And though there are (many) outfit changes tonight, including the obligatory ‘street’ gear for Dizze Rascal collab ‘Wild’, it does seem like Jessie has, gulp, grown as an artist in the last year. Ditching the stylist – and the booze – has clearly had a positive effect on the 25-year-old, who oozes both confidence and charm.
And then there’s the voice. Whether or not she’s your cup of tea, Jessica Cornish can sing. In a world of oft Auto-Tuned manufactured bubblegum bands, it’s refreshing to hear such a genuine talent belting out the high notes. New album Alive gets an airing, as does debut Who You Are, meaning we get the feisty numbers (‘Sexy Lady’), the aforementioned hippity hop (‘Wild’), and of course... dun dun dun... the ballads (‘Breathe’, ‘Nobody’s Perfect’).
Be warned: with ballads comes cheese. Lots of it. Jessie is all about the inspiration and positivity, which of course is nice, though she comes on a bit strong at times. “Promise me you’ll never stop drawing,” she almost tearfully urges a young fan in the front row. “People say I’m cheesy and silly”, she continues, “but I just want to bring positivity into the world.” Genuine warmth or contrived marketing ploy? Either way, her young fans are thrilled with tonight’s performance, and leave on a high. Call us crazy, but Hot Press must admit to feeling all warm and fuzzy inside too.