Pop artist Messina is proving that musical talent knows no boundaries. While she has gained recognition for her powerful pop songs that explore mental health and personal resilience, Messina is now venturing into new musical territory with a country album. Her debut country project released on August 16, 2014, CITY Rose, tells a deeply personal story of heartbreak and emotional growth.
As a versatile artist, Messina refuses to be confined to a single genre. She believes that her music should reflect the full range of her experiences, and country music provides the perfect vehicle for telling her latest story—a story of love, loss, and healing that took place in North Carolina. With the success of her recent single, “No Longer Wasted,” which reached 150,000 streams in its first week, Messina is ready to show the world that she can deliver an authentic country sound while staying true to her raw, emotional style.
Breaking Genre Boundaries
Messina’s transition from pop to country may raise eyebrows among some fans and critics, but for her, it’s a natural progression. Born out of personal experiences, her new country album allows her to explore storytelling in a way that pop music sometimes doesn’t offer.
“I’ve never felt like one genre defines me,” says Messina. “Music is about expression, and sometimes a story demands a different sound. For this album, country just felt right.”
While many pop artists have ventured into other genres, Messina’s approach is unique. She’s not looking to follow trends or experiment for the sake of it—she’s following the emotional truth of her own story. The authenticity she’s known for in pop will carry through into her country work, making this an exciting evolution of her sound rather than a complete departure from her roots.
The Story Behind CITY Rose
Messina’s decision to write a country album came from a place of deep personal pain. CITY Rose chronicles her experience with heartbreak during a significant period of her life spent in North Carolina. Known for its ability to capture emotional nuance and human experience, country music felt like the perfect medium to explore the raw emotions she went through during this time.
“The story behind this album happened in North Carolina, and that’s why I leaned into country music,” Messina explains. “It’s the best way I could tell this particular story. There’s something about country music that really lets you dive into the heartbreak and paint a picture.”
Her country influences aren’t limited to storytelling alone. Musically, the album is inspired by traditional country instrumentation, while still maintaining elements of the modern pop sound her fans love. This blending of styles makes CITY Rose a unique project that’s set to appeal to both country and pop fans alike.
What to Expect from Messina’s Country Era
Fans who love Messina’s emotional vulnerability in her pop songs can expect the same level of honesty in her country music. The themes of mental health, resilience, and overcoming personal struggles will remain central to her work, but now with a twang of guitar and a storytelling style more aligned with the country genre.
Her ability to capture raw emotion in her voice is what makes this transition so natural. Whether she’s belting out a pop ballad or singing a mournful country tune, Messina’s music remains deeply authentic. CITY Rose promises to showcase the full range of her vocal and songwriting abilities, and her fans are sure to embrace this new chapter in her career.
Messina’s journey into country music is just beginning. Follow her on Instagram @jennifercmessina to stay updated on her new releases, including her debut country album CITY Rose. Fans can expect a release date soon and can stream her current single “No Longer Wasted” on all major platforms.