Canadian singer-songwriter Jessia has quickly become a prominent figure in pop music, finding impressive levels of success through her fusion of catchy pop melodies and relatable, heartfelt lyrics.

Emerging in 2021 with her breakout hit "I'm Not Pretty," Jessia has consistently demonstrated a knack for creating empowering anthems that speak to personal experiences and universal themes. Her debut EP How Are You? received widespread acclaim, showcasing her ability to craft songs with extreme vulnerability. Her follow-up project, Okay With Every Part (which dropped in mid-2024), further reinforced her place in the industry, reflecting her sonic and thematic growth as an artist who’s open to exploring new musical territories.

Now, her latest track "I'm Not Gonna Cry" continues this trend, offering a message of resilience and strength — however, its ‘80s pop production and infectious uptempo energy make the song as vibrant as it is reflective. Having amassed over 400 million streams, embarked on various tours, and dropped her newest interpretation of pop music, we’re chatting with Jessia about this liberating chapter of her career.

“I’m Not Gonna Cry” was designed as an anthem of empowerment – can you share the inspiration behind the song and what you hope listeners take away from it?

Jessia: It’s definitely an empowerment song! It’s about finding strength in the moments when you feel like you’re on the verge of a breakdown, but you need to push through it. It’s a fun, uplifting bop that encourages listeners to dance their worries away!

“I’m Not Gonna Cry” also focuses on resilience. How does that theme ultimately resonate with your personal journey and experiences in the music industry?

Jessia: We all have days where you need to show up and show face, no matter how we’re feeling. There have definitely been days with my job where I just want to stay in bed and shut the world out, but I wrote this song as a way of shining light and flipping the narrative to something positive.

You've recently completed your first-ever headline tour across the US and Canada. How did that experience compare to your initial expectations?

Jessia: It was so incredibly fun! I got to see some new faces and some familiar faces! It’s always amazing meeting the fans after the show and being able to hear their stories about how my music has affected them. That’s something that never gets old for me.

Your music often blends infectious pop melodies with heartfelt lyrics. That being said, how would you describe your core sound?

Jessia: I would say my music is very conversational. Sonically it’s very pop-leaning, but I want it to feel like you’re reading a page ripped straight out of my diary.

Since your breakout hit “I’m not Pretty,” your career has skyrocketed. What’s probably the biggest change you experienced since transitioning from an emerging artist to gaining global recognition?

Jessia: I think just diving in and sustaining the artist lifestyle is the biggest change. I was working in a pasta restaurant before “I’m not Pretty” took off and my whole life changed. The biggest changes have been not ending my workday at 6 pm, constantly flying to different time zones and having to adjust, sustaining creativity, working around the complexities of the music industry, the highs and lows of mental health… The list goes on, but it really was a full lifestyle change overnight!

Your debut EP How Are You? was widely acclaimed. How did the success of that project influence your approach to your sophomore EP, Okay With Every Part?

Jessia: How Are You? was written after a breakup that shattered me. It came from a more bitter and juvenile place than my sophomore EP, Okay With Every Part. I wrote Okay With Every Part once I’d worked through a lot of ups and downs and had come to terms with the frustrations in my life. It was written more from the perspective of being out of the storm and reflecting back, while How Are You? was written while I was very much still in the eye of the storm.

Can you tell us more about the creative freedom you experienced while working on your latest EP, Okay With Every Part? How did this independence shape the final product?

Jessia: Being independent is both the most exciting and terrifying thing! I love the freedom and being able to release any song I want, and I truly believe in each of those songs on that EP. I feel a lot closer to Okay With Every Part than I have with anything I’ve released before. It’s definitely where I found my signature sound.