Jamie O'Neal

Jamie O'Neal

In 2000-1, singer/writer Jamie O’Neal enjoyed breakthrough success with her debut CD, Shiver. The album featured the acclaimed, #1 country hits “There Is No Arizona” and “When I Think About Angels.” In addition, O’Neal received three Grammy nominations (two for Best Country Song and one for Best Female Country Performance), and she was named Top New Female Vocalist at the Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards.

Now in 2005, O’Neal is on her way to having another milestone year. In March, she released her second CD, Brave (on Capitol Records), and returned to the charts with the playful hit “Trying To Find Atlantis.” Her latest single “Somebody’s Hero,” which is a sensitive, heartfelt tribute to mothers and grandmothers, has now become a major hit, and its lyric theme has had an emotional impact. As a result, O’Neal appears likely to receive further industry accolades, for both her vocal performances and songwriting on Brave.

Due to a label change and taking time off to raise a baby daughter (Aliyah), the recording and release of her album Brave took longer (about four years) than anticipated. But Brave is an impressive work which showcases O’Neal’s powerful, expressive vocals, and her excellent songwriting skills. She co-wrote 9 of the album’s 11 cuts, including “Somebody’s Hero” (which was co-written by Ed Hill & Shaye Smith).

“After having a child, I wanted to write about family, and about my little girl,” explained O’Neal. “And the thing for me was, when you have a baby you start thinking about your own relationship with your mother. And when you were little, how much you looked up to them and then you move to, ‘Gosh, my baby looks up to me so much. I don’t want to let her down. I want to be a hero to her.’ Also, I thought about my grandmother, and how she (and her grandfather) helped take care of me when I was young. I think [“Somebody’s Hero”] is a real tribute to the women in my life.”

O’Neal discussed her strengths as a songwriter, and about how she collaborates with other writers. “I am very much melody driven – I write my own melodies,” she said. “I like writing melodies that have a lot of range for my vocals. My focus is creating a melody that people can sing along with. I also write lyrics, but my writing partners also contribute lyrics.”

“I’m always writing with co-writers,” she added. “I usually find co-writers through friendships. You get into a comfortable zone, and good songs come out of it as well. We all collaborate on each song – we’re all contributing equally in the writing process.”

Jamie O'Neal

In addition to writing songs for her own albums, O’Neal has had success landing cuts with other artists. Before signing her first label deal (with Mercury Records) in 2000, she had already secured cuts with LeAnn Rimes, Chely Wright, Mindy McCreary and other artists. Then in 2003, she co-wrote the song “How Far” (with Ed Hill & Shaye Smith) which became a major hit for Martina McBride. O’Neal said: “’How Far’ was placed by Gary Overton, who is President of EMI Publishing Nashville (which she has a co-publishing deal with).” “Gary played it for Martina’s producer, Paul Worley.”

Her most recent cut is “Damsel In Distress,” a song she co-wrote (with Jimmy Murphy & Pat Murphy) for the Desperate Housewives soundtrack CD. “EMI had put the word out about this soundtrack, so we specifically wrote a song for ‘Susan,’ the Teri Hatcher character in the show. It was sung for the soundtrack by Idina Menzel (Broadway star of Rent and Wicked).”

Besides her own songs, O’Neal also enjoys singing songs by other writers for her albums. Her hit “Trying To Find Atlantis” was written by Zach Turner & Chris Waters. “The first time I heard this song, it just spoke to me about my past and how long it takes to find the perfect man, and how you have to kiss a lot of toads before you meet the right prince. So many of my songs are serious, and it has that funny sense to it that appealed to me, that ‘Yeah, if I can laugh at this, then somebody else will.’”

The Brave CD has already spawned two hits, and O’Neal’s next single release “I Love My Life” (written by O’Neal, Tim Nichols & Shaye Smith) should continue that hit string. “I Love My Life” is a very happy, rollicking tune which reflects how O’Neal views her life right now. “That song, to me, says it all. That’s why I wanted to end the album with that song. It’s so me, and basically tells our story. It also means a lot to me because my baby’s on [the recording] – as is my little dog, barking at the end.”