Jess Williamson Waxes Majestic with Native State [stream]

Jess Williamson – Blood Song SoundCloud

From what I’ve read of Jess Williamson, she, like many of us, had to leave her hometown to come to appreciate it. In January, she released a seven-track album called Native State. It’s obvious from the first track that she’s the type of person who is deeply affected by her environment. Her newfound awe for the natural beauty of Texas seeps into her sound. That sense of wonder, combined with a broken heart, makes for a listening experience that pulls you in and keeps you there.

At times, Williamson’s voice flits away wildly before deciding to return, much in the same way Angel Olsen’s does. There’s an alluring sense of vulnerability that hits you in a similar way as Soko’s whisper confessions do, but ultimately it’s Williamson’s presentation that forces us to set all comparisons aside and just listen. A lot of that has to do with her inflection as she sings phrases like, “But when you’re gone, you’ll be tattooed under the mountains on my arm.” She makes sure to transfer every ounce of feeling into each syllable. All elements of the song, the banjo in particular, are atmospheric and delicate, their centerpiece being her introspective lines about the end of a relationship and the beginning of a new perspective.

If you’ve never heard Jess Williamson before now, then take it from me — find the time and space to drink in her entire stunning aesthetic, but in the meantime listen to “Blood Song” above.