Kevin Bronson on February 14th, 2022

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It’s that Hallmark holiday devoted to aiming, accepting or ducking Cupid’s arrows, but hold still a second. Jessie Payo has a new single about feeling head-over-heels … in-between.

“Some Time” finds the prolific songwriter as an Americana balladeer, pleading that she needs some space before jumping into a new relationship. It’s got the emotional clarity of a classic country song, with the way Payo shapes her vocals around a plaintive acoustic guitar. Simple, and simply beautiful.

The tune was co-written with Tom Stubbs in 2020, when the duo “masked up and strummed guitars across the room.” “Some Time” is being released as the B-side of 7-inch via In the Q Records, along with Payo’s 2019 single “Dance Real Close.”

The latter song gained notice in the Netflix film “The Last Laugh,” directed by Greg Pritikin featuring Chevy Chase and Richard Dreyfuss.

The release continues a run of notable music in which Payo has been involved. Just over three years ago, Pretty Polly — the duo project featuring Leeann Skoda and Payo — released their Chris Schlarb-produced album “Smoking Gun.” After “Dance Real Close” hit in 2019, she released a couple of singles in 2020. Last year, Payo had two tracks on “CaliAmericana,” the debut compilation from Santa Barbara Records that also featured the likes of Omar Velasco, Danny McGraw and ERLAND. Also last year, Payo released a collaborative EP with Parker Ainsworth, “Black Smoke.”

And in November, the band that she fronts, Pom Poms, released their first new music since 2017, with more coming soon.

||| Stream: “Some Time” and “Dance Real Close”

||| Live: Jessie Payo will be playing the re-opening of Diner 62 in Yucca Valley with Rosa Pullman on Saturday, Feb. 26, and opens for Richard Thompson at the Lobero Theatre in Santa Barbara on Tuesday, March 1 (tickets).

||| Previously: Pom Poms: “Stoned and Lonely,” “Gimme You,” “Betty;” solo: “Black Smoke” (with Parker Ainsworth), “I Love to Be Loved”