Jessica Rhaye Has Designs On Music
www.filly.ca (Halifax's Chick Website)
November 8, 2006
By Shannon Webb-Campbell
Photography: Shehab Illyas
Entrepreneur by day, chanteuse by night, New Brunswick's virtual Venus Jessica Rhaye holds down her own graphic design company and recently released her sophomore disc Short Stories.
"I've been playing music since I was a kid," says Rhaye, on a sleepy Sunday afternoon. "It was about 6 years ago when I first started recording my own music. It was more of a hobby then. It's been awhile since my last record, but I've been busy with graphic design."
Rhaye self-titled debut hit record stores in 2000, her highly anticipated follow-up Short Stories is a collection of fleeting glimpses of pensive reflection, love, mystery, sisterhood and adventure.
The track Beautiful is a gentle reminder to her sister of her inner and outer beauty, Where It All Begins wanders down the winding path of spirituality, Wildflowers is an ode to countryside living, Running for the Door mirrors the suspicious nature of an unsecured romance. Often inspired by fiction, her moody, piano-ballad driven Crazy Jane honours one woman's descent into madness.
"The melody and first verse came to be me when I was reading the book Drowning Ruth by Christina Schwartz. The story really hit me when I was reading it. It's a completely fictional song. I'm very inspired by literature, movies and music."
Rhaye recently graduated from New Brunswick's College of Art and Design with a degree in Graphic Design. Initially her interest in academia was more in the traditional realm of art, as she was drawn to pottery, until she found her true calling in design.
At 29-years of age, this pop-fairy is a force of vivacity, authenticity and portrays a strong sense of self within her lyrics and pretty melodies.
"I thought I was going to study pottery but then realized I was terrible at it. It's much harder than it looks. Graphic design was something I kind of explored. I've always been an artist, as I love to knit, draw and paint but I wasn't very computer savvy. At first I was reluctant to dive in but the professors insisted I would do fine."
It seems these educational visionaries' assumptions were spot-on, as Rhaye takes full design credits for her eye-catching website and the artwork design for her album. Her storybook-like style features subtle shades of simplicity blended with an old-fashioned aesthetic. At 29-years of age, this pop-fairy is a force of vivacity, authenticity and portrays a strong sense of self within her lyrics and pretty melodies.
"The writing process is a bit of a struggle for me," she explains. "It's not something I do every day. Writing is a challenge at time. Sometimes I just want to draw, paint or create. Other times songwriting becomes the outlet."
Short Stories was produced by Ed Woodsworth and features an illustrious cast of East Coast musicians including Ken Tobias, Jamie Robinson, Jimmy Swift Band's Craig Mercer, Maritime bluegrass banjo player J.P. Cormier and Gordie Sampson. In addition to some guitar and piano work, Sampson lent a hand in parts of the recording process.
"I've received a lot of positive feedback since the record's been released. I was in Halifax for my CD release at Ginger's Tavern on Oct. 26. It was a really great night, it's was very nice and intimate."
Rhaye seems pretty comfortable with her position on the planet, as she looks forward to touring this album, playing festivals and sporting her new boots.
"I found these fantastic boots while I was in Halifax. I had to buy them; I just knew I'd never find them in New Brunswick. I love them!"
www.filly.ca (Halifax's Chick Website)
November 8, 2006
By Shannon Webb-Campbell
Photography: Shehab Illyas
Entrepreneur by day, chanteuse by night, New Brunswick's virtual Venus Jessica Rhaye holds down her own graphic design company and recently released her sophomore disc Short Stories.
"I've been playing music since I was a kid," says Rhaye, on a sleepy Sunday afternoon. "It was about 6 years ago when I first started recording my own music. It was more of a hobby then. It's been awhile since my last record, but I've been busy with graphic design."
Rhaye self-titled debut hit record stores in 2000, her highly anticipated follow-up Short Stories is a collection of fleeting glimpses of pensive reflection, love, mystery, sisterhood and adventure.
The track Beautiful is a gentle reminder to her sister of her inner and outer beauty, Where It All Begins wanders down the winding path of spirituality, Wildflowers is an ode to countryside living, Running for the Door mirrors the suspicious nature of an unsecured romance. Often inspired by fiction, her moody, piano-ballad driven Crazy Jane honours one woman's descent into madness.
"The melody and first verse came to be me when I was reading the book Drowning Ruth by Christina Schwartz. The story really hit me when I was reading it. It's a completely fictional song. I'm very inspired by literature, movies and music."
Rhaye recently graduated from New Brunswick's College of Art and Design with a degree in Graphic Design. Initially her interest in academia was more in the traditional realm of art, as she was drawn to pottery, until she found her true calling in design.
At 29-years of age, this pop-fairy is a force of vivacity, authenticity and portrays a strong sense of self within her lyrics and pretty melodies.
"I thought I was going to study pottery but then realized I was terrible at it. It's much harder than it looks. Graphic design was something I kind of explored. I've always been an artist, as I love to knit, draw and paint but I wasn't very computer savvy. At first I was reluctant to dive in but the professors insisted I would do fine."
It seems these educational visionaries' assumptions were spot-on, as Rhaye takes full design credits for her eye-catching website and the artwork design for her album. Her storybook-like style features subtle shades of simplicity blended with an old-fashioned aesthetic. At 29-years of age, this pop-fairy is a force of vivacity, authenticity and portrays a strong sense of self within her lyrics and pretty melodies.
"The writing process is a bit of a struggle for me," she explains. "It's not something I do every day. Writing is a challenge at time. Sometimes I just want to draw, paint or create. Other times songwriting becomes the outlet."
Short Stories was produced by Ed Woodsworth and features an illustrious cast of East Coast musicians including Ken Tobias, Jamie Robinson, Jimmy Swift Band's Craig Mercer, Maritime bluegrass banjo player J.P. Cormier and Gordie Sampson. In addition to some guitar and piano work, Sampson lent a hand in parts of the recording process.
"I've received a lot of positive feedback since the record's been released. I was in Halifax for my CD release at Ginger's Tavern on Oct. 26. It was a really great night, it's was very nice and intimate."
Rhaye seems pretty comfortable with her position on the planet, as she looks forward to touring this album, playing festivals and sporting her new boots.
"I found these fantastic boots while I was in Halifax. I had to buy them; I just knew I'd never find them in New Brunswick. I love them!"