Canadian Singer-Songwriter Jessica Rhaye, ventures into her most musically mature territory yet with her new album Short Stories. An album that features an attractive mix of folk songwriting, modern arrangements, and ambitious production, surrounded by Jessica’s magnetizing voice. One listen to the eleven hook-laden tracks of this album and you'll be struck by the natural, warm, rich and sometimes personal songs of this talented singer-songwriter

Jessica Rhaye - Biography

Canadian Singer-Songwriter Jessica Rhaye ventures into her most musically mature territory yet with the release of her sophomore album Short Stories. One listen to the eleven hook-laden tracks on the new recording and you'll be struck by the undeniable talent and stunning voice of this singer-songwriter.

Short Stories was produced by up and comer Ed Woodsworth and engineered by multiple ECMA award winning technician Jamie Foulds, with additional recording and mixing by award winning producer Gordie Sampson.

Under Woodsworth’s guidance, Short Stories brims with catchy hooks and draws you into Jessica’s strong and grounded writing. Her songs cover a wide range of themes from the personal expression of “Only One” to the unique relationship viewpoints of “Running for the Door” and “Holding Out”, a co-write with acclaimed singer-songwriter Ken Tobias (Stay Awhile, I Just Want to Make Music), to the euphoria of “Wild Flowers” and the melancholy of “Where it all Begins”.

The album was mastered at Bob Ludwig’s Gateway Mastering Studio in Portland, ME, by Adam Ayan whose mastering credits include work for Tracey Chapman, Indigo Girls and Phish, to name a few

Jessica Rhaye’s previous 2000 self-titled release landed her a performance on the East Coast Music Awards plus three ECMA nominations, including New Artist of the Year, Pop Artist of the Year, and Female Artist of the Year. The track “Time Out” became a finalist in the folk category of the International John Lennon Songwriting Competition and earned Jessica a spot on CBC’s Great Canadian Music Television program as one of twenty-five featured performers from across Canada.

In between writing and recording Short Stories Jessica has been busy completing her major in graphic design, a skill that has guided her creative vision of her new album from start to finish. She has showcased at various industry festivals such as North by Northeast (NXNE), Canadian Music Week (CMW) and the Canadian Country Music Awards (CCMA). It was at the CMW that her track “Only One”, which is featured on the new album, was nominated as a finalist in the Canadian Radio Star National Songwriting Competition.

Between recordings Jessica has also completed a side project for the German based label, Valle Venia. Valle Venia combines music, art and science and encourages artists to confront the work of composer Leo Schmidt, the label’s founder, by bringing in their own artistic ideas. Other Valle Venia feature projects include singer-songwriter Sam Brown, an artist who has worked closely as a vocalist with George Harrison and Pink Floyd. Jessica’s project is appropriately titled Valle Venia featuring Jessica Rhaye.

Since the release of her debut CD she has supported shows for the likes of Great Big Sea, Randy Bachman, and Matt Mays while sharing the stage with MIR, Bruce Guthro and Grammy Award-winner Colin Hay, from the band Men at Work.

Jessica has performed across Canada, including a performance at the National Art Centre in Ottawa, in Cuba, and Niger, Africa. Her performance in Africa came from was a result of being selected by an international jury to showcase at the Francophone Games along with sixteen other artists from around the world. It was during this performance that Jessica performed a song in French for the very first time.

If there is one thing the writing and recording process for Short Stories has done for Jessica, it’s made her a stronger songwriter. She’s pleased to be showing off her sharpened skills.

“I just really love to sing and write. It’s something I have to do, it’s a compulsion,” she admits.

It’s clear a new chapter has begun in her life. With the work on Short Stories now complete, and given her early success leading up to its release, this young singer-songwriter is an artist on the rise, and giving music lovers plenty to enjoy