Little Spark, the new album from Jessie Baylin, carries a classic pop tone that evokes memories of the Brill Building and Laurel Canyon in the '70s while retaining a decidedly modern, empowered worldview. It's a stunningly gorgeous record.
After negotiating her way out of a major label deal, a newly independent Jessie was ready to create on her terms.
To make Little Spark, she hired producer Kevin Augunas, who helped her gather some of the most empathetic musicians she could find, including old-school guitar man Waddy Wachtel, veteran drummer Jim Keltner, Greg Leisz on pedal steel, the Watson Twins on backup vocals and famed Emmy & Grammy winning string arranger Jimmie Haskell (Elvis Presley, Simon & Garfunkel, Bobby Gentry). But it was modern-day auteur and multi-instrumentalist Richard Swift who was Little Sparks chief arranger and with Swift, Kevin, and the musicians in place, Jessie had her creative collaborators and co-conspirators. Little Spark is self-released by Jessie on her imprint Blonde Rat.