New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Jessie Wagner has dropped a new holiday single titled "What Christmas Is To Me."
Wagner says, "Christmas is my favorite time of year because it always brings my family and friends closer. I know that this year has made that difficult, but I still have the memories to hold on to and I'm grateful for all the time I've shared with those I love. That's what this song is about. Thank you Scott
Martin for helping me create the music. Thank you Jorgen Kjaer for building the song up with your beautiful additions. And thank you Rob Liano for bringing it home with all the final touches. You guys really came through for me at the last minute to bring this to life. If you didn't see this on Soundwaves TV yesterday, here you go!"
The in-demand touring vocalist
Jessie Wagner (Lenny Kravitz, Chic, Duran Duran,
Little Steven and the
Disciples of Soul) and frontwoman for NYC rock/soul band Army of the Underdog released her critically acclaimed debut solo album 'Shoes Droppin' earlier this year via Wicked Cool Records.
What
Others Are Saying Saying About
Jessie Wagner:
"Ranging from the gritty power of
Etta James and
Aretha Franklin to the gentle sentimentality of
Roberta Flack and
Barbara Lewis,
Jessie Wagner captures the energy of Stax and the sophistication of Motown.. a stunning debut that celebrates the past and heralds a promising future for Soul music." - The Alternate Root Magazine
" It vibes with a slick, cool aura, every track outdone by the proceeding one. It is killer without filler, oozing with the confidence..."- Big Takeover
"...could be the cure for the bleakness that is 2020. At the very least, we've got a fun soundtrack."- American Songwriter
"Vocalist
Jessie Wagner can make any music soar"- Goldmine
"With its charming acoustic rhythms and drums, this beautifully written song simultaneously seems like an apology/non-apology to those you care about while dealing with relationship growth."- Folknrock
"Coolest Song In The World!"- Underground Garage
"One Of The Best Musical Surprises Of 2020"- Phil's Picks
"Jessie Wagner's vocals have heightened the music of artists like Kid Rock, Lenny Kravitz, Chic,
Duran Duran and others. On Wagner's new album, "Shoes Droppin," her vocal talents once again have a chance to truly soar."- Goldmine
It's been a long journey to center stage for
Jessie Wagner. Having gained her greatest exposure to date by singing songs everyone knows the words to, on some of the world's biggest stages, it's only now, through sharing her own triumphs and pain, that the spotlight is shining directly on her at last.
After logging thousands of miles as an in-demand vocalist on tour with Lenny Kravitz, Chic, Duran Duran,
Kid Rock and most recently
Little Steven and The
Disciples Of Soul,
Jessie Wagner reveals a very personal collection of songs with Shoes Droppin', her debut solo album for Wicked Cool Records.
Displaying an impressive range encompassing bluesy R&B, neo-soul, acoustic balladry and rock a la John Mayer's more confessional side, Shoes maintains a unified sound rooted in '60s and '70s style production. The songs trace times of darkness and redemption for the Norfolk, Virginia native, now based in New York City, who also fronts the rock/soul band Army of the Underdog.
Recorded during downtime from the
Little Steven world tour, the album was produced by drummer Dave Diamond (Bob Weir, Derek Trucks) with engineer Chris Laybourne. Seasoned soul guitarist Sherrod Barnes has the most co-writes with six; he's previously written for or with Beyoncé,
Angie Stone and
Ashanti as well as recording with Whitney Houston,
Roberta Flack and
Queen Latifah. The album's striking horn arrangements are by longtime
Little Steven cohort Eddie Manion, who's also worked with Bob Dylan,
Diana Ross and Darlene Love.
"This album really addresses every aspect of me as an artist. I don't settle well in any box. I've hinted at that with my rock band Army of the Underdog. But this really shows my versatility - or my schizophrenia! I like that It's honest and playful, with touches of hopelessness, but also the idea of redemption and faith."
