The first thing you notice about JJ Helle… Read Full Bio ↴By Kierstin Casella (2006)
The first thing you notice about JJ Heller is a wide grin that stretches across her face and welcomes you in as a friend, whether you’ve known her for years or are shaking her hand for the very first time. These days especially, the twenty-five year old west coast native has a lot to be happy about.
In March 2006, she independantly released her third record (scheduled for national release in November 2006), Only Love Remains, showcasing her pure, penetrating voice, and opening the door to a bold new range of songs. JJ, along with her husband Dave (who serves as guitarist, manager, and co-writer) recorded the distinctive album at Nashville’s Sputnik Sound with Grammy-winning producer Mitch Dane (Jars of Clay, Bebo Norman.)
“I found that JJ has an unadulterated approach to song writing. Her songs actually spoke to me, where a lot of Christian music is the same message with different words,” explains Dane. “[JJ and Dave] live their art, and I never felt like they were trying too hard to be something they weren't.”
In addition to JJ and Dave’s prominent talents, Only Love Remains features Bryan Sutton (Dixie Chicks, The Chieftains) on mandolin, guitar and banjo; David Henry (Over the Rhine) on cello; Ben Shive (Andrew Peterson) on piano; Andy Hubbard (Little Big Town, Fernando Ortega) on drums, Aaron Sands (Jars of Clay) on bass; with Jeremy Casella (singer/songwriter) and Andrew Osenga (Caedmon’s Call) on guitars/backing vocals.
Only Love Remains follows Heller’s 2005 EP, Collection of Thoughts, and her debut release, Songs That I Know (2004.)
JJ began her career nearly six years ago at San Jose Christian College where she dabbled in songwriting and performed at local coffeehouses. After graduating, JJ and Dave got married and relocated to Phoenix to pursue music full time. In August of 2006, they moved to Nashville, TN where they currently reside. The combination of Dave’s business sense and creative input, and JJ’s loose artistic style drives their success.
“We’re definitely two halves of a whole,” she explains. “I write the bulk of the lyrics and Dave is the editor and arranger, making the songs more effective. He also does everything on the business side, which is great because it frees me up to be creative.”
For Only Love Remains, the pair focused on a braver songwriting style, departing slightly from JJ’s prior introspective lyrics and exploring story-songs about the lives around them. Musically, they pulled influence from artists like Damien Rice and Over the Rhine, with a lyrical intricacy akin to Patty Griffin. The result is an exceptional collection of songs that is warm and engaging with a little bit of edge.
In writing material for the new release, JJ poured her every day observations into her songbook: stories she heard while traveling, and those nearer to her heart. “This album is all about redemption,” observes JJ. “ Looking back on the songs, there’s a lot of struggle written into them because that’s life. Everyone has different problems to face, but in the end, the outcome hinges on how you deal with those struggles-- if you allow them to destroy you or make you stronger.”
Perhaps it’s her insight and sensitivity that consistently draw a female audience to JJ’s music. She touches on issues of self-image and worry, questions of faith, and feelings of loneliness; her songs resonate with women and offer encouragement. But JJ’s music connects with people from all walks of life. Whether performing in a quaint coffeehouse, at a weekend retreat, or a Sunday morning church service for 1000 people, the Hellers aim to be themselves wherever they go. They maintain a balance of light-hearted humor and poignant dialogue with their listeners.
As an artist, JJ Heller is a mix of eclectic and down-to-earth: from her jeans and t-shirt style to the way she pushes her own boundaries. When it comes to her music, she never settles.
"Music has a way of speaking to my heart like nothing else can," JJ says. "It is my hope and prayer that my songs will somehow speak to my listeners and bring them hope, peace and inspiration."
Fly Away
JJ Heller Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The earth is dragging me down
I want to be more than hungry
I want to live somewhere other than this old gray town
I want to fly away far beyond my cage
Where I hear freedom singing
You are telling me again there's no door to keep me in
Beauty all around me
Drawing me to the sky
This is life I can feel it
Bid my lonely days goodbye
CHORUS
Fly away home, fly away home, fly away home to you
In JJ Heller's song Fly Away, she describes the desire to break free from the monotony of life in a gray town that constantly pulls her down. She compares the allure of the stars calling her closer to the weight of the earth dragging her down. She wants to experience more than just the constant feeling of hunger and the same old surroundings. She wants to break free and live somewhere beyond where she feels trapped. However, she finds solace in the hope of freedom she hears singing to her. She starts to feel alive and liberated when she is reminded that there is no door holding her in.
As she looks to the sky, she is drawn to the beauty around her, and she feels a sense of joy and purpose. She can feel life in the air, and it makes her say goodbye to her lonely days. Her heart is filled with the desire to fly away far beyond any confines she faces. The chorus beckons her to fly away home, to a place where she feels free and liberated. The song describes the relatable longing we all feel at some point in life to break free from the mundane and explore new possibilities.
Line by Line Meaning
Stars call me closer
The stars are beckoning me closer to something beyond my current situation.
The earth is dragging me down
I feel weighed down and trapped by the mundane routines of life on earth.
I want to be more than hungry
I don't want to be perpetually longing for something more in life.
I want to live somewhere other than this old gray town
I desire to break free from my current surroundings and experience something new and exciting.
I want to fly away far beyond my cage
I yearn to escape the limitations imposed on me and explore new horizons.
Where I hear freedom singing
I want to be in a place where I can experience true freedom and liberation from my current situation.
You are telling me again there's no door to keep me in
You are reminding me that I have the power to break free from my limitations and achieve my dreams.
I hear freedom singing
I am filled with hope and inspiration as I contemplate the possibilities that await me if I can break free from my current situation.
Beauty all around me
There is so much beauty in the world that I want to explore and experience.
Drawing me to the sky
I feel drawn towards the sky as a symbol of hope, freedom and endless possibilities.
This is life I can feel it
I am filled with a sense of excitement and anticipation as I contemplate the possibilities that await me.
Bid my lonely days goodbye
I am ready to leave behind the loneliness and despair of my current situation and embrace a new life full of hope and possibility.
Fly away home, fly away home, fly away home to you
I am filled with a sense of longing and anticipation as I look towards an unknown future, filled with hope and possibility.
Contributed by Tyler G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.