A folk troubadour whose talents have been lauded on the national and international scene for almost a decade, Jess Klein writes songs that tell the story of the soul – from wrenching heartbreak to finding the strength to pick up and move on.
Now, on her seventh studio album, Bound To Love, Jess Klein has created an Americana gem that speaks to the troubadour in all of us. Inspired by a move to Austin in summer of 2008, she evokes the dusty roots of Texas songwriters and melds them into her own blend of spot-on, speak-to-the-heart lyrics, percussive guitar and a voice as sweet as it is strong.
Jess Klein emerged from the Boston music scene in 1998 with her independent release, Wishes Well Disguised, but it was her later releases – 2000’s Draw Them Near, 2005’s Strawberry Lover and 2006’s City Garden that would capture the attention of critics and fans worldwide.
The New York native picked up the acoustic guitar and started writing songs while living as a student abroad in Kingston, Jamaica in her late teens. Her first songs reflected a bittersweet culture shock as well as the warmth and musical vibrancy of these new surroundings.
Klein returned to the states, moved to Boston, and began performing locally. After independently releasing her first two albums, winning the Telluride Troubadour Songwriting Contest, and garnering several Boston Music Award nominations, Klein was spotted and signed to Rykodisc in 2000 by then-president George Howard. Her first release for Ryko, Draw Them Near, [3.5 stars, USA Today], launched Klein on a worldwide tour where, among other highlights, her relaxed confidence and rootsy soulfulness wowed 70,000 attendees at the Fuji Rock Festival in Japan.
Klein returned to the U.S. and joined the songwriter collective Voices on the Verge, along with Erin McKeown, Rose Polenzani, and Beth Amsel. The foursome was featured on Good Morning America performing Klein’s song “Little White Dove,” and drew sold out crowds in small theaters across the U.S. to their feet nightly with their blend of harmonies and eclectic styles. Looking for a new phase in her creative life, Jess moved to New York and recorded her second solo effort for Ryko. Strawberry Lover [2005], produced by former RCA recording artist Marc Copely. Strawberry Lover debuted as the No. 1 most added album at triple A radio a week before its release, was given four stars by MOJO, a plug from the nearly 80 million readership Parade, and within weeks of its release, the emotive and sensual title track was named one of the “Top Ten Sexiest Songs of the Moment” by the NY Daily News. In 2006, Klein released the blues and Motown influenced City Garden on indie label United For Opportunity. The album was given an impressive five stars by MOJO Magazine and described by Roots Music UK as having “The best roots sound of any album heard this year.” This album took Klein several times to the UK where she toured solo as well as with Erin McKeown. In 2007 Klein followed up with Live At Mo Pitkin’s House of Satisfaction, which featured some of her best songs in a stripped-down, live setting. Ready for a major change, Klein packed her bags and moved to Austin, TX in 2008. There she immersed herself in local culture – taking up residence in a small community of long-standing Austin roots music staples. She began writing and testing songs out to small groups of fans at local club gigs, and in December 2008 she went into the studio to record her seventh studio album, Bound To Love.
Recorded at The Aerie in Austin, TX with producers Mark Addison and Scrappy Jud Newcomb during December 2008 and January 2009, Bound To Love, shines as her most confident work to date. From jubilant anthems to delicate and beautiful moments, the running theme is moving to a new and better place – emotionally, geographically and more.
In the opening track, “When The Times Comes,” Klein croons, “I’m free / Nothing is expected of me,” over building guitar and drums before belting “I’ll be ready when the time comes!” over a triumphant horn section. And in the reverb soaked “It Will Come To Me” she revisits this sense of confidence and self-awareness when she sings, “I’m going where it will come to me / A bigger ship in a broader sea / And it will come / And I’ll jump on.”
If City Garden was Klein finding solace in Motown and old blues, Bound To Love is self-remedy in Americana and country; it’s kickin’ up some dirt in the south and sweating out your worries on the back porch.
Bound To Love was released September 15, 2009 on new model indie label United For Opportunity. Jess will hit the road supporting the release with dates along the east coast and then the UK and Ireland. Newly signed to TBArtists for booking, she’ll be touring extensively in support of the record over the next two years.
