East Quogue Musician Releases New CD; Set to Perform at Vail-Leavitt

East Quogue singer-songwriter Jessie Haynes has released her third solo recording, Vampire Kiss.

The full-length recording is a mix of haunting lyrics and implied stories laced with compelling instrumentals and a cast of musicians. Contributors include Bosco Michne, Mike Gilks, Trina Michne, Alex Sarkis and others.

Vampire Kiss (December 2010) is a follow-up to her last solo recording, The Secret Life of Cinderella (2007).

Haynes says Vampire Kiss has a few songs that were written at the same time The Secret Life of Cinderella, but she said she traces her strongest songs  as those written more recently.

“I’ve learned a lot about recording since The Secret Life of Cinderella,” she said. “I hope to bring the quality up a notch. That’s why it took so long to make the recording. This is a labor of love and I’m proud of it.”

Besides her three solo recordings, Haynes has contributed to over 20 recordings and videos throughout her career as a professional musician, according to her bio. Professional highlights include founding and touring with Sweet Little Sister and playing and recording with Blackmore’s Night, a project by Ritchie Blackmore with Candice Night.

Haynes will perform songs from Vampire Kiss and more at the Eastenders Coffee House Reunion Concert on Feb. 26 at the Vail-Leavitt Music Hall in Riverhead. Other performers include Miles to Dayton and the blues duo Bruce MacDonald and Ken “The Rocket” Korb.

Haynes can also be heard during the ORIGINAL VOICES at the Vail series held the third Thursday of the month at the Vail-Leavitt Music Hall. Haynes founded the original music series in 2005 and has been running it ever since.

On March 8, Haynes emphasizes another recording she made with East Quogue medium, psychic and author Jim Fargiano. Escaping Boundaries is guided mediation set to instrumental music written and performed by Haynes. She will perform as part of an evening of dinner and spirit-based interaction led by Fargiano at the Rock Hill Country Club in Manorville.

Tracks from Vampire Kiss are already getting noticed. The song, My Pagan Heart, is included on the recent release, Best of Long Island Music 2010. The two-volume CD contains 21 original songs by Long Island musicians and songwriters. It’s produced by Paradiddle Records and is downloadable for free.

Vampire Kiss has 10 songs. Each featureds Haynes on lead vocals and guitar (acoustic and electric). Themes include beliefs that divide people from each other, tumultuous relationships and the way life unfolds. Nearly all tracks were recorded at RPR Studio in East Setauket. The one exception is Rain aka Thru All This. The song was recorded live at the Patchogue Theatre.

Contributors include her current band mates Trina Michne (rhythm guitar and vocals), Alex Sarkis (drums) and Phil Bland (bass) and Tracy Hamilton (percussion). Stephen Palmer plays bass and keyboards. Palmer and Haynes are long-time “partners in musical crime,” Haynes said. Palmer co-produced Vampire Kiss and mixed and mastered the recordings.

Vampire Kiss also includes Jennifer Roth on mandolin and guitarists John Brzoza and Jan Hanna. Vampire Kiss is available through iTunes and on Haynes's website.

“I love to invite different birds of a musical feather,” Haynes said.

Haynes has performed professionally since a teenager. She got her start with Sweet Little Sister and Loona, a smaller group Haynes founded. Sweet Little Sister opened for Johnny Winter, Leslie West & Mountain, Dee Snyder of Twisted Sister, Baby Animals and others, according to her website. Later on, Haynes spent three years touring internationally and recording with Blackmore’s Night.

Haynes has done session work for Taylor Barton & GE Smith. Her songs have been featured on the television shows Friends, Access Hollywood, America’s Most Wanted and more.

Writing songs, performing and making music have been and always will be an integral part of her life, Haynes said.

“It’s just what I do,” she said. “I’ll keep writing and recording my songs as long as it brings me happiness and satisfaction.”