By Tyler Ody
JESSIKA RELEASES DEBUT ALBUM WORLD AIN’T READY
LONDON, U.K. – (September 28, 2023) – World Ain’t Ready, the debut album from British-born, New York-based singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer JESSIKA is out now via BMG. The album includes lead singles ‘F**k Our Fears’ (feat. GASHI), which was added to MTV’s Spankin’ New list last month, and ‘Her’, which has received airplay and acclaim from Billboard and BBC Radio London, among others.
On this complex, yet catchy body of work, she confronts mental health, OCD, lust and love straight-on against a lively soundtrack laced with pop and alternative, all punctuated by her powerhouse voice.
“I wrote this album documenting life in its truest form. Covering all sorts of subjects such as mental health, love, sex, temptation, and empowerment,” shares JESSIKA. “I wanted to write a record that people relate to. It’s an honest album that sometimes makes you dance, yet sometimes makes you cry.”
World Ain’t Ready, written by JESSIKA and co-produced with Kyle Kelso (Kygo, Aloe Blacc, Galantis), is a testament to the resilience, passion, and extraordinary circumstances that shaped her artistic vision. Notably, the album came to life while JESSIKA covertly inhabited the BMG Nashville office.
After signing a hard-won publishing deal in New York, JESSIKA found herself in Music City without enough money for a hotel and no close friend with a couch to crash on. Entrusted with a key card to write in the studio of the BMG Nashville office, she quickly realised that card granted 24-hour access. She spent the ensuing weeks secretly living in the studio and not only beginning, but completing what would become the album.
An email circulated and she had to give back the key card “no questions asked,” but she wouldn’t just go quietly. Rather than simply returning the card and retreating, JESSIKA decided to make the most of the situation. She took the bold step of reaching out to Jon Loba, the President of BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville, and requested a meeting. To her astonishment, he agreed.
Sharing her story, JESSIKA revealed to Loba that, until recently, she had been residing in the office and tirelessly working on her record. Amazed by her dedication and determination, Loba listened to the demos, and without hesitation, signed her on the spot.
With the songs written, she proceeded to record her debut between New York and the legendary Abbey Road Studios in London, and the resulting album, World Ain’t Ready, is available to stream/download now, with over half a million streams to date.
Listen to World Ain’t Ready here.
Watch ‘The Story of JESSIKA’ mini-documentary here.
WORLD AIN’T READY TRACK LIST
Your Loss
Broken
Go Where You Go
Kiss Chase
Dirty Talk
Bedtime Story
Sober
Someone I Thought I Knew
Fight Back
F**k Our Fears (ft. Gashi)
ABOUT JESSIKA:
Raised in Birmingham, UK, before moving to Cornwall with her family, JESSIKA spent several years touring the country and building a reputation as an ‘artist to watch’.
After deciding to focus on her career as a singer and songwriter, she booked a one way ticket to London, and arriving with nothing more than her guitar, a few clothes and just enough money to get by, she found a small room in the heart of Soho and took the first steps on a musical journey that would eventually take her all the way to New York City.
Before she’d even signed her first publishing deal, JESSIKA spent two years on the road sharing stages with Hozier, Paulo Nutini, The Killers, The Arctic Monkeys, Ellie Goulding, Van Morrison, Keane, and Paloma Faith, among others; and had co-written and featured on a dance hit with Andy Moor and Armin Van Buuren.
Her debut album World Ain’t Ready is available now worldwide.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON JESSIKA, VISIT: INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE