Free download: JESSIE BAYLIN "WAS I ON YOUR MIND"
Singer Jessie Baylin is longtime BFF to Scarlett Johansson—who makes no bones about standing front-and-center to support her gal pal when she's giggin' in Tinseltown—and the source of some well-documented inter-band controversy after becoming engaged to Kings of Leon drummer Nathan Followill.
But neither of these associations are at all necessary to make Baylin the belle of the music industry's ball; that she's capable of all on her own. With a hand from Grammy winner Jesse Harris and Whiskeytown's Mike Daly, the blonde bombshell writes love songs with a bite and delivers each of them with a voice that's washed in twang (a byproduct of her recent relocation to Nashville?) and soulful enough to stand up to Rumours-era Stevie Nicks.
Give "Was I On Your Mind" a listen and see if you agree. Off Baylin's upcoming major label debut, Firesight (due June 24), the track is a plaintive acoustic love song that finds the singer at her best.
A MySpace favorite, Baylin has already accumulated a zillion fans, thanks in part to former touring partner John Mayer, who's long had her positioned as a "Top Friend" on his own MySpace site. Point being, Baylin could name drop 'til she drops, but very soon she'll be name enough all on her own. —Ellen Mallernee