JENNIFER LOVE HEWITT'S BIO FROM BMG MALAYSIA

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Jennifer Love Hewitt is about to make everyone sit up and listen. Inside of this petite young woman lurks strength, conviction and an amazingly powerful voice. In her self-penned words, she speaks of human vulnerability, woman's resilience, and love lost. It's been bottled up for a while, she readily admits, and that's why the real Jennifer Love Hewitt is coming out with ferocity.

Designated to harness this energy is another fiercely independent woman, Meredith Brooks, whose 1997 radio hit, "Bitch" was a bona-fide girl power anthem of the late '90s. Acting as producer and co-songwriter on Hewitt's Jive debut, BareNaked, Brooks has conviction, too-to make a great sounding record for someone whose face is instantly recognizable, but whose voice is not entirely familiar.

While many know her more commonly as one of the stars in the hit movie, "I Know What You Did Last Summer" and the long-running TV drama, "Party of Five," Jennifer Love Hewitt's entree into acting was actually a back-up plan. "Music is the reason I got into the entertainment industry in the first place," explains the demure 23-year-old. "I wanted to be a singer, so I came to Los Angeles 13 years ago to try and get a record deal." Counting backwards that would make Hewitt 10 when she was first shopped around to the labels. Perhaps a bit ahead of her time (Hanson would not emerge for another seven years), she recalls, "I got passed on by every single record company."

But Hewitt never gave up on her musical side despite the fact that her career changed course. Having invested the better part of her childhood paying her dues at recitals, rodeos, and fairs all over her home state of Texas, she was determined to see her dream take shape and pursued it with tireless vigor. Raised on the sounds of old soul (Aretha Franklin, Al Green, the Supremes) and late-60s rock (the Beatles, Janis Joplin), Hewitt continually practiced singing, even incorporating her talent into some of her TV roles. Her persistence paid off when, at age 14, she was offered a recording deal by a major label President, who happened to be among those who had auditioned her four years earlier. But synchronicity would not work in their favor as the executive left the company not long after her signing. As for Hewitt, although she had released two albums, she admits it "got a little frustrating and, since the acting was doing so well, I took a break from singing."

The break didn't last long, though. In early 2000, Jive Records, home to pop-phenoms Britney Spears and NSYNC, approached Hewitt to inquire about her singing career. Hewitt hesitated at first, but then, as she re-visited records by Bonnie Raitt, Tracy Chapman and Melissa Etheridge (some of her favorites), she felt inspired to try her hand at writing-first, poems, and later, songs. Her first completed work, a ballad she jokingly called "the Disney song" actually lived up to its name and became the title song to the animated movie Hunchback of Notre Dame 2, to which Hewitt had lent her voice. From that point on, Hewitt's path was clear. Jive signed Hewitt in 2001, after pursuing her for over a year. With a record deal in hand, all she needed was the right person to guide her through.

"I was a fan of Meredith's. I went to meet her at her house and we sat down for four hours and wrote a song. I looked at her and said, 'I think I'm gonna be here every day-stalk you, basically.' And she said 'I would like that.'" True to her word, Hewitt visited Brooks on a daily basis. "Some days we would write songs, other days we would just talk about things. But it really was just about opening my heart. And the record pretty much came out of mine and Meredith's hearts. It was born out of a real love for music and we're all really excited about the end product."

The Songs

BareNaked

"People often say to me, 'you could never have a bad day or be insecure because you've got it made.' And, while my life is pretty unbelievable, I am actually one of the most insecure people you'll ever meet. But I think insecurity can be a positive thing because it drives you in your life, it can make you a better person rather than a weak person. In "BareNaked" I wanted to say something not just to girls but to everybody, that I feel that way and so does everybody else. It's really a universal song about how all of us have those moments when we feel like we're completely vulnerable and naked."

I Know You Will

"Meredith and I got a real kick writing this song. Lyrically, it's us at our edgiest. The song is about those people in your life who you know would absolutely sleep with you if you gave them the chance. And you kind of like having them around and [you both] pretend to be so happy to be there platonically.. .but you know different. We had a really good time just playing bad, mischievous girls with this song and I just love the beat."

You

"This song is very important to me. It's about the kind of love that you strive to find, where you would look back [on a relationship] and say, 'if I had the chance, I would do it all again all the hard times, all the moments when you made me laugh. And next time I'd give even more of myself while doing it because you are the one. After recording, mixing it and putting it on the record, Meredith and I had a very interesting afternoon where we realized that "You" could very much apply to how she and I feel about our working experience together. She is the one producer that allowed me to open my heart and believed in me enough to make my dream come true. It's a really special song to both of us."

Me and Bobby McGee

"My brother, Todd, is nine years older than me which can get a bit tricky. I never felt like I knew how to be cool in front of him. One day, I was in the car with him and he was playing "Me and Bobby McGee." He really loved the song you can just see it because he was singing it with all his heart and soul and, at that moment, it hit me that if I learned to sing "Bobby McGee" then my brother would think I was the coolest sister ever. I learned the words in one afternoon so I could sing it back to him and I did. It's my brother and my mom's favorite song. Every time we have people at the house everybody knows, they even roll their eyes, when it's time to sing Bobby McGee. I put it on the record as a huge 'I love you' and dedication to my mom and brother."

Following is the Track Listing for BareNaked

Can I Go Now
BareNaked
Where You Gonna Run To?
You Just Try Hey Everybody
Avenue Of The Stars
Stand In Your Way
I Know You Will
Rock The Roll
Stronger
First Time
You
Me & Bobby McGee

Barenaked is available in stores now!!