JD: I'm good too, ok, can you start by telling us about your background and how you got into music?
Jessi: Yeah, actually I've always been performing starting from the time I was 5. When I was 13 we went over to Australia to do some pre-Olympic performances and when I was 14 I joined a girl group called No Secrets. I was in the group and performed with the group for 3 years and then I started my solo project over at Warner and I'm here now.
JD: So you will be releasing your debut solo album in the summer through Reprise Records, what can we expect from it?
Jessi: Yes, well it is very very dance orientated, very performance orientated, that’s my strong point live performance. So its music that’s definitely going to make you wanna dance, but lyrically is really quite bold too, I think its something that girls are going to appreciate. The guys can dance to it too
JD: Are there any tracks in particular we should look out for?
Jessi: Urm, yes. You should look out for, I don't know if you've heard "Gimme" but I’ve got "Gimme" coming out with Lil' Scrappy featured on it, are you familiar with him?
JD: Yeah
Jessi: Yeah, he does an awesome little rap on there, its a high energy, high impact club track that’s definitely gonna make you wanna dance I got another track where I actually talk about that time of the month and those mood swings and how to deal with them so that’s one girls are going to love because they can relate to it and the guys are gonna wanna listen because they are going to wanna know how to deal with it. I have another track called "King" that is blah! Its out there, its female empowering, but its put in a very sexual way, your going to want to hear that one.
JD: Talking of "King," I hear that is written about sleazy guys. Is the song based on personal experiences or someone you know?
Jessi: You know what, it’s not about any real experience I have been through, but a few of my girl friends have been through it and some of the people in my family. It’s a really relevant topic that everybody has dealt with at some point in some capacity, you know. It’s not about anyone in particular in my live, I’ve been lucky, but it’s something I felt I really needed to talk about.
JD: Cool. You mentioned the track you did with Lil Scrappy, do you have a video planned for that?
Jessi: Erm, the video will be done for that, but no we don’t have a video scheduled for that right now, but you will be getting a video for that.
JD: You worked on the album with Andy Goldmark and Bruce Roberts, is that right?
Jessi: Yeah that’s right and a bunch of other people too.
JD: What was it like working with people like Goldmark and Roberts who have had so much songwriting experience?
Jessi: Oh my goodness, yeah. Well it shows, they are very classic in the way they write songs, it’s about the lyrics and the song first, then the track, whereas most often now, it’s about the track and the lyrics are secondary. I really like working with them because I got some really really strong lyrics out of them and I think that’s why my music is so conceptual.
JD: So was there a lot of chemistry? Did you work well together?
Jessi: Oh my goodness, yeah, they are like my fairy god uncles or something, they're family now. I have been working with them for such a long time now, we have created a sort of creative bond, you know? We spend holidays together we're that close.
JD: You did a track with J.R. Rotem on the album is that right?
Jessi: Yeah, JR produced, that’s "Gimme," which I co-wrote with Evan Bogart and JR did the track to that and that team is awesome to work with, I had so much fun. I get asthma when I work with them because they have been laughing so hard. I usually can't even record vocals the first day I am in there with them because I’ll be wheezing so bad that I can't even sing. That’s how bad they make me laugh, those guys are awesome to work with and I actually worked on a couple of other tracks from the album with them. We're not actually sure which ones are going on yet, but I have done three other tracks with that team.
JD: Where do you get your inspiration from for your music?
Jessi: Well, I've always been influenced by a lot of female performers. When I was really really young my mom would always listen to Donna Summers. I obsessed with her song "Bad Girls" you know? *Jessi sings a bit of the track* I was obsessed with it. Imagine a little 3 or 4 year old girl singing "Bad Girls" I had no clue what I was talking about, but I loved that song and then Mariah was a huge influence, when she came out with "Dream Lover" I was obsessed with that. Who else? Janet of course when her "If" song and "If" video came out that was just like something else. That was just something I really related to, she just had such sex appeal and she was so sexy, but so in control. When I saw that video, it was like "Yeah, that’s what I want to be right there." I loved that. I also loved Aaliyah. I have many influences and right now I love Ciara, I think she’s amazing and she kind of falls in that space of sexy, but in control. I often dance to it.
JD: How are you finding all the attention you are getting from all your new fans? Is it overwhelming?
Jessi: Oh no, its not, hehe, I love it. I just love it. I'm such a people person anyway, I just love it, I just love people. I just think the more the merrier in my life basically.
JD: So are you planning a tour to promote the album?
Jessi: I am actually starting some local performances before my album is released. I am completely ready for a tour; I have been rehearsing live performances for a while now. I've got my dancers, so I've got the whole thing down. I have not scheduled for any one tour yet, but yeah, as soon as the album is released I will be touring in some capacity, but I can't tell you anymore than that because that’s all I know.
JD: Would you come over to the UK if you had the chance?
Jessi: My god yeah, my best friend is actually from London. I love England and I would be over there as soon as I am given the opportunity.
JD: So apart from the album, what’s next from Jessi Malay?
Jessi: In music or in my life?
JD: Urm both? hehe.
Jessi: I'm working on acting, I'm working on acting too, I'm doing that as well. I am trying to do the whole triple threat. I am taking acting classes and I'm getting into that and going on a few auditions next week. In my life, my life is basically this album, getting it ready to getting out there, getting my performances in tiptop shape because that’s my main passion. Seriously my passion in life is live performing and I haven’t been doing it on a big scale for almost three years now, I’m missing it, I’m just making sure its in gear so by the time its out I will be ready.
JD: What are your three top songs at the moment?
Jessi: I love the new Snoop and R. Kelly song, I like the whole album actually, I love Ludacris' "Runaway Love," I love the message of that song and I like the video a lot too. "Runaway Love" that’s a good track and Polow the producer I think is amazing and "Promise" by Ciara, which is also by Polow.
JD: And finally, have you got any comments for our readers?
Jessi: Just come see me perform as soon as you can because I want to perform for everyone. I want everyone to come and see me at some point because that’s when you are really going to understand what I am about.
