Jesse Dozzi is an Australian now resident in Nashville, she was in a band with her two sisters called Dozzi! Now it seems that she is striking out solo and in "Love's Like That" is a statement of intent that suggests she may do rather well.
There's a slight raspiness to her vocals that #TEAMw21 love and there's a lovely inventive lyrical touch - take this for an opening
"Love's like that pair of blue jeans
That you keep hoping you'll fit someday
Love is like that Tarantino movie
You've seen once, don't make sense till it does
Watch it a couple of times - now it's your favourite one"
They are niche references yet ones that land perfectly with us! Everyone has that garment in their wardrobe that they will shrink back into one day - and most Tarantino films need a second viewing to truly savour them.
The chorus is an explosion of sound and if you thought there would be any slackening of the lyrics you'd be wrong as Jesse ponders on the mysteries of love.
"Some days you wanna wave that white flag - some nights you wanna call it quits
Some times you don't wanna but you fight back, it drives you crazy but love's like that
You plan it out then your plans get hijacked - think your headlights have hit a dead end
Then the wrong turn, turns into the right track
It's a ride but loves like that"
The second verse continues making observations that are just that little different from traditional Nashville fare, ones that seem vividly real to Jesse and therefore us.
"Loves like that one song you turn off when it came on but now you turn it up
It's a summer fling - it's a diamond ring
It's the first time with your first love at seventeen"
With a great lead guitar sound that floats across the overall sound and punchy percussion - this is a bit of superior pop country that leaves us wanting for more.
Jesse's only other solo release is the equally magnificent "Thought It'd Be Different" though this one comes without the big musical chorus as it is performed unplugged.
Instead we get some magnificent mandolin and a faint piano sound over which Jesse releases a stream of consciousness. It's a pained troubled vocal perfectly capturing the mood of the lyrics.
"It's Friday night, the first one in a while
I ain't happy thinking about anybody else but myself
Looking in the mirror, I'm a little older than I was
Last time I tried to put myself out there, I was someone else
There's supposed to be a weight off my back
All I can think about is that"
Out of a relationship and suddenly finding that the new found freedoms actually bring their own restrictions, Jesse sums up the paradox perfectly in the chorus
"I thought it'd be different
That all this space wouldn't kill me
There wouldn't still be something that's missing
But when I look around at all this freedom I've found
That I wouldn't be wishing I listened to that voice up in my head and
Slept on it cos I got what I wanted
Just thought it'd be different.
There's an undoubted ability to really vividly portray real emotions that runs through Jesse's writing, that sets her apart.
The second verse carries on that theme of being wary of what you wish for.
"I used to think about sleeping with this stranger
and now I could if I want to
Don't sound as fun
At the time it felt like I was doing us a favour"
The second chorus sees the volume gradually build, but it is still Jesse's vocal up front in the mix that holds the attention. There's a male voice echoing Jesse's words, that just keeps the dynamic fresh.
There's no great resolution, no happy ever after - this song is effectively a moments musing on choices made and facing up to the consequences. It is strong mature writing beautifully captured with the most sympathetic of backing.
These two releases really announce Jesse's solo career and on this evidence we expect to watch it fly.