Jessica Folcker

B A C K G R O U N D
Born in Stockholm on 9 July of a Senegalese father and Swedish mother, Jessica has that look that only certain mixtures of genes can create - radiant, dusky, impossible not to stare at! "My father is a musician - he drums actually", says Jessica proudly.

Her early love to Abba expanded into a passion for Madonna, Prince, George Michael, tina Turner and Stevie Wonder, whom she recently met in New York - "he was so great", she blushes admiringly. But Jessica always wanted not just to listen to music but to perform it and to be centre stage, and soon joined a music school where she spent six years. Leaving at 17, Jessica walked into a job as a backing singer for Ace of Base, one of the biggest dans in Europe, and dr.alban. She remembers those days fondly, but still knew that her true desire was to be a star in her own right.

T H E . M U S I C
It was legendary writer/producer Denniz PoP (Backstreet Boys, Five) who discovered Jessica and realised that she had the potential to be a huge international star. A record deal followed and Jessica went into the studio with a glittering selection of songs to record for 'Jessica'. "My favourite is 'How Will I Know Who You Are?' because it's just beautiful, but I really love all the songs on the album. I couldn't be happier with it!"

With not much spare time left, Jessica is learning to live with the pressures of the pop world, but still makes time to enjoy her other great talent - cooking! "If I wasn't a pop star," she says, "I think I would be a chef in a restaurant. Or maybe the owner of the restaurant!" Who knows, if Jessica's pop career takes off, she might start a chain of 'Jessica's Café's!