Jesse McCartney

Jesse McCartney

“US singer Jesse McCartney is on the verge of staging the most unexpectedly brilliant pop reinvention in recent memory with his new album “Departure”, a mass of electronic urban pop which at its heights is the sort of stuff Chris Brown would kill for. If Michael Jackson was recording 'Off The Wall' in 2008 it would probably sound a bit like this. POPJUSTICE.com

Two million album sales later, US singer/songwriter Jesse McCartney reinvents his sound and launches a full scale assault on the British charts with new album Departure, released June 9th on Hollywood Records via The Angel Music Group.

With star writers and hit making producers such as Tricky & The-Dream (responsible for Rihanna’s Umbrella), Sean Garrett (Beyonce, Gwen Stefani, Chris Brown), J.R. Rotem (Britney Spears), Balewa Muhammad (Christina Aguilera) and The Clutch (Timbaland, Ciara), Departure is a contemporary pop record of stellar proportions. Taking retrospective cues from ‘80s pop royalty; the album is punctuated by futuristic urban, hip hop and electronic sounds, and establishes Jesse as a bona fide new age pop superstar.

“The record is called Departure for a number of reasons,” says Jesse. “There have been departures in my career, in my personal life. I think I’ve landed in the most comfortable place I’ve ever been musically. I wanted the record to have a little retro hint sonically but with my own contemporary feel - I listened to the music of Michael Jackson, Madonna and Prince a lot before we started the album. Departure has a more mature sound than what my fans previously heard from me but this is the road that I’m on right now and it’s the road that I believe they’ll join with me!”

The album’s lead single Leavin’, released on June 2nd, is the first taster of Jesse’s new found direction. A hook laden electronic delight, the song is as at home in the stable of pop as it is in the cool waters of urban electronica. The track is bound to set airwaves alight across the UK and, with mixes by MSTRKRFT, is poised to become the soundtrack to the dance floor this spring While working in the studio creating songs for Departure, Jesse co-wrote (alongside One Republic’s Ryan Tedder) a track already familiar to millions across the globe, in the form of the Leona Lewis mega hit Bleeding Love. “It was very intense for me as a songwriter to have Clive Davis (Chairman of the RCA Music Group) pick one of my songs and then to have it be such a huge success. It has certainly encouraged me to write more for other artists.” The song has so far reached number one in 15 countries and became the fastest selling single of 2007 in the UK.

A New York native, Jesse launched his solo career at 16 with his debut album Beautiful Soul. Released in 2004, the album was a huge success around the world, with the first single of the same name vaulting up the U.S. charts and hitting the top in Australia, Italy, the Phillippines and Taiwan. Jesse has also racked up a number of awards and nominations including an American Music Award nomination for “Best New Artist,” an MTV Award nomination for “Best Pop Video” and three U.S. Teen Choice Awards, including “Choice Male Artist,” “Breakout Artist” and “Crossover Artist.”