Jessie Wagner Breaks Boundaries with New LP War Within

By Robert White, Editor-In-Chief

Jessie Wagner isn’t just creating music—she’s creating an entire universe where genre lines blur and emotion reigns supreme. Her new single “Wicked Cool,” taken from her sophomore album War Within, is an exuberant statement of authenticity wrapped in rock, soul, and pop flair. “I choose to throw away the genre box and let my circle of sound continue to expand and grow,” Wagner says. And with “Wicked Cool,” she does just that—channeling raw, lyrical honesty into an irresistible groove that recently earned the title of “Coolest Song in the World” from Little Steven’s Underground Garage.

Filmed by @vinstinct, the video for “Wicked Cool” mirrors the song’s self-aware commentary on the performance of identity in the social media age. “Tell me how many likes will I get today if I keep that smile and I don't complain?” she sings, capturing the internal tension between vulnerability and visibility. “You want to be honest because people respond to honesty… but it’s hard to find the middle ground,” Wagner explains.

From gospel roots in her childhood church choir to backup gigs with Lenny Kravitz and Duran Duran, Wagner’s career has always defied simple categorization. But it was a college pageant performance that set the stage for her transformation from shy student to dynamic frontwoman. “I was going to do a dramatic monologue, but the pageant coordinator heard me sing and pushed me into it,” she recalls. “It became one of the most freeing, natural things to do.”

Now fronting her own NYC-based band, Army of the Underdog, Wagner blends the spiritual foundation of her youth with the kaleidoscopic influences of her upbringing—Tina Turner, Pat Benatar, Nancy Wilson, Alanis Morissette, Gwen Stefani—all artists who, like Wagner, resist confinement. “I don't say this is going to be an R&B song or a rock song,” she notes. “The song comes out however it's going to come out.”

War Within as a full album is a sonic diary of introspection and resilience. From the anthemic title track to the sensual narrative of “Up Against the Wall,” Wagner confronts loneliness, longing, and the intricacies of self-acceptance with emotional clarity. “Music was the tool that helped me grow as a communicator, to be more free and not so fearful of the world,” she says. Many of her songs begin as voice memos in the middle of the night or melodic fragments sparked while driving—sincere echoes of her life that become anthems for anyone finding strength in vulnerability.

If you’re in New York, you can catch Jessie Wagner live at The Bitter End on May 29th, where she’ll be performing tracks from War Within alongside favorites from her 2020 debut, Shoes Droppin’. For those who want a more intimate musical moment, she’s also playing May 23rd at the Tui Lounge inside the Pierre Hotel—an evening Wagner promises will include “plenty of wag swag” and even song requests from the crowd.

Jessie Wagner is not just wicked cool—she’s wickedly authentic, an artist as unfiltered as she is unforgettable.

Visit jessiewagnermusic.com to stream War Within, watch the “Wicked Cool” video, and grab your tickets for the upcoming show. And for a deeper dive into Jessie’s journey, listen to the full interview on The Savoir Faire Audio Experience.