Jesse Palter’s latest LP Paper Trail exemplifies why she is the perfect artist to bridge the musical gap between the genres of alternative rock and modern pop: her voice is powerful, her talent immeasurable and her songwriting prowess evident from the first track.

Palter’s sassy, old-school sound might remind listeners of the Girl Power heydays of the nineties, where starlets such as Shania Twain, Britney Spears and the Spice Girls stunned audiences and critics alike with their incredible attitude, immense confidence and a catchy, infectious voice that got everyone to their feet. 

One of the most significant singles from this new album, Heavy is the Crown immediately starts off with an electric bass riff, a roaring beat that infuses the song with a no-nonsense energy as Palter’s potent voice takes over. Must get lonely living out of spite---she sings, wearing bold red on her lips and a sequined jacket dripping with glamour. Palter is letting her listeners know that she is not one to mess around with, and that she will call out misogyny when she has to. The all-female band jamming in the background of the video underlines the theme of Girl Power that Palter has brought back to reclaim and perpetuate. It’s never too late to own own identity and values, as Palter so gorgeously communicates through her music. 

Whereas Heavy is the Crown has got a bold, boisterous feeling around it, The Wrong Girl, yet another single off the album, is oozing with a hazy, Old-West, cinematic charisma---the kind that flows and warms for miles along the wind. The low piano chord bolsters the dramatics, as she holds back and drags through the notes, her voice incredibly controlled yet bursting with verve. You’re messing with the wrong girl---she warns to her audience, as she is backed up by an amazing band. Once again, Palter is determined to fight back against the haters or anyone who dares to steal her spotlight. She knows what she is worth, and there is no fighting a woman who is ready to claim what is hers.

 Pop    Alt-rock