Written by Susie Salva
17-year-old dynamo and American Idol runner up Jessica Sanchez releases her debut CD, “Me, You & The Music,” on 19 Recordings/Interscope Records shows off her insane range of vocal prowess and sensitivity. Born and raised in Chula Vista, California she has devoted her life to honing the vocal versatility on this rousing Pop/Dance material on “Me, You & The Music.”
“I started singing when I was two,” says Sanchez who lists Mariah Carey, Etta James and Ray Charles among her musical influences. Sanchez soared to knew highs belting out amazing ballads as one of the bests Idol contestants with those powerhouse pipes and high energy dance-pop.
With its mix of slick beats and infectious melodies, “Me, You & The Music,” announces Sanchez as a masterfully-voiced songstress ready to rule the dance floor. The lead single, “Tonight,” features Ne-Yo perfectly embodies the albums blend of electro-dance and escapist pop. Lead track, “Tonight,” is high energy up beat and a viable dance track starts off with Ne-You vocals ready to crush the dance-floor. I feel very blessed to have worked with Ne-Yo — he’s just so gifted,” says Sanchez of the shimmering, club-ready, “Tonight.” “Right to Fall,” the lead track spins around one of many loves songs on the disc another instant anthem, the album opening “Right to Fall,” matches its fiercely romantic lyrics and larger than life beats.
“Don’t Come Around,” infuses Tom Petty’s major hit, “Don’t Come Around Here No More,” with a Rasta-pop and overtones of Beyonce expressing the need to end the relationship into a brilliantly catch kis-off. “Crazy Glue,” a sensual ballad demonstrating her ability to meld ballads and dance music. Another song with relationships issues hanging onto what exists holding onto the glue that keeps the lovers together. Rounding out the album are soulful, hearr-on-sleeve ballad found in “Crazy Glue and “Plastic Roses,” and with the help of Prince Royce as he lends his songwriting expertise with two collaborations (the frenetic, synth-soaked “No One Compares,”) and an alternative version in Spanish.
“No One Compares,” Prince Royce’s fierce dance track deals with a relationship that doesn’t compare with the previous relationship and of being inclusive Sanchez has recorded this song in Spanish.
“Jessica Sanchez is one of the best voices I have ever worked with,” says Toby Gad (whose past credits include Fergie, Alicia Keys, and Kelly Clarkson. “I hear Beyonce, Jazmine Sullivan in her but also a new tone, completely relaxed but powerful and authentic through her wide range. I have been a fan from the first time I saw her on Idol and I am thankful that I could be part of this exciting project. I think we are witnessing the beginning a long career. The 2014 Grammys should be hers for the best new vocal.”
As a young ingénue she explains how she would take whatever opportunity that came by her to sing in front of people. At age 10 she performed Aretha Franklin’s “Respect,” on an episode of Showtime as the Apollo. A year later she competed on the premiere season of America’s Got Talent, reaching the wild-card round before getting cut. “American’s Got Talent was sort of an experiment,” she says. “It helped me realize the importance of pushing myself and not giving up, not letting anything hold me back from going after my dreams.” Sanchez is also gearing up for a recurring guest appearance on the fourth season of Glee.
Despite her fabulously hectic schedule, Sanchez reserves her most fiery enthusiasm for the release of “Me, You & The Music. “Putting together the album, it was really important for me to try to capture all the things we go through in this life–falling in love, breaking up, trying to make your dreams come true — but also create something fun and catchy with great beats,” says Sanchez. “Now that it’s finally time to share it with the world. I’m so excited to open everything up to who I really am,” she continues. “Music has always been what I want to do with my life, and these songs are all am.”
