UB Interview: Jessica Reedy Talks “Transparent”
Jessica Reedy has become a much sought after vocalist since making her appearance on the BET Reality Competition, “Sunday Best” in 2009. Although Ms. Reedy didn’t take home the winning prize from the hit TV show, she has become a fan favorite and has given the fans exactly what they wished for. Her debut album “From The Heart“, which featured the hit singles “Put It On The Altar” and “Something Out of Nothing” proved to be without a shadow of a doubt that Jessica Reedy was primed for success.
Her new album “Transparent“, promises to be Jessica’s most heartfelt piece of work yet. It features the inspirational anthem “Better” along with smash singles “Grace” and “Hold On” featuring Mary Reedy. Khirye Tyler and Mali Music produced the album and it was written by Jessica herself. “Transparent” was be released on Jessica’s custom imprint Purity Records.
Jessica spoke to Aries from UrbanBridgez.com about her new album “Transparent,” Working with Mali Music, surviving hard times, growth in her music, Faith Evans and much more!
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UrbanBridgez.com: What made you title the album “Transparent?”
Jessica Reedy: The title came from heartache and pain. We’re using music to vent, we’re using music to get it all out. It was my escape, it was my way of pleading to God in any way I could in any form or fashion. To let him know that I was grateful but yet I’m in pain and I need for you to rescue me. It just became my voice and transparent embodies all of that for me.
UrbanBridgez.com: Being that you’re the main songwriter on the album, didn’t you write about 80% of the album?
Jessica Reedy: I would say about 95% of the album (laughs).
UrbanBridgez.com: Oh wow that’s wassup (laughs). How does it feel for you to be able to showcase your words on this project?
Jessica Reedy: Oh my gosh, it’s an amazing testament to myself. Like Jessica don’t underestimate what God has put in you to do. You can do way more than you think you can do. So it was a challenge for me, me saying to myself, can you do this? I think you can do this. We shall find out! You know how you write a song and you think it’s good but don’t nobody else believe it’s good (laughs). So we shall see.
UrbanBridgez.com: I can’t wait, I’m sure it’s great. I know you worked with Mali Music, he’s a UB fav. What did he bring to the project that only he could?
Jessica Reedy: Mali is amazing. So I called him randomly after his sister let me hear a song. I said hey Mali, can I have this song? He was like yeah Reedy. So I’m like so look I’m in Los Angeles can you come to the studio? He was like Reedy…okay what time? So he comes to the studio and I’m like hey Mali, can you sing background on one of the songs? He was like sure Reedy. So I’m just really thankful that he is a friend of mine, the way he is and how he has always supported and given me music at the last minute. No matter what it is that I needed.
UrbanBridgez.com: Your debut album is such a gem, what are some of the differences that you would say there are from this album to that album as far as content?
Jessica Reedy: I would have to say it’s growth. There has been a lot of growth on my behalf. From where I was when that album came out and to where I am now. The growth has been a six year difference. I kind of went from stepping into womanhood, to finally coming into womanhood and saying to myself, you know what embrace being a woman now, it’s okay. It’s okay to be a woman now and to come into your own. So it reflects in my music as well.
UrbanBridgez.com: I’ve been a fan since Sunday Best, but prepping for this interview I never knew you went through so much at such a young age. How were you able to get through all of that and direct that energy towards your career?
Jessica Reedy: God, he helped me more than I could of ever imagined. To get through the worst of times in my life. It’s why I sing about him, it’s why I love him as much as I do. It was too hard for me to do it with my own strength. He gave me strength to endure.
UrbanBridgez.com: Who or what inspires Jessica Reedy?
Jessica Reedy: I would have to say my mother. My mother is the biggest inspiration for me. Because she has contributed to mostly everything that I am today. What you guys see is a product of her teaching, a product of her watching my son, helping to relieve the stress of trying to balance it all. All of that has helped me be an individual that sings. When you’re trying to sing and travel and I’m worried about my son, then I can’t give 100% to anything because I’m concerned about his whereabouts. She’s contributed in a major way,a really really good way.
UrbanBridgez.com: You and Faith Evans have made some beautiful music together. How did you two meet and can we expect anymore upcoming collaborations?
Jessica Reedy: I met Faith through my manager at that time. She was just amazing! And I don’t know, hopefully Faith will get on another record with me, because she’s just an amazing human being. She’s unlike any human being I’ve ever met, she’s fantastic.
UrbanBridgez.com: Yeah she’s great, I love her. If you were not singing, what do you think your career goals would be?
Jessica Reedy: If I wasn’t a singer, I would most likely be an attorney. I would probably go into law most definitely. Either that or a construction worker (laughs).
UrbanBridgez.com: Say what, I didn’t expect that one (both laugh). I want to congratulate you for being one of the faces of Poetic Justice jeans. How did that opportunity come about for you?
Jessica Reedy: It came about from a friend, who was basically like I have this product line that I would like for you to try out. Read up on it and then tell me what you think. So after doing research on it, I felt it was fantastic. It was a perfect fit, so I said I would love, love to be apart of this. So I’m really grateful for the opportunity, the jeans are amazing. They help the curvy woman, the ones with the hips and the dips. Who can’t really find the jeans that will stay on real good, where as they kind of slide down (laughs). So they definitely make you feel secure and that’s a great thing.
UrbanBridgez.com: What’s next for you, with the release of “Transparent” what else can fans expect from you?
Jessica Reedy: I would have to say, there is a movie that’s out called Who Can I Run To, I was honored to be apart of that. There is also a lot of different opportunities that have come out of nowhere. Commercials and different opportunities for partnerships. So right now, the sky is the limit there is no cut off to what’s going to happen. I don’t know, think of something and I’m going to do it. That’s kind of where it is right now.
UrbanBridgez.com: Anything else you want to share with your fans?
Jessica Reedy: I just want to tell everyone that I love them. Thank for you for hanging in there with me for all of these years. God is real, God is amazing, he has done it and he’s doing it and I’m grateful every moment that I get where I say, wow this album is off of my record label, this was an album that I was able to see all the way to the finish. It’s a miracle to me, so I’m just grateful to everyone that stuck in there and kept supporting me.
“Transparent” is available now on iTunes via Purity Records.
