Harpnotes

Hey y’all

We just finished with the last task for the first five tracks before they go to mix…

The incredibly talented Mr. Keith Urban played guitar on one of my songs this morning.  

The track sounds absolutely incredible and I CANNOT wait to finish this record!

I’m so appreciative to Keith for lending his talents, which was a last minute surprise for me! I had mentioned earlier about a guest appearance, and that is still hopefully happening on later tracks…

but this was wonderful.

Ok, just had to stop in and let you know how excited I am.  

Xo, JH

Hey guys!

I’ve just spent the last two days in the studio, and we are finished with the bulk of the first five tracks!  

Next week we’ll be spending more time on my favorite instruments (fiddle, dobro, mandolin, banjo, steel) and harmony vox, and then on to mixing. I’m hoping we’ll get to get started on the back half of the record in June, hopefully done July-ish, maybe August. 

I have been bummed the past several months that everything was taking so long, but I realize it was all for a reason, and I couldn’t be happier with where we’re at.

I absolutely cannot wait for you guys to hear this record! We’re only five songs in and I’m so proud of it. It’s a very liberating feeling.

We have some video from day 1, which is being edited, so I should have it to you shortly. We’ll be shooting video throughout the process, so expect more to come after the first clip.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful spring. More to come soon!

Love,
Jess

I am bad…it has been a long while since I posted!

Life is good, but things have been moving very slowly. I guess when you’re working for a major record label and all record labels have lost and are continuing to lose money, you have to play the game and be overanalyzed and take each step carefully instead of just going in the studio and making your record for the love of Pete!

Anywho, I will most absolutely and definitely be knocking out the first half of my record in April, and then hopefully (everyone cross your fingers with me here) we will release the first single - which we pretty much all agree on - I will finish up in May/June, and then finally hit the road to do a radio tour.I’m told there’s still I good chance I will have a fall release for my record.

This has all been a very long and frustrating process for me, because it’s completely out of my control. BUT, we’re moving forward, finally.

I have had to change producers for reasons I really don’t need to get in to. Byron and I won’t be doing the record together, but I adore him, he is awesome, and we will hopefully work together in the future.

So Jerry Flowers, a close family friend, a completely talented musician/singer/producer/songwriter, currently touring in Keith Urban’s band, will be taking the honors. Everything in the process has really come full circle, because Jerry has been here since day one - he co-wrote many of the songs that will be on the record. And he and I are certain we’re going to make my dream record.

So there! That’s quite an update for you! Not the “I’m in the studio!” update I would like to be typing, but only a couple more weeks.

And we will definitely be having a Operation Record Making camera with us at all times, so you guys will be getting all sorts of fun little visuals from the studio. And then hopefully a first single and all that goes with very, very shortly after.

Phew! All that said, Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!! As an Irishwoman myself, I think I’m going to go drink a Harp beer in honor of that long blog update. You all have a wonderful day, be safe,  don’t drink and drive, and hang in there with me!!

Lovingly,

JH 

Hey all!

Just popping by to let you know that things are still rolling for me musically, but my time in the studio has been pushed back another month, due to people’s schedules. I do, however, have a boatload of material, and this will only give me time to write more! Box set, anyone? :0) For now, I’m just writing, enjoying my downtime, living normal life. It is a nice break, I have to say!I will keep you posted on things, and let you know as soon as I’m headed back in to the studio!

Love, Jessica

P.S. Thanks a ton for all the well wishes, wedding and otherwise. :) 

(Warning: you will not want to read this blog if you don’t want to read a bunch of mushy gushy lovey dovey nonsense.)

Hello friends,

For those who don’t know yet, I am getting married in the very near future. Planning weddings I found to be very easy until now, when it seems all the last minute details are starting to pile up, conveniently at a time when I am also making a record and trying to get Christmas shopping done, etc., etc. I’ve been slightly on the stressed side lately. However, today, when two of my favorite photographers (shh Weiser, you’re still my fave :)) posted some of our proposal/engagement photos from awhile back, it reminded me of the reasoning for all of this stress and why it’s worth it…I’m getting married to my best friend. (this is where you either say “Awww”…or make some kind of vomiting noise.)

I sort of had to think about sharing this link with you guys, as these photos are extremely personal to Jason and I…however many of you that come to this site and my boards have become very dear to me over the years, and I feel that you know me on a pretty personal level. (And np would have found it eventually, anyway.) Plus, they’re just so cool…Jason proposed to me at the Ryman Auditorium (the place that we met for the first time), with this huge blown up projection of our favorite photo of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash (who also met at the Ryman.) He had photographers on hand to catch the whole thing, and then we took photos all around the beautiful historic Ryman.

(You’ll also notice that I’m ghetto and used a few photos from this shoot of just me for my temporary website. What can I say? I don’t have new photos with the dark hair yet!)

So anywho. If you’d like to see a few of the 300 photos that came from that wonderful day, you can visit Sean & Mel McLellan’s blog (and be sure to use them if you’re in the Tennessee area and ever need incredible photos): 

http://www.mclellanblog.com/ 

And because I can, I’m gonna post one of my faves from the day that wasn’t included in what they posted. It’s in the dressing room where we first met. And I promise I won’t make another mushy blog like this for a long, long time. And if you don’t want to see a bunch of photos of kissing and happiness, you’ve been warned not to visit the site!!!!  ;)

More to post (about the record) soon!

Love, Jess

I just realized that some new people in the future may stumble upon this blog and wonder who this Weiser person is that I refer to so often.

She’s basically the queen of my website, message board, etc., and also one of the dearest friends I have. So, love the Weiser.

That is all.

Harp (better use that while I can. marriage…dun dun dun…)

PS I think I will use this as an opportunity to try out the photo posting option on this blogwith a tribute to Weiser.

...the last time I posted, I was raving about Lori McKenna…and I just spent two whole days writing with her!

I can’t even tell you how amazing she is. I think she’s my songwriting soulmate - considering we both despise writing songs of the tempo or happy nature. :0) It felt so good to write horribly sad songs, even though I’m madly in love and happy. I’m a weirdo.

I miss having smilies. Where are my smilies, you silly blog you? Maybe I overuse them, so Weiser took them away from me.

Anyway, I don’t have much important to say, I just had to brag about my writing partner. I should know by the end of the week my first dates to hit the studio. Can’t wait!!

Love, Jess 

P.S. I’m going to try to post on this blog often, but I’m sure y’all will have to hold me to it. I’ll always try to let you know when there’s a new one on the message board. 

P.S.S. A big thanks to Jess for my spankin new beautiful site, blog, and board. Xoxox  

It is. I really love Nashville. It’s so nice to spend time here again.

Last night I went to the famed Bluebird Cafe and was reminded yet again why I love Lori McKenna. *sigh* She is such an incredible singer and singwriter. I saw Leah and Jenna at the show! Great minds think alike I guess. Anyway, Lori & friends were playing for a benefit for MusiCares. Lori made me play a song, though honestly I was a bit horrified to sing at the same show as her. She’s so good!

So, I just wanted to drop in and give you a small update. I have a wonderful producer now, and he is free to start my record in January (maybe some in December). I feel good about this timeline. I’m writing and co-writing and listening to songs and I really don’t want to rush the process. I feel like everyone gets pressured to get their 2nd record out quickly, but this is really my FIRST record…and I want it to be great. I have a lot of new songs that I just can’t wait for you guys to hear…they’re me but they’re so fresh and new and…I don’t know, I guess they are the new me. The happy me. (But don’t worry, that doesn’t mean you’re going to get a record full of happy songs, by any means. ;))

Honestly, I’m pretty quick in the studio once I get through this pre-production process - so I’m really hoping I’ll have a record out to you by early summer. But I will of course keep you posted along the way.

In the meantime, I am planning a wedding and spending time with my family and friends and just enjoying life!

Thanks everyone for sticking around and supporting me like you always do. I hope I don’t let you down.

Love,
Jess