Firesight isn't typical singer-songwriter fare. As cliche as it is to dub an artist as an "old soul," Jessie fully embodies the warmth and smooth familiarity of an aged musician. She has a weather-beaten and relaxed tremor in her voice, one with a dash of Fiona Apple and sprig of Dolly Parton while boasting the country-pop sensibilities of Carrie Underwood and some blase Joni Mitchell emotiveness. To say the least, Jessie doesn't sound like a rookie on her second album - she sounds like she's been around for a while, and if Firesight is any indication, she's got a whole lot more to offer.On Firesight, Jessie channels the soft coos and mellow disposition of the coffee shop-friendly Norah Jones on many of the tracks. "I'll Cry for the Both of Us," a smoky kiss-off ballad, reveals a deeper vulnerability with lyrics like "Don't know where these tears come from / And I don't know if they're yours or mine / Since you can barely feel a thing / I'll cry for the both of us this time."
Based off the strength of that magnificent track alone, Jessie conveys that in a sea of singer-songwriters, she undoubtedly shines with her artistic capability to both lyrically bare her soul and concurrently express that sentiment with her music. Other tracks like the piano-based "Lonely Heaven" and harmony-laden "Contradicting Words" show that she can keep her cool when the pace is slow or fast, displaying a versatility that never cracks even when she's most emotionally exposed.