterday. If for no other reason, this song fits and belongs on this record because of its bright and fun lyrics. Let’s face it, the ladies will LOVE it because so many, want the rugged ways returned.

Can Anybody

I’ve never had a song hit home recently as hard as this. As much as I know God is with me, and God always directing me first, it’s a mess of a life and a world we live in; when you take a step back. And I know I’m not alone in this. We’re all asking for a voice to echo back in our darkest hours. The fronts we display, the armor we wear, and the questions we ask ourselves; often still feel hollow until, there’s that one moment in the week, or the month of light that makes every day worth while. Can anybody, be someone’s light and uplifting spirit? Try it. Even stranger to stranger, because everyone’s a stranger until you connect. And we all have a struggle or two, so let’s carry each other across those “bridges”.

Don’t Let Them Hide Your Beautiful

“Don’t Let Them Hide Your Beautiful” is my favorite of the record, it’s the highlight. Not only from its high notes, but the message is timeless and it still needs to be understood today. Too much negative, too much discouragement, along with so much conflict; can only bring morale down enough to where we become desensitized to it, or don’t even bother trying. As hard as it can be, rise above. Make sure you are living for you and your happy so that you can spread that happy and positivity to others. Shying away from yourself will only give dissuaders the upper hand and ammunition, so give it all you got. You might as well make the best of the one chance at life you get.

Message in a Bottle

It’s the most lyrically creative song I’ve heard in turning people away from finding a solution or “message in a bottle.” Messina sings that nothing good will come of going to find what you’re trying to look for through the drops of alcohol or the bottle it lies in. If there’s one thing Bridges is reflecting, it’s that someone went to the best messengers to craft subtle but, poignant notes and reflective lessons. Wow!

The Jesus I Know

An epic proclamation of understanding what Jesus truly was attempting to teach and display through his life, readings, and lessons. One line, “sits at the tables with the sinners,” seems to be lost and forgotten amongst many both Christian and non-Christian alike. The wild-wild-west whistle through the song is also a very nice touch to the song as it, paints a standoff between Jesus and judges or those who cannot or do not understand Him. But, He is also there when you can’t hear Him, when you think you’re alone, He’ll never leave you lonely.

It’s All About You

What encapsulates around a fun sounding tonality, is detailed and quickly identified in call outs and noting that some of us have a tendency to make all bad instances all about ourselves. We often fail to recognize the part we play in any sort of bad moments in our life. Messina is in an all-out slugfest for this song and lyrically, we love it! It may be a top contender of a track as a standout.

Let Me Love You

This song is a complete 180 from its predecessor. Painting a picture of a wrecking ball to a wall of emotion, the song is yearning for strong and deep-rooted love. It’s a way for the artist to proclaim that every hurdle is worth it and that nothing will pale in comparison as to what the future holds for love. So long as they are willing to lower their defenses, the love could be ultimate and stronger than ever before.

If He Knew Jesus

Wrapping up the record with “If He Knew Jesus,” is the best way to end the album in the light and brightness the entirety of the record displays. Singing of how, no matter the struggle, Jesus will see you through; Messina notes that there is no challenge you will face alone if you go to truly know and have a relationship with Jesus Christ. She sings that much of the strife and bad decisions would cease to exist, if this individual or we as the audience, knew Jesus – just even a little deeper than we do now.

Bridges is beautiful, from cover to record, to lyrics and arrangement. It’s the perfect record to bask in the spring and summer seasons. It’s that perfect power -punch of radiant positivity. Whether Jo Dee Messina is singing of inspiration and genuine happiness or, belting out some tongue-in-cheek, verbal smackdown; this artist is not one to count out. She knows how to deliver a comeback. She delivers a balance of ballads and pop-country hit-makers. It’s a record that will feeling the sunshine on your face, and dancing in place.

Key Tracks: “Don’t Let Them Hide Your Beautiful,”Welcome to the Show,” and “Can Anybody.”

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  1. Who are some of your influences?

Cassadee Pope, Kacey Musgraves,Taylor Swift,  Hannah Ellis, and Shinedown would definitely be a few of my biggest influences for this record. 

2. When and where did you come up with the concept for “21”.

So, I wrote “Him” after coming home from my boyfriend’s house and something just hit me. Throughout my 21st year of life, I went through a lot mentally and emotionally. Not only was I tackling college, two jobs, and an internship, but I was also going through a tough breakup after having been together for four years and falling out of love awhile prior to the breakup. After the breakup, I started going through another romantic situation with a friend that just went south. For a while, I was really down on myself in the world of romance and I just didn’t think true love existed… Then unexpectedly, I fell in love again with my current boyfriend and he literally brought out the music in me. He was the ultimate reward to one of the toughest years of my life and once I wrote, “Him,” I was inspired to tell the story of my 21st year of life after not writing, or playing music for over a year. 

3. How did you come about recording your first album?

We recorded, “Him,” first in November of 2018 and then I released the news about the single on my 22nd birthday (December 3, 2018). I also announced that I would be releasing a full-length album titled, ‘21,’ later in 2019.  We didn’t actually record the rest of the album until March of 2019 and it took about two months total to record and really put it together collectively and creatively. I will never forget the last night we spent recording the album, it was like 2 AM one night in April after an award show the music department was hosting at my college, Monmouth University.  We recorded the final two vocals that night and then the record was done. It was the best feeling ever.

4. What was your favorite track to record?

My favorite record was definitely the second single I released off the album which was, “More.”  It’s the last song on the record. It is the last because it makes me feel strong and empowered about who I am both as an individual and an artist in particular going forward. The rest of the album kind of resembles who I was when I was 21 and who I used to be. “More” is who I feel like I am now that I am in a better place in my life and it is the foreshadow of the sound and vulnerability that is to come next in my future music.

5. Do you feel pulled more towards one genre of music over another?

I feel that we morph into what inspires us, specifically as a musician. As you go through different experiences and life events, you become a part of that scene, or culture that is surrounding you at that moment. Same thing with music. I listened to a lot of different music. I am rooted in pop punk, but I love pop and country music. I feel like there will always be a little pop punk in my music because of those roots, but that is what makes me Kelli Faith and not someone else.  It feels very natural as I just build upon myself and the music I create to become an embodiment of everything I am inspired by.

6. As a women in music, how do you see yourself in contributing to the music scene, and your growth as an artist?

Early on, I felt like I could not write love songs because it was such a stereotype, then as I grew into my artist persona as Kelli Faith; I came to understand that it did not matter what I was writing about because I was writing from my own heart and my own perspective. I saw a lot of male artists like Maroon 5, or Ed Sheeran make hits from love songs countless times over and no one’s ever judged them for any of those songs. So, in response to experiencing all of this, I stopped caring about what others might think about me, or what I had to say in my music. Instead, I let my heart take the reigns and my emotions do the driving. I feel like my music could inspire more women to allow themselves to be emotional and authentic in their own music. ‘21’ taught me not to hold back and that is what I want to help other women, and just anyone in general, and/or in music do.

7. Who are some of the personalities that helped you craft “21”?

Craig Smith and Alex Peragine helped me mix, master, produce, and record the entire record. They were essential to building the framework of the album, I am incredibly grateful. I had a lot of instrumental production behind my record as well, including: Dee DiMeola, Cassidy Crosby, Julia Whary, and Jay Sweet. Lastly, the promotional team really brought out the best content to display ‘21’ in its final stages: Summer DeFalco for photography, Nicole Govel for the album artwork, Jenna Bruno for PR, Angelica Pasquali and Nicole Diglio for the logo and video content you will see in the coming weeks. Kris Khunachek also produced the music video for “More” and he is simply amazing.

8. Who would you dream of touring with if you should blossom further into your music career?

I think that would definitely be Cassadee Pope. I feel like  I would be the perfect opener for her shows. I would never want to be so big of an artist where I couldn’t go outside into the public eye by myself. I feel that her artistry and energy very much aligns to mine, so that really attracts me to her and other artists like Kacey Musgraves.  Kacey Musgraves is just on a bit of a larger scale, but if that were to ever happen, anything is a dream to be honest.

9. How do you feel your schooling or your growth inspired your artistry?

What came out of Monmouth University were the connections and friendships that allowed me to explore my creativity. I gained a large understanding from a PR class on branding and etc, however, the majority of my inspiration and thought process behind the album did not come from schooling or lessons, but the connections I made throughout college.

10. What’s next after “21”?

There will be another music video coming in the future for sure. Be prepared for a small tour once the album gets released probably later in the winter. Like I had mentioned before, ‘21’ taught me to not hold back, so I think whatever music is to come, will definitely demonstrate a new side to Kelli Faith. A lot has happened in the making of this album and I think it truly curated a perfect setup to my future music.