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A Songwriter and a Wrecker: Jessica Harp.
Jessica Harp is a singer-songwriter born and raised in Kansas City. She is one half of the Wreckers (with Michelle Branch), and has just finished a cross-country tour with her. Jessica recently called from Memphis to talk about writing love songs when she was eight, Kelly Clarkson, and being a barbeque traitor.
You are touring with Michelle Branch; do you remember the first time you performed with her?
Years and years ago. [Laughs] We’ve been friends for about five years. We met when we were both just teenagers with websites, promoting our independent records. She went on getting signed to Maverick and when I wasn’t busy with my own stuff I’d end up going out on the road with her. In the beginning [it was] just to hang out, but I eventually started singing backup for her. We’d always written together and loved singing together so eventually we decided to start a band.
You started writing songs at thirteen. Do you remember what you wrote your first song about?
I actually still have lyrics from my first songs from when I was seven or eight.
Ebay!
Exactly! I don’t really know what they were about. My imagination of what love was. I was a hopeless romantic even at the age of eight years old. [Laughs]
Do you have a certain process that you follow with your
music? Do you do lyrics first?
When I first started writing when I was really young, before I learned how to play guitar, I was definitely more about lyrics. These days it varies. Sometimes, I’ll sit down and just play the guitar, and find a melody that I like. Occasionally, I’ll have stockpiles of lyrics sitting around.
You collect “Do Not Disturb” signs from hotels. How many
do you have?
Wow, I don’t know. I got several more from this last tour. I don’t have the latest count.
Do you have any musical guilty pleasures?
Avril Lavigne’s latest record I really love.
It is good.
I actually love Kelly Clarkson’s new stuff as well.
Lavigne
actually co-wrote some of that. You can hear it too…
Definitely.
It’s good, but you can hear it.
Living in Nashville, that’s something I really want to get into is writing for other people as well.
Who would you want to write for?
I actually have some songs that would be pretty decent for Kelly Clarkson or Avril Lavigne
Born and raised.
I’m from KC.
Awesome.
I’ve been asked this question a couple of times and what’s funny is since I’ve spent a lot of time in Tennessee, I’ve got a lot of friends in Memphis. I have to say after growing up on Kansas City barbeque, Memphis barbeque kicks Kansas City’s butt. I might be a traitor, but it does.
You’re gonna have to try Memphis barbeque sometime. I think you will agree with me. I never thought I’d be a traitor. The barbeque sauce down here is sweeter and I like the sweeter sauce. KC’s is more bitter.
I know. However, I’m still loyal to the Chiefs. The Titans are my new team, but I will always be loyal to the Chiefs.
Describe yourself in three words.
I’m never good at these questions.
I’m not either.
I always sit here and try to come up with something clever.
I’m sorry to put you on the spot.
Let’s see, I’m loyal, goofy and curious.
I was reading that your album might be coming out on Maverick at some point this year. The Wreckers’ album will come out on Maverick this summer. This summer, I’m also recording my solo record, which will come out the first of next year.
The thing that I like about your music is that it works on a lot of musical levels.
Believe it or not that was actually a problem for a long time. When I was first starting out, the labels were like” What do we do with you? Do we take you here or do we take you there?”
You’ve got a lot of bases covered. You’ve got a pretty hardcore fan base too.
I’ve got crazy, awesome fans. I don’t think of them as fans, they’re my pals.
They don’t do crazy stuff. They’re just so sweet. The whole time I was out on the road, they would send me letters and stuffed animals; little things to make me smile throughout the day.
My whole message board actually pooled together for my Christmas present. It was a Simon Card, a gift certificate that you can spend anywhere. It was an insane amount. That was really, really sweet. They all sent me personalized cards and letters. That was a really good Christmas gift.
