Flower-Powered Artist - July 2006
Feature page revamp - December 2006

Courtney Jaye

Courtney Jaye is an indie pop singer-songwriter born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Courtney spent most of her life growing up and gaining musical roots in Atlanta, where a death of a friend inspired her to begin writing music as an outlet for her grief. After graduating from high school, she moved to Flagstaff, Arizona - where she joined her first band.

After a years worth of gigs and informal musical education in Flagstaff, Courtney moved to Kauai, Hawaii, where she spent her time surfing and writing songs, many of which would form the backbone of her first album.

Traveling Light was released June 7, 2005 under Island Records. The album was produced by Peter Collins (Indigo Girls, Jewel, Elton John) and features a studio band of handpicked musicians, including drummer Jerry Marotta (Peter Gabriel, Tears for Fears, John Mayer) and guitarist Rusty Anderson (Ednaswap, Paul McCartney). The album features collaborations with several known industry talents with the likes of Matthew Sweet, the Jayhawks' Gary Louris, Butch Walker and former Veruca Salt co-leader Nina Gordon.

Courtney's latest work - a new EP, titled 'Til It Bleeds, was produced by Gary Louris of The Jayhawks as well as Brad Smith and Christopher Thorn of Blind Melon. Musicians who played on the album include Jonny Polonsky (Dixie Chicks, Neil Diamond) and Tim OReagan (The Jayhawks). The record was mixed by veteran engineer Jim Scott (Ryan Adams, Wilco, Lucinda Williams). The upcoming full-length in 2007 is called Bamboo Moon.

KGRL Courtney Jaye Interview

KGRL had a chance to go on a very intimate one on one interview with Courtney Jaye. The interview was held in Club 20/20 - 08.10.06.

Listen to Courtney Jaye's responses in High Quality MP3 Stream using the player below:




Transcription excerpt from the interview:

KGRL: Being an Indie artist, do you foresee yourself signing up under a Major Record Label if given full creative control over your work?

Courtney Jaye: You know what, I don't think it's an issue of creative control anymore. I think with the state of the music industry, as it is, I really think the major labels are going to be obsolete pretty soon. I think it comes down to, if you can do it independently - it is harder but at the end of the day I think you're able to make those key decisions without having to go through ten different people in the label - and that can get frustrating.

I don't know, it's one of those questions I can't really answer because it comes down to, for me, anybody that understands what I'm trying to do and supports it 100%. My last label obviously wasn't the case so, yeah I'm a little scarred from that. I prefer to do everything I can independently from now on.


-> READ the full transcript along with high/low quality mp3 of the Interview by Clicking Here! <-

Follow The Traveling Light
A Mini Review Of Traveling Light

It was probably a blessing in disguise during that one humid night when the power went off, because it was when realization set in on how infectious Courtney Jaye songs are. It was during that dull night that I found myself lying in bed staring into darkness and caught myself humming a tune. It really sounds familiar but I can't place it. It was then that I remembered a CD, given by a friend, which has not received the attention it so truly deserves. It was Courtney Jaye's Traveling Light CD. When power came back on, I couldn't resist popping it in the CD player. Geared with the headphone, I then began listening to something so beautiful and infectiously catchy, which I would have otherwise missed have I been so pre-occupied. So it is as it should be from that experience, I have followed from darkness a traveling light.

Since that experience, Courtney Jaye has then become one of the best independent pop icons in our list. With her amazingly sensual voice to boot, perfectly suited for pop, and skillfully crafted melodies and lyrics there's no reason not to love the songs from Traveling Light. We believe that it would be a shame not to be exposed to a talent of one such as CJ, which is why we give this month's Flower-Powered Artist section to this darling.

The songs in her album, Traveling Light, vary from upbeat (such as the acoustically driven mildly hawaiian flavored Can't Behave) to heart-wrenching slow ballad (such as the song Can You Sleep which sounds akin to ballads of Marvelous 3 - and rightfully so, being that it was co-written by one of our favorites, Butch Walker). The album is filled to the brim with high quality pop songs such that it demands repeat playings till you decide to move on to the next song in the CD.

There is a lesson to be learned here, next time someone recommends something to you, be sure to at least give it a GOOD try. And it is with pride, that I am writing this now to you and recommending Courtney Jaye.

If you are a sucker for pop love songs, then go do yourself a favor and grab the Traveling Light CD, and let it be a very worthwhile introduction to Courtney's music.

Traveling Light - Buy It Now (Click Here)!

Tracklist:

Lose My Head
Can't Behave
Permanent
Mental
Time For Goodbye
Somersault
Traveling Light
Hanalei Road
Can You Sleep
Love Song (For Everyone)
This Is The Day
Love Me

'Til It Bleeds EP Review

A year and a half after Courtney Jaye's first effort comes the next step in her musical career, a 5-track EP titled 'Til It Bleeds. The new EP starts out with the title track, 'Til It Bleeds. This song sounds like it belongs with the materials from Traveling Light mood-wise (being a slow melancholic pop ballad) - and rightfully so, because this song was written around the same time. 'Til It Bleeds was the result of a musical collaboration between Nina Gordon and Courtney Jaye. Nina Gordon released the same song as the first single from her newly released CD, Bleeding Heart Graffiti. Nina's version was more of a rock version while Courtney's remained true to her roots of sounding roots-y and vintage-y.

Coulda Woulda Shoulda is a great acoustic guitar driven piece that coulda woulda shoulda please all CJ fans. The Sweetest Tune is rightfully named (or at least close to it). This is the most Hawaiian-influenced track in the CD in terms of both the delivery and instrumentation. The song is perfect to listen to on a hot summer's day while sitting on the beach and sipping your favorite beverage... totally relaxing.

I'm Gonna Make You Love Me heavily reminds of the tempo and catchiness of Traveling Light's Can't Behave. This song is a joy to listen to and is sure to make one groove to the beat - thanks to the standout marimba, bass and acoustic guitars, and lively percussions. The EP concludes with the song Dream In White, a very infectiously catchy song with a lovely chorus. One of the highlights in the song is a really cute "hee-hoo" after the bridge.

In closing, 'Til It Bleeds EP is a vibrant representation of CJ's stellar song-writing skill verging on the upbeat "happy" tones in contrast to the more melancholic Traveling Light. Courtney Jaye sure have delivered five wonderfully crafted songs that establishes a certain style and uniqueness enough to stand out from amongst today's pop ridden culture. The title track is a bit of a deviation from the rest of the songs in the EP, but is still within the tropical-sounding Hawaiian-influenced compositions. With the next album, already anticipated to be called Bamboo Moon, we are likely looking forward to more of these tropical-flavored lively pop sounding songs that are very pleasing and uplifting.

'Til It Bleeds EP

Tracklist:

'Til It Bleeds
Coulda Woulda Shoulda
The Sweetest Tune
I'm Gonna Make You Love Me
Dream In White

KGRL Exclusive Photos (CJ with Julianna Raye)

KGRL Exclusive Videos - Club 20/20 Performance 08.10.06

KGRL proudly presents an intimate evening with Courtney Jaye @ Club 20/20 - 08.10.06. The streams can be viewed using our embedded flash player. We do hope you enjoy these wonderful videos taken on the night of a cancelled show where CJ played with and for her friends.

*The flash videoplayer uses Javascript - be sure to enable it in your browsers.

Somersault Come Pick Me Up

Wildflowers 'Til It Bleeds

Time For Goodbye Can't Behave

I'm Gonna Make You Love Me

I Kiss You