Rising Canadian country artist Jessica Sole is stepping into a powerful new chapter with the release of her latest single, “Strangers Don’t.” A haunting, mid-tempo ballad that captures the quiet heartbreak of love fading into distance, the song marks Sole’s first release with New Motor Records and highlights her growing emotional depth as a songwriter. From co-writing with trusted collaborators to reflecting on her journey from Shelburne, Ontario to national stages, Sole opens up about the moments and milestones shaping her music today.
“Strangers Don’t” captures that painful in-between phase of a breakup. What drew you to exploring that specific emotional moment in this song?
- Strangers Don’t came from a very honest space emotionally. I find inspiration in a lot of different places, but this song was written about an experience that happened in my own life. Sometimes the toughest breakups aren’t romantic relationships at all, which was the situation in my case. Either way, going through a breakup, romantic or not, I feel like there will always be things that remind you of that person who isn’t in your life anymore. For me it was not being able to call out of the blue just to talk. I think the in between phase of being almost healed, but not quite there yet, doesn’t get talked about enough. Those little reminders of someone come out of the blue sometimes, and can set that healing process back.
You mentioned wanting your emotions to feel more “lived in” before writing—how did that patience shape the final version of the song?
- I spent a lot of time trying to figure out how I wanted to shape the verses of this song, missing someone isn’t always a loud, in your face emotion, but it always stays with you. I think letting myself get through the initial sadness helped the lyrics become more accepting of the situation.
What was the dynamic like co-writing “Strangers Don’t” with Patrick Kordyback and Madison Banham, and how did their perspectives elevate the story?
- It was a really cathartic write! I had already been friends with Maddie for a while before we wrote this song, so she knew all the details behind the meaning of Strangers Don’t, she lived through the story with me. It was really interesting giving Pat the Coles Notes of what happened, and then letting a more unbiased and fresh perspective come through in his writing.
The song’s arrangement is very understated. How intentional was that choice in letting your vocals and the lyrics take center stage?
- My producer and I were very intentional about how we wanted to song to build, the production almost follows the story that the lyrics tell. I think my style of songwriting is very similar to storytelling, and letting the lyrics take center stage in this song almost like a narrator helps emphasize the emotion.
This is your first release with New Motor Records. How does this partnership represent a new chapter for you creatively or professionally?
- I’m so excited to be joining the New Motor family! This has been a dream of mine since I was a little girl. Being able to work alongside such an incredible team has been so great, I’m honoured they believe in my music as much as I do.
Fans often describe your voice as warm and emotionally honest—how do you balance vulnerability with control when delivering a heartbreak song like this?
- When it comes to performing heartbreak songs, I find I have to put myself back into the mindset I was in when I was first writing the idea down. The emotions are genuine and real, which helps the vulnerability shine through.
Looking back on your #1 SiriusXM Top of the Country single “Heads Up,” how has that breakthrough moment changed your confidence as an artist?
- It’s the moments like that that tell me to keep chasing this dream, and that what I’m doing must be resonating with fans.
You’ve built strong momentum both online and on stage. How do your experiences performing live influence the way you write and record new music?
- I always perform songs before I record them, I call it test driving the music. Getting the genuine feedback and reactions from the crowd plays a big part in the decision-making process.
With a growing catalogue of unreleased songs, what themes or sounds can fans expect from you in the year ahead?
- I’m so excited for the music we have ready. I’ve been writing a lot over the last few months, and I think it’s some of my best work yet. I’m not sure if I can speak too much on the unreleased music, but I can say we’ve been leaning away from the pop influence a little bit, and heading in a rootsier direction.
Coming from Shelburne, Ontario, how does your hometown continue to shape your songwriting as your career expands beyond it?
- I’ve always been a small town girl, I think each town offers its own unique charm, which is a country song waiting to be written itself. No matter how far my career expands outside of home, I’ll always find a story to tell about my small town.
With “Strangers Don’t,” Jessica Sole continues to prove she’s an artist unafraid to sit with vulnerability and turn it into something universally resonant. As her audience grows, her songwriting deepens, and a steady stream of new music lies ahead, this latest release signals not just a standout single—but the beginning of an exciting new era for one of Canadian country music’s most compelling emerging voices.
