Jessica Jarrell In Spotlight With "Up & Running"

There's a new influx of Island Def Jam signees hitting up the music scene as of late. And here's one of them. 15-year old Los Angeles-based Pop/R&B artist Jessica Jarrell premieres her new music video for "Up And Running," which hits pop and rhythm radio formats across the country on June 21. The video produced by hit making duo, The Runners, was also shot in New York on June 21, as her single is impacting at radio. To hear Jarrell's new single, tune into AOL Radio's New Pop First station.
Jarrell was born to sing although it took awhile before anyone noticed. At age 11, her friends dragged her to the auditions for their school's Christmas play. "We went for fun so I auditioned for one solo part and ended up getting two," she recalls. "My mom was shocked. She came to rehearsals and cried when she heard me." Jarrell is also a seasoned young songwriter. She draws inspiration for her lyrics from her family, teenage experiences at school and in her budding music career as well as her daydreams. "Words are spinning in my head," she said about the 'old soul' perspective of her writing. "I hope everyone can have fun listening to it, but I hope everyone will learn something because they can relate to what I'm singing about too!"
Now she'll see if she can make his Beliebers into hers with her debut album and new single "Up and Running," In new video, the Mercury newcomer croons about being ready jump into a new, exciting relationship. Over strobing backbeats, the track is accessorized with Jarrell's Rhianna-sounding "Aye, Aye"s and rap interludes by recent solo artist and Gym Class Heroes MC Travie McCoy. The the playful video also shows label-mate Aaron Fresh trying to win her heart, only to lose to teen rapper Diggy Simmons. Jarrell has such an amazing voice and a really old soul for someone still in high school. It's impressive to listen to the lyrics because the song come from such a young and innocent place but feel very mature at the same time.
Jarrell's "Up and Running" provides listeners with three-and-a-half minutes of sheer dance-pop liveliness and guilty-pleasure appeal. At 15, the young California singer sets soft, plainspoken vocals against a hurried disco beat, is hardly of age to hit the clubs, but she sounds perfectly at home singing about partying until the sun rises. Her voice sounds eerily similar to Rihanna's on the Barbadian star's early singles, which only adds to the song's appeal. Gym Class Heroes front-man Travie McCoy modernizes the song-which harks back to the '90s-with his guest spot, adding some needed edge to what might otherwise sound like a retread. Jarrell has witnessed teen idolatry firsthand after touring with her label-mate Justin Bieber and her R&B pop sound is a perfect asset to Bieber.